In a surprising development, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has weighed in on Lewis Hamilton’s troubled integration into the Ferrari team. Montoya did not hold back, urging Hamilton to consider dismissing his race engineer Riccardo Adami. With Ferrari’s performance under scrutiny, Montoya stressed the importance of Hamilton taking decisive action to prevent further decline during what’s already a tough debut season with the Italian outfit.
Montoya, famous for his blunt assessments, pointed to a lack of stability in Hamilton’s Ferrari start. The move from Mercedes has been anything but smooth, with Hamilton encountering multiple challenges—including unsatisfactory results, car setup problems, and ineffective communication. This growing dysfunction within the Ferrari garage has cast doubt on the promise of a championship-challenging partnership.
Tensions are reportedly rising internally, and Montoya believes Hamilton must adopt a firmer stance to steer the team in the right direction. The Colombian emphasized that Hamilton’s vast experience and leadership should be central to reasserting control and avoiding a downward spiral. He argued that waiting passively for things to improve could further damage both the driver and the team’s trajectory.
Montoya made headlines by recommending a bold step: parting ways with Adami, a respected figure in the Ferrari camp. Adami has worked with top drivers in the past, such as Vettel and Sainz, and was expected to help ease Hamilton’s transition. However, Montoya now views the relationship as potentially counterproductive, warning that any disconnect could cost critical performance.
He further elaborated that in elite motorsport, a harmonious driver-engineer relationship is crucial. Even minor miscommunications or mismatches in strategy can lead to lost time on track. According to Montoya, Hamilton cannot afford to be hindered by loyalty if it comes at the expense of performance and trust—both vital for on-track success.
So far, Hamilton’s performances haven’t lived up to the hype surrounding his Ferrari debut. Montoya suggested that the root cause of the problems isn’t just the machinery but also poor tactical decisions and a lack of cohesion in the team’s structure. These are exactly the areas where a top-tier race engineer should provide solutions—and Adami may no longer be the right fit.
This critique arrives at a critical moment for Ferrari, who are under intense scrutiny from both fans and media. With Red Bull continuing to dominate the championship, the high expectations placed on Hamilton’s arrival have only magnified the team’s struggles. If Hamilton does act on Montoya’s advice, it could trigger significant internal changes and demonstrate a shift in authority within Ferrari.
As of now, Hamilton hasn’t publicly responded to Montoya’s remarks. However, the message is clear: the grace period at Ferrari is over. With mounting pressure and little room for error, Hamilton may soon be forced to make hard decisions—not just to revive his season but to safeguard his legacy as one of F1’s greatest.
