Former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya has delivered a scathing verdict on Ferrari’s current struggles, arguing that the team’s “biggest problem” stems from internal politics rather than pure performance issues. His assessment follows a turbulent run of form for the Maranello squad and a controversial public remark from chairman John Elkann.
Ferrari’s difficult season reached a low point after a disastrous double retirement at the Brazilian Grand Prix. In the aftermath, John Elkann publicly urged Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to “talk less,” a comment that reflected growing frustration inside the organisation. The team had entered the campaign with high expectations after finishing only 14 points behind McLaren in the 2024 constructors’ standings, yet 2025 has unfolded without a single grand prix victory and with Hamilton still searching for his first podium in red.
Montoya, who raced for Williams and McLaren during his F1 career, suggested that Elkann’s remarks were a symptom of deeper issues within the Italian outfit. According to the Colombian, the team’s structure remains heavily influenced by internal pressure and political dynamics that hinder decision-making and long-term development.
He indicated through comments reported by AS Colombia that John Elkann appeared to be under pressure behind the scenes, and that redirecting criticism towards the drivers served as a way to shift attention away from systemic shortcomings. Juan Pablo Montoya argued that Ferrari must eventually admit that its current approach is not producing results, insisting that politics continues to obstruct progress at the Scuderia.
“The biggest problem at Ferrari is politics,” Juan Pablo Montoya reportedly explained, adding that the team needs to recognise that its methodologies are not working and must be willing to make bold structural changes. His comments echoed long-held concerns among fans and analysts who believe that internal power struggles have repeatedly derailed Ferrari’s championship ambitions.
Montoya also turned his focus to the technical side, offering a blunt critique of the SF-25’s behaviour during the Brazilian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton’s car—already suffering damage from early contact with Carlos Sainz—looked particularly unstable over the bumps, and Montoya suggested that the team’s issues were glaringly obvious when compared with the onboard footage of Max Verstappen following behind.
The former race winner argued that the instability and unpredictability of the Ferrari chassis were signs of deeper design and setup weaknesses, pointing out that the problems were so clear that it should not take complex analysis to recognise them. In his view, Ferrari must be willing to step back, accept responsibility, and radically rethink its engineering direction if it wants to return to the front of the grid.
With just three races remaining and a winless season looming, Montoya’s assessment adds to mounting pressure on Ferrari leadership. Whether the Scuderia chooses to confront its internal politics and technical missteps head-on could determine how quickly the Maranello team can rebuild and once again fight for Formula 1 championships.
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