Juan Pablo Montoya believes Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari revival could accelerate Charles Leclerc’s development
Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable turnaround at Ferrari has become one of the defining stories of the 2026 Formula 1 season. While the seven-time world champion’s growing influence at Maranello has inevitably raised questions about Charles Leclerc’s position within the team, former F1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya believes the situation may actually work in the Monegasque driver’s favour.
After spending much of 2025 as Ferrari’s undisputed benchmark, Charles Leclerc entered the new regulatory era expecting to remain the team’s reference point. Instead, the balance has shifted dramatically. Lewis Hamilton has adapted quickly to the characteristics of the SF-26, delivering consistently strong performances and securing his breakthrough Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
The numbers illustrate the trend. Lewis Hamilton has gained the upper hand in the internal battle, leading Charles Leclerc comfortably in the head-to-head comparison while building a significant championship advantage. Barcelona further highlighted the contrast between the two Ferrari drivers, as Lewis Hamilton fought at the front while the Monegasque endured a difficult weekend that began with a qualifying accident and ended with a late-race retirement.
As a result, Charles Leclerc now faces the challenge of rebuilding momentum at a time when his teammate appears to be growing stronger with every race weekend.
Montoya believes Charles Leclerc should study Lewis Hamilton’s approach
Despite the apparent shift in momentum, Juan Pablo Montoya does not view Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence as bad news for Ferrari’s other driver. Instead, the Colombian believes Charles Leclerc has been given a unique opportunity to learn directly from one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history.
According to Juan Pablo Montoya, Lewis Hamilton looks far more comfortable under the current regulations than he did during the previous era of ground-effect cars. The former Williams and McLaren driver suggested that the new generation of machinery has allowed Lewis Hamilton to reconnect with the driving characteristics that made him so dominant throughout much of his career.
Juan Pablo Montoya explained that Lewis Hamilton appears happier behind the wheel and increasingly confident in the direction Ferrari is taking. That renewed confidence has translated into stronger performances, better race management and the kind of consistency that has defined championship-winning campaigns in the past.
From Juan Pablo Montoya’s perspective, Charles Leclerc should focus less on the immediate results and more on understanding the factors behind Lewis Hamilton’s success. The former F1 driver argued that having a seven-time world champion as a teammate provides invaluable insight into how elite drivers build relationships with engineers, influence car development and maximise performance over the course of a season.
Rather than viewing the situation purely as a competitive setback, Juan Pablo Montoya believes Charles Leclerc can use this period to analyse the methods, feedback and leadership qualities that have helped Lewis Hamilton achieve so much throughout his career.
The Colombian suggested that while Charles Leclerc will undoubtedly continue fighting to beat Lewis Hamilton on track, he should also recognise the rare opportunity to learn from one of Formula 1’s most accomplished competitors. Understanding what separates Lewis Hamilton from most other drivers, according to Juan Pablo Montoya, could ultimately help Charles Leclerc become a more complete title contender in the future.
Is Ferrari witnessing a change in leadership?
Lewis Hamilton’s rise has naturally sparked renewed debate over Ferrari’s internal hierarchy. For several years, Charles Leclerc was widely regarded as the central figure around whom Ferrari’s long-term project was built. However, the landscape appears increasingly different in 2026.
Following the Barcelona Grand Prix, some former drivers and pundits have begun questioning whether Lewis Hamilton is gradually becoming the team’s primary reference point. His experience, technical feedback and recent results have strengthened his position within the organisation, while the 28-year-old has struggled to match his consistency in recent races.
Former world champion Nico Rosberg recently suggested that Lewis Hamilton may be replacing Charles Leclerc as Ferrari’s leading figure, while Jacques Villeneuve argued that Ferrari could eventually be forced to prioritise the British driver if they hope to close the gap to Mercedes in the championship battle. For now, Ferrari continues to maintain that both drivers enjoy equal status and remain free to compete on track. Nevertheless, results inevitably shape perceptions, and Lewis Hamilton’s recent performances have placed him firmly at the centre of the team’s title ambitions.
That does not mean Charles Leclerc’s role has diminished permanently. If anything, Juan Pablo Montoya believes the current situation could help unlock another level from the Monegasque driver. Learning from a teammate of Lewis Hamilton’s calibre while continuing to challenge him directly may prove to be one of the most valuable experiences of Charles Leclerc’s career.
With Ferrari finally showing signs of becoming a genuine championship contender again, the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could become one of the most fascinating storylines of the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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