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Ferrari chairman John Elkann sends 'accountability and determination' message in open letter

Ferrari chairman John Elkann admitted that the Maranello outfit "fell short of ambitions" in 2025, but assured its stakeholders that "racing is as much about learning as winning".

The Fred Vasseur-led team finished the 2025 Formula 1 season fourth in the constructors' standings. After Lewis Hamilton joined the team at the start of the year, he took time to adjust to the new team. While he achieved a sprint race win in China, his best grand prix finish was fourth. His team-mate Charles Leclerc managed seven podium finishes, but no grand prix wins.

In an open letter to shareholders, Elkann noted: "Equally significant is the fact that, following this decision, Ferrari returned to win the centenary edition of Le Mans, fifty years after it last took part in the race, and went on to secure three consecutive wins with three different driver line-ups, a testament to the unity and collective strength of the team.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari (Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images)

"Formula 1, by contrast, fell short of ambitions. But Ferrari has always understood that racing is as much about learning as winning. Ferrari’s founder Enzo Ferrari kept what he called a 'museum of mistakes,' a cabinet of broken parts collected in pursuit of progress. That mindset remains essential today: accountability and the determination to return stronger."

Ferrari has already had a much stronger start to the 2026 season. It currently sits second in the constructors' standings and is so far the only team to pose a threat to the dominant Mercedes. Hamilton also secured his first podium finish with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The team now prepares for the third round of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, from 27-29 March, before a five-week break due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in April. 

Photos from Japanese GP - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Haas F1 detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Jean Alesi

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

A huge crowd of fans gathered at the stage.

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Like Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Godzilla logo on the Haas F1 car

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Fans of Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams runs wide

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing crash

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Formula 1
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