Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has suggested the sport could see the “old” Lewis Hamilton this year at Ferrari, capable of beating Max Verstappen in a title fight.
Hamilton, preparing for his first season at the Italian squad, has been taking part in a series of private tests with the team ahead of pre-season testing later this month.
The seven-time champion endured a difficult final three seasons at Mercedes, who slipped back in the pecking order following a lengthy period of success.
During that same period, Verstappen forged himself as one of the most successful drivers in the sport's history by taking his title tally to four.
As Hamilton sets himself up for a new career chapter, Montoya is confident the 40-year-old has not lost any of his raw speed.
“What happened to Lewis Hamilton is what happened to Fernando Alonso,” he told Crash.net.
“They still have 100 per cent of their speed, but they will still somehow qualify just in the top 10. If the car is capable of winning, then they would be much higher.
“If Hamilton has a fast car this season, we’ll see the old Hamilton from a few years ago, the Hamilton that nobody can beat, not even Max Verstappen.
“But the question for Ferrari is how will they keep him motivated?”
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Montoya tips Ferrari to launch title contending 2025 F1 car
Ferrari enjoyed a competitive campaign last year as it narrowly missed out on the constructors' championship to McLaren.
With the regulations undergoing no changes ahead of 2025, the fight at the front is expected to be close again with several teams in contention.
Montoya has tipped Ferrari to insert extra resources into its car for the upcoming year instead of pinning complete focus on the 2026 regulation change.
“Ferrari are putting all their eggs in the basket so they can compete this season,” Montoya said.
“Mercedes don’t have to risk much, McLaren has a huge opportunity to keep dominating before the 2026 regulation changes, where they could become average.”
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