Lewis Hamilton improves at Ferrari but Juan Pablo Montoya rules out eighth championship. Ferrari’s progress convinces Juan Pablo Montoya on Lewis Hamilton – up to a point.

Juan Pablo Montoya believes Lewis Hamilton is making convincing progress with Ferrari but remains doubtful that the seven-time world champion will ultimately achieve his biggest ambition at Maranello: winning a record eighth Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. Hamilton has recovered from a difficult beginning to his Ferrari career and returned more consistently to the leading positions, yet the former F1 driver is not convinced that the resurgence will end with another world title.

The assessment comes at an important stage of Hamilton’s Ferrari journey. After a challenging debut campaign with the Scuderia, the Briton has steadily moved beyond many of those initial difficulties. His improved 2026 form has revived hopes surrounding his championship challenge, particularly as Hamilton’s recent performance trend has strengthened his position within Ferrari’s title campaign.

Juan Pablo Montoya doubts Lewis Hamilton can win an eighth F1 title

Discussing Hamilton’s longer-term prospects, Juan Pablo Montoya offered a firm assessment of whether another Drivers’ Championship remains achievable. The Colombian does not believe Hamilton will become Formula 1 world champion again, despite the progress visible during his time with Ferrari.

That prediction comes after a significant improvement in the seven-time champion’s fortunes. Hamilton had to wait 26 races for his first podium as a Ferrari driver, but he has subsequently found greater consistency and returned towards the upper reaches of the standings.

His stronger performances have consequently kept the possibility of an eighth championship alive, particularly as Ferrari continues attempting to close the competitive gap at the front. The title picture could also have looked considerably closer without several costly setbacks, with an assessment of the points Hamilton has lost during Ferrari’s 2026 championship campaign illustrating the importance of maximising every opportunity.

Montoya praises Ferrari despite his Hamilton title prediction

Although Montoya remains pessimistic about an eighth crown, his verdict on Hamilton’s current direction is considerably more encouraging. The former Formula 1 race winner believes the British driver’s performances demonstrate that he is now on the right path and also provide evidence that Ferrari is progressing in the correct direction.

Montoya praised the work being carried out at Maranello and highlighted the team’s strategic and operational management as part of that improvement. Ferrari has itself acknowledged that progress has been made while demanding more from the second half of the campaign, with Frédéric Vasseur’s mid-season assessment making clear that the Scuderia does not consider its current level sufficient.

The distinction in Montoya’s position is therefore important. He sees encouraging signs from both Hamilton and Ferrari, but does not believe that those advances will necessarily be enough to produce the championship outcome the Briton is pursuing.

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari improvement changes retirement prediction

Montoya has, however, changed his mind about another major part of Hamilton’s future. After the difficulties of the seven-time champion’s first Ferrari season, the Colombian had previously suggested that retirement could become a possibility if the situation failed to improve.

The performances delivered during 2026 have now altered that assessment. Rather than expecting Hamilton to consider walking away, Montoya believes a longer stay at Maranello has become more likely as the relationship between driver and team begins producing stronger results.

That possibility creates another consideration for Ferrari beyond the immediate championship battle. Keeping Hamilton for longer would preserve an experienced seven-time world champion in the senior team, but it could also influence how quickly the Scuderia is able to create Formula 1 opportunities for the next generation of Ferrari Driver Academy talent.

Oliver Bearman and Rafael Câmara could be affected by Hamilton’s future

Oliver Bearman and Rafael Câmara are both viewed as important drivers in Ferrari’s long-term planning. If Hamilton remains at Maranello for an extended period, the pathway towards a works Ferrari seat could become more complicated for the two young prospects.

The Scuderia has already been considering how to manage that next generation, with Oliver Bearman and Rafael Câmara emerging prominently in Ferrari’s long-term Formula 1 plans. Hamilton’s future therefore matters not only for the team’s immediate pursuit of championships, but also for the timing of its eventual transition towards younger drivers.

For now, though, Hamilton’s trajectory has moved in the opposite direction to the retirement scenario Montoya once considered possible. His improved 2026 performances have strengthened the case for remaining with Ferrari and convinced the Colombian that the seven-time champion’s time at Maranello could continue for longer than previously expected. What Montoya has not changed is his judgement on the biggest prize of all: despite recognising the progress made by both driver and team, he still does not expect Hamilton’s Ferrari story to culminate in an eighth Formula 1 world championship.