Ferrari Drivers Respond to Criticism, Red Bull Announces 2026 Plans

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc issued social media statements shortly after chairman John Elkann criticized them, urging them to "talk less" and "focus" on driving amidst a challenging F1 season. Meanwhile, Red Bull and Ford revealed their 2026 launch plans, marking a new era for the sport.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's chairman publicly reprimanding his star drivers highlights internal pressures within the team to improve performance. This comes as Red Bull, their main competitor, is already looking ahead to the 2026 regulations with clear launch plans, setting the stage for future competition.

The Details:

• Ferrari Driver Statements: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both released statements on social media. This followed public criticism from Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who stated the drivers needed to "talk less" and "focus" on their driving, reflecting a difficult F1 campaign for the Scuderia.
• Red Bull and Ford's 2026 Launch: Red Bull and Ford have confirmed their plans for the 2026 season, which will introduce significant new regulations to F1. The Milton Keynes-based team, along with its sister team Racing Bulls, will unveil their new liveries and machinery on January 15th at an event in the United States.
• McLaren's Relief Over Verstappen Strategy: McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed relief that Red Bull did not take a "significant gamble" to win the São Paulo Grand Prix. Max Verstappen, starting from the pit lane, made an early pit stop for a puncture, switching from hard to medium tires, which McLaren saw as a less aggressive strategy.
• Antonelli's Stressful Defense: Kimi Antonelli described his end-of-race defense against Max Verstappen at the São Paulo Grand Prix as "way too stressful." Antonelli secured a career-best second place, successfully holding off Verstappen's late-race charge.
• Piastri's "Harsh" Penalty: Former F1 driver Martin Brundle called Oscar Piastri's 10-second time penalty at the Brazilian Grand Prix "very harsh." The McLaren driver received the penalty for making contact with Kimi Antonelli during an early-race safety car restart.
• McLaren Questions Verstappen's Engine Change: Max Verstappen's impressive drive from the pit lane to third place in the São Paulo Grand Prix has led McLaren to question Red Bull's strategy regarding power unit penalties. Red Bull fitted a new power unit to Verstappen's car after a poor qualifying, resulting in a pit lane start but allowing for a strong recovery.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari's internal struggles underscore the high-pressure environment in F1, especially for a team with championship aspirations. Meanwhile, Red Bull's proactive announcement for 2026 highlights the ongoing development race and the strategic importance of future regulations. The São Paulo Grand Prix also showcased the competitive intensity on track, with close battles and controversial decisions shaping the race outcome, indicating a fiercely contested season as teams continue to push the boundaries of performance and strategy.

What's next:

The F1 world will be closely watching how Ferrari's drivers respond to Elkann's public criticism in upcoming races. The focus will also shift towards the details of Red Bull and Ford's 2026 partnership as their launch date approaches, offering the first glimpse into the next generation of F1 cars. Meanwhile, the strategic decisions and race incidents, such as those involving Verstappen and Piastri in Brazil, will continue to fuel debate and influence future race strategies and penalty reviews.