Ex-F1 Star Juan Pablo Montoya Warns Ferrari: Listen to Hamilton or Face Crisis

Ferrari is reportedly in deep crisis, with internal disputes now spilling into public view. Recently, Ferrari President John Elkann sharply criticized both drivers, fueling concerns.

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, a seven-time Grand Prix winner and once a rival to Michael Schumacher, is shaking his head at the situation. He points to a significant communication problem within the Maranello-based team. "Ferrari isn't listening to Hamilton," the Colombian states.

Hamilton, who joined the Scuderia at the start of the season, is still awaiting his first podium finish for the team. Most recently in Brazil, his race ended prematurely after a crash with Franco Colapinto, resulting in another DNF.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's public struggles and perceived disregard for Lewis Hamilton's input could severely jeopardize their efforts to return to championship contention. Hamilton's experience and drive are invaluable, and ignoring them risks alienating a superstar driver and prolonging the team's downturn.

The Details:

• Hamilton's Frustration: Montoya believes the seven-time world champion is working at his limit, leveraging his vast experience, but is not receiving adequate support. "Lewis Hamilton has something to prove. He will win the World Championship or go down trying, I am sure of that. But his frustration stems from believing he is doing more for Ferrari than the team is doing for him," Montoya explains. "He is working extremely hard to make things work, but the team is not supporting him sufficiently."
• Montoya's Call to Action: The former Williams and McLaren driver urges Ferrari to finally listen to their superstar, directly challenging Elkann's recent comments. "Give Hamilton the right tools, and he will be at the front. If everything comes together and his motivation returns, Hamilton is as good as unstoppable."
• Leclerc's Performance Explained: Montoya offers an explanation for Charles Leclerc's current edge over Hamilton. "Ferrari has only had an average car for years, and nothing has changed," he criticizes. "Leclerc has been driving the Ferrari for so long that he is used to driving a bad car – that's why he is currently outperforming Hamilton."
• Warning Against Complacency: According to Montoya, Ferrari has reached a dangerous level of complacency. He warns, "The faster the engineers respond to Hamilton's suggestions, the better it will be for the team in the long run."

What's next:

If the situation doesn't improve swiftly, the team risks fracturing. Montoya states, "Next year could be a really good year for Ferrari. But if they are still not competitive then, how long can we expect Charles Leclerc to stay?"

The ex-McLaren star insists that Ferrari must take its star drivers, especially Hamilton, seriously. "He won't stop until he wins again. But if he feels like he's fighting against his own pit wall, it's going to be difficult."