Lewis Hamilton given Riccardo Adami ultimatum with fe...

Lewis Hamilton given Riccardo Adami ultimatum with fe….read more

Formula 1 legend Juan Pablo Montoya has weighed in on Lewis Hamilton’s current challenges at Ferrari, suggesting that the seven-time world champion should adopt a more aggressive stance within the team. Montoya believes that Hamilton must take control of his situation, especially given Ferrari’s recent struggles and communication breakdowns. He even went as far as recommending that Hamilton consider removing a key team member—his race engineer, Riccardo Adami.

Since Hamilton’s much-anticipated move to Ferrari, his collaboration with Adami has been under scrutiny. Communication between driver and engineer is vital in F1, and several recent incidents have raised concerns about how well this partnership is functioning. During the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton was penalized for impeding another driver, a situation that resulted from unclear or incorrect instructions from his engineer. Following the penalty, an awkward moment played out over the team radio when Hamilton received no response after thanking the team, prompting him to ask whether they were upset with him.

Montoya argues that such issues point to a deeper problem within Ferrari’s race-day operations. He believes Hamilton, known for his meticulous approach and demand for precision, should not have to deal with such miscommunication—especially in a high-stakes environment like Formula 1. In Montoya’s view, if Hamilton is to thrive at Ferrari, the team must offer unwavering support and ensure that there are no gaps in communication or strategic execution.

Although Ferrari has attributed some of the recent issues to technical glitches, such as radio interference, Montoya remains unconvinced. He suggests that technical excuses only go so far and that decisive leadership from Hamilton is necessary. By asserting himself more forcefully within the team structure, Hamilton could prompt the changes needed to improve performance.

Despite the mounting criticism, Hamilton has downplayed speculation about friction within the team. He has defended his relationship with Adami, calling the rumors “noise” and reiterating that both he and his engineer are focused on winning. Hamilton also acknowledged that transitioning to a new team takes time and that building chemistry doesn’t happen overnight.

Montoya, however, believes that Hamilton’s window to dominate the sport again is limited. If Ferrari is serious about returning to championship contention, they must ensure that every part of the team—including race engineering—is aligned with Hamilton’s goals and style. He argues that bold decisions, even ones involving personnel changes, might be necessary for Ferrari to move out of what he called a “very dark situation.”

As the season continues, all eyes will be on how Hamilton and Ferrari evolve together

under pressure.