Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Lewis Hamilton will not claim an eighth World Championship, despite the Briton’s impressive second season with Ferrari so far.
Hamilton currently sits second in the Drivers’ Standings, trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 50 points following a breakthrough victory at the Barcelona GP and four additional podium finishes.
While several commentators have tipped the 41-year-old for title success, Montoya expects Hamilton to fall short of the crown.
Speaking to Express Sport via Betpack, Montoya offered a candid assessment of the seven-time champion’s current trajectory.
“I don’t think he is going to be world champion again,” Montoya said.
Instead, the Colombian suggested Hamilton is “comfortable” with his 2026 progress and praised the Italian squad’s step forward.
“His performances show he is on the right path,” Montoya continued.
“It shows Ferrari is on the right path and they’re doing an amazing job. They’re really being smart about how they go about their business and their strategies. And that is really cool to see.”
While Montoya previously predicted Hamilton might retire at the end of 2026, he now expects the veteran driver to extend his F1 stay—a move that could create a bottleneck for Ferrari’s junior drivers.
Montoya tries to read the driver market
Speaking to AS Colombia, Montoya elaborated on the potential driver market ripple effects.
“Hamilton isn’t leaving for at least two or three years. If Ferrari carries on as it is and Hamilton keeps performing like this, Hamilton won’t retire,” Montoya stated.
“So, if you’ve got Hamilton for two or three years, the problem with that is that sooner or later someone even cooler will come along for Ferrari.”
Montoya highlighted Ferrari prospects such as Haas driver Oliver Bearman and Formula 2 driver Rafael Camara, noting that Hamilton’s longevity could derail their timing for a works seat.
“For example, if Camara were to join Formula 1 and they thought Camara was cooler, then Bearman wouldn’t come back – tough luck – because it’s all about timing,” he explained. “It’s about how attractive you are, how people see you at that moment.”
Montoya’s remarks underline the ruthless nature of modern F1 talent pipelines, where even top-tier young stars risk missing their window when legends refuse to yield their seats.
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