Juan Pablo Montoya believes Charles Leclerc is facing an increasingly difficult challenge from Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, arguing that even the Monegasque driver’s maximum effort has not always been enough to overcome his team-mate in 2026. The former Formula 1 driver also thinks the growing tension between the pair means Ferrari must make a clear decision over its priorities for the remainder of the season.
Hamilton strengthened his position in the intra-team contest after a difficult Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari at Monza. The seven-time world champion finished sixth, while Charles Leclerc’s race ended on lap three when he suffered a 60G crash at the Parabolica, an incident that carried echoes of his accident at the same circuit in 2020.
The outcome left Hamilton with an 8-5 advantage over Leclerc in their Sunday head-to-head and extended his championship lead over his team-mate to 36 points. The balance between the Ferrari drivers has therefore moved increasingly towards the Briton, with the 2026 regulation changes also described as having shifted momentum in Hamilton’s favour.
Juan Pablo Montoya believes Lewis Hamilton is increasing the pressure on Charles Leclerc
Speaking on F1 TV’s post-race show, Juan Pablo Montoya argued that Ferrari’s situation had reached the point where the team needed to establish a clearer hierarchy. Although he acknowledged that seeing such tension inside the Scuderia was not ideal, he suggested that it could force Ferrari into making a necessary decision.
Montoya explained that the team should sit down with its drivers and determine its approach based on the championship situation, particularly because Hamilton currently holds the advantage on points. In his view, Ferrari can no longer avoid defining how it intends to manage the two drivers as the season develops.
The Colombian also linked Charles Leclerc’s current pressure directly to the strength of Hamilton’s performances. Montoya suggested that the seven-time world champion has been becoming progressively stronger, making the situation increasingly difficult for his team-mate.
According to Montoya, Leclerc can reach what he considers his maximum level and still find Hamilton ahead of him. He believes that dynamic can affect a driver mentally, particularly when it creates the feeling that another step is required even after producing what feels like a complete performance.
The situation has added another layer to the internal battle at Maranello, with Hamilton now holding the stronger championship position and the better Sunday head-to-head record. Readers can follow the wider season context through the latest Lewis Hamilton coverage and Charles Leclerc news and analysis on ScuderiaFans.
Monza clash adds to tension between Ferrari team-mates
The rivalry was already visible during the opening stages of the Italian Grand Prix. Hamilton accused Leclerc of forcing him off the circuit at the first chicane, an incident that dropped the 41-year-old to tenth place before Leclerc later spun and crashed out.
Montoya was critical of the way Leclerc raced his team-mate at Monza. He argued that the Monegasque had not shown Hamilton the level of respect normally expected between team-mates, describing that principle as an important unwritten rule when two drivers share the same garage.
At the same time, Montoya also highlighted Hamilton’s move against Leclerc at the start. He felt the Briton had executed an aggressive dive down the inside successfully and suggested that Leclerc’s subsequent response reflected his unwillingness to simply concede ground to his team-mate.
That exchange, in Montoya’s assessment, illustrated one of the most difficult elements of the current Ferrari dynamic. Hamilton and Leclerc are not only competing against the rest of the grid but also directly against each other, creating a delicate situation for the team when their individual ambitions collide.
Ferrari urged to make a clear decision between Hamilton and Leclerc
Montoya believes the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is no longer particularly positive in 2026, with the pressure of their internal contest contributing to the tension. While Ferrari’s broader championship challenge may already be fading, he sees the battle between its two drivers continuing to move in Hamilton’s favour.
The seven-time world champion’s 36-point advantage gives him the stronger position as Ferrari considers how to approach the remaining races. Montoya’s argument is that the Scuderia should now acknowledge that reality rather than allowing uncertainty over driver priorities to continue.
That question becomes especially significant whenever the two Ferraris are racing closely together. Any decision to prioritise one driver could influence strategy, race management and how aggressively the pair are permitted to fight, although Montoya’s comments centred primarily on the need for Ferrari to establish a clear direction.
For Leclerc, the challenge is therefore twofold. He must recover from his Monza accident while also finding a response to a team-mate who, according to Montoya, is becoming increasingly formidable as the season progresses. Hamilton, meanwhile, has turned the internal contest in his favour both in the championship standings and in race results.
The next phase of Ferrari’s season will determine whether that advantage continues to grow or whether Leclerc can reverse the momentum. The full remaining schedule can be followed through the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
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