Juan Pablo Montoya believes the opening corner of the Italian Grand Prix could have major consequences for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as Ferrari enters its home race with team orders firmly in the spotlight. After the tension seen between the two Ferrari drivers at Zandvoort, Montoya expects track position on the first lap at Monza to play an especially important role in determining which driver gains strategic priority.
The situation carries added significance for Hamilton because Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the Formula 1 championship with a sizeable advantage. The seven-time world champion therefore needs more than his own results to keep his hopes of an eighth title alive, potentially increasing the importance of cooperation from Leclerc during the remaining races.
Ferrari team orders return to focus before Monza
Ferrari has so far shown reluctance to impose a rigid hierarchy between its drivers, and the Dutch Grand Prix provided one of the clearest examples. Hamilton spent several frustrating laps behind Leclerc despite running on fresher tyres before the Monegasque eventually allowed his teammate through, prompting sarcastic radio messages from the British driver.
The episode has ensured that the relationship between the two drivers and Ferrari’s handling of race strategy remain important talking points ahead of Monza. Team principal Fred Vasseur subsequently held a lengthy discussion with both drivers following the Zandvoort team-order tension between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
For Hamilton, Ferrari’s home Grand Prix also represents an important opportunity to strengthen his relationship with the Tifosi. The Briton is in his second season with the Maranello team and arrives at Monza with an opportunity to make a major impression in front of Ferrari’s home support.
Why Juan Pablo Montoya believes Turn 1 will be crucial for Hamilton and Leclerc
Speaking to AS Colombia, Juan Pablo Montoya suggested Ferrari would approach its home weekend with maximum ambition because victory at Monza would carry enormous importance for the Scuderia. His comments came while discussing the SF-26 upgrades introduced for the Italian Grand Prix, with Ferrari pursuing additional performance at one of the most significant races of its season.
The former Formula 1 driver also expects the aftermath of Zandvoort to add another dimension to the contest between Hamilton and Leclerc. Montoya suggested their recent experience with team orders could generate some friction and make the opening phase of the Italian Grand Prix particularly significant.
In Montoya’s assessment, the first chicane could effectively establish the strategic hierarchy between the two Ferrari cars. He explained that the driver who emerges ahead of his teammate is normally in the stronger position to control the team’s race strategy. Consequently, being the leading Ferrari at the first corner or at the end of the opening lap could prove crucial at Monza, where strategic decisions can have a major influence on the outcome.
Kimi Antonelli grid penalty could strengthen Hamilton’s opportunity
Hamilton’s prospects have also received a potential boost from Mercedes’ confirmation that championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid after taking a new engine for his 2026 allocation. That penalty removes the championship leader from his normal starting position and could create an important opportunity for Hamilton to reduce his deficit.
With Ferrari also introducing technical developments at its home race, the circumstances give the Maranello team another reason to target a major result. The latest package includes work intended to improve the SF-26’s efficiency at Monza, including developments connected to Ferrari’s ADUO-2 Power Unit upgrade.
Antonelli’s championship advantage nevertheless means Hamilton’s task extends beyond simply winning races. Every position could become increasingly valuable, making Ferrari’s decisions when its two cars are running together even more consequential. The wider championship picture can also be followed through the current Formula 1 driver standings.
Previous Monza team orders underline what is at stake
Monza has already provided a recent example of how a team-order decision can influence a championship. At the previous edition of the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren’s decision to swap its drivers in favour of Lando Norris created controversy because Norris was fighting Oscar Piastri for the title at the time.
The three points Norris gained through that position change ultimately became particularly significant, matching the margin he needed to resist Max Verstappen’s late championship challenge. That precedent reinforces Montoya’s argument about the value of track position and strategic control at Monza.
For Ferrari, the immediate challenge will be balancing Hamilton’s championship ambitions with Leclerc’s own race while avoiding a repeat of the frustration that emerged at Zandvoort. If both red cars are fighting in the same part of the field on Sunday, Montoya believes the battle for position could begin deciding their respective strategies almost as soon as the lights go out.
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