Charles Leclerc asked to confront John Elkann and look for "plan B" by former F1 driver

Ferrari’s internal tension resurfaced after Ralf Schumacher urged Charles Leclerc to seek clarity from chairman John Elkann and consider a “plan B” for his future. Earlier, Elkann publicly criticized the team following the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Ferrari suffered another costly double DNF.

Ferrari arrived at Interlagos fighting for second in the Constructors’ Championship. Instead, the weekend ended with the team falling to fourth with 362 points, behind Mercedes on 398 and narrowly trailing Red Bull on 366. Elkann spoke to the Italian media after the race and praised the mechanics and engineers, but questioned the performance of “the rest,” stressing that the drivers must “talk less and focus on driving” with three rounds left.

Those comments triggered debate across the paddock, and Schumacher believed that Leclerc should not ignore Elkann’s message.

“If I were Charles Leclerc, I would ask John Elkann what he was referring to. I think he’s doing a fantastic job and getting the best out of both the team and himself. He’s also a perfect fit for Ferrari. I would send my manager to ask him about it. "In a situation like this, I’ve always thought about a plan B with my manager. And I would do the same if I were in his shoes right now, because I wouldn’t let myself be fooled,” he told Sky Deutschland, via Formula Passion.

Schumacher also questioned the wider direction taken by the chairman.

“The president’s comments are very serious and deliberate. John Elkann is not at all superficial, and the situation at Ferrari is really heating up. Expectations are high, and he’s made some decisions, like hiring Lewis Hamilton, that are now putting him under internal pressure, which is why he’s made these kinds of statements,” he added.

Ferrari endured a difficult Sunday in São Paulo. Lewis Hamilton never really recovered from the floor damage he suffered on Lap 1 and was unable to compete, retiring on Lap 37.

Charles Leclerc’s race ended even earlier. Kimi Antonelli struck him in Turn 1, after Oscar Piastri clipped the Mercedes rookie. The impact broke Leclerc’s front-left suspension, as he was forced to retire his car on Turn 4. It was Ferrari’s second double DNF of the season, and the frustration in the team was clear.

Elkann’s remarks have already drawn responses from Jenson Button, Giancarlo Minardi, and Jacques Villeneuve. But the ambiguity has led insiders to wonder whether the chairman’s warning was directed at Charles Leclerc.

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Could Charles Leclerc really leave Ferrari?

Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari waves before the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Source: Getty

Charles Leclerc has delivered all seven of Ferrari’s podiums this year and remains its most reliable points scorer. As a driver who graduated from the Ferrari Academy and is under a long-term contract, the idea of him leaving has always seemed unlikely. But the recent reports have opened new speculation.

Multiple media outlets have linked the Monegasque to Aston Martin as the team plans for a post-2026 lineup, potentially replacing Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll. Those rumors grew louder after John Elkann’s comments. Nicolas Todt, Leclerc’s manager, is understood to have explored potential paths beyond Ferrari, including early inquiries with Red Bull and other teams for 2027.

Although Leclerc’s contract runs through 2029, it reportedly contains performance-related exit clauses that could be activated as early as 2026.

Edited by Hitesh Nigam