Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari title ambitions just took a punch to the gut from an unlikely source. Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has flatly stated he doesn't believe Hamilton will ever win another Drivers' Championship, despite the seven-time world champion's impressive resurgence in red. It's not the kind of vote of confidence you want to hear when you're chasing your eighth world title, even if Montoya's reasoning comes from a place of respect rather than doubt.

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Don't get Montoya wrong though, because he's actually full of praise for both Hamilton and Ferrari. The 2026 season has been genuinely impressive so far for the British driver, who bounced back from a disastrous debut campaign at Maranello with a win at Barcelona and regular appearances at the sharp end. Montoya rates the job Ferrari's doing tactically and strategically, suggesting they've found the right formula to get the best out of their driver. Hamilton currently trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 50 points with 11 rounds done, so he's very much in this fight.

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What's interesting is how Montoya's view on Hamilton's future has completely shifted. Earlier, the former McLaren driver thought Hamilton might walk away if things didn't improve at Ferrari. But after this turnaround in form, Montoya now reckons Hamilton will stick around for the long haul. The caveat, though, is that keeping the legend around could block opportunities for young academy prospects like Oliver Bearman and Rafael Camara. It's the classic F1 dilemma, isn't it, balancing established stars with hungry youngsters.

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