An F1 legend would “love to see” British sporting legend Lewis Hamilton crowned 2026 world champion but doubts Ferrari are the team to deliver Grand Prix victories
Lewis Hamilton has been told he has zero chance of adding to his haul of seven Formula One World Championships while he remains at Ferrari.
Brazilian Grand Prix legend Juan Pablo Montoya is a huge fan of Hamilton and admitted he would “love to see Lewis Hamilton being world champion in Ferrari.”
But as much as the former Williams and McLaren driver wants to see the Brit taking the chequered flag and standing on top of the podium again in Grand Prix around the world during the 2026 F1 season, he does not believe the Prancing Horse has the tools to take Hamilton back to the top of the sport.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Speaking to vision4sport.com, Montoya said: “Ferrari will not deliver! It’s just hard to see it come through. It’s the same story every year. It’s hard to believe that they’re going to put it all together. I just don’t see it.
“I would love to say that yes, because I would love to see Lewis Hamilton being world champion in Ferrari. I think it’d be amazing. But it’s hard to believe that they’re actually going to do it.”
Hamilton’s disappointing first season at Ferrari was the worst of his career. He failed to record a single podium finish as he ended up a distant sixth behind champion Lando Norris. More concerning he was outdriven by team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Last month Montoya suggested Hamilton would tell Ferrari to “Fuck Off” if they did not change their team set-up to maximise the former world champions talents. Speaking after pre-season testing in Barcelona had been completed, Montoya made it clear that at the very least Ferrari has to re-organise their team set-up to ensure Hamilton is their No.1 driver.
He said: “If Ferrari doesn’t change their working approach for Lewis Hamilton and build a good team around him, I would see him leaving. If he feels he’s got enough support to work and improve then that’s different. It’s like everything.
“If you feel that the people around you are working and are willing to get the stuff done, and are sacrificing, you commit to it. But if you feel you’re working against the current, then tell everybody to ‘F**k off, and goodbye!’”
But Hamilton looked a revitalised driver when he spoke for the first time about the 2026 F1 season ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on Thursday. He made it clear that all the team issues that were rumoured to have blighted his chances last season have been sorted and he says the goal is to win the 2026 F1 world title.
The 41-year-old said: “We’ve learned a lot from last year. We’re leaving behind the bad and moving forwards with the good, and we’re just sharp. We are prepared, and we know what we need to do.
“The goal is to win. That’s what everyone’s working towards – every team is. But that’s our goal, to maximise on every opportunity, to be lean, to be hopefully fighting in the top group, hopefully in the first races.”