Ferrari receive 'biggest problem' judgement from former F1 rival

Juan Pablo Montoya believes he has identified the "biggest problem" at Ferrari, after a recent controversial statement from its chairman. 

After a double DNF at the Brazilian GP, chairman John Elkann told Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to "talk less", in what has been a poor season for the Scuderia.

In 2024, Ferrari fell just 14 points short of beating McLaren to the constructors' crown with hopes high of continuing that form into another title push this season - but the team remains without a grand prix win, with three rounds remaining.

Hamilton is yet to claim a grand prix podium for his new team, as former Williams and McLaren driver Montoya believes the main issue at Maranello is "politics."

"The reason he said that is because there’s some internal pressure against him," Montoya said of Elkann's comments to AS Colombia.

"The best way to combat it is to reflect it outward, but you have to realise at some point that the way things are being done isn’t working. 

"The biggest problem at Ferrari is politics, a lot of politics."

Turning to the performance of the SF-25 itself, Montoya delivered a withering assessment, talking about Hamilton's car in Brazil, although suffering from damage after Turn 1 contact with Carlos Sainz. 

"Look at the onboard footage of Max, who’s behind Lewis, that car of Lewis… my God. The Ferrari isn’t good over bumps, but I don’t understand.

“It’s like you need two brain cells to realise how bad they are. At some point, you have to let your guard down and say: 'Hey, I was wrong, what we’re doing isn’t working, let’s try something different.'"