Lewis Hamilton has regained ground in the championship battle in his second season with Ferrari, but former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya does not believe the Briton can turn the comeback into his eighth world title. The Colombian was straightforward in assessing the seven-time champion’s chances.
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After a turbulent first season with the Italian team last year, Hamilton has regularly appeared among the top names on the grid again. This recovery has brought the driver back into the title fight in the championship, although he is still 50 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli after eleven rounds.
Montoya acknowledged the progress shown by Hamilton and also highlighted Ferrari’s work during this recovery. Still, the former driver does not see the Briton winning an eighth championship: “I don’t think he will be world champion again,” Montoya said to a betting platform.
Despite the negative forecast regarding the Briton’s title, Montoya evaluated positively the moment experienced by Hamilton and the Italian team: “The performances show that he is on the right track, they show that Ferrari is also on the right track and that they are doing an incredible job. They are being really smart in the way they run their business and their strategies. It’s very cool to see that,” he added.
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This assessment by Montoya also extends to Hamilton’s future in Maranello. Previously, the Colombian had considered the possibility that the driver might end his career at the end of 2026 if he could not bounce back from the disappointing performance of his debut season with Ferrari, but now he expects him to stay with the team longer.
Montoya, however, pointed out a possible consequence of this stay, as in that case, Hamilton would occupy a spot for longer, thereby delaying opportunities for young drivers linked to Ferrari’s academy, such as Oliver Bearman and Rafael Câmara.
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