In a striking statement that has rippled across the Formula 1 world, former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has voiced his skepticism about Lewis Hamilton’s chances of clinching a world title with Ferrari. Hamilton, who announced earlier this year that he would be leaving Mercedes to join the iconic Italian team for the 2025 season, has been widely seen as a major hope for Ferrari’s return to championship glory.
However, Montezemolo, who led Ferrari during one of its most successful eras with Michael Schumacher, expressed doubts during a recent interview. “Lewis is an incredible talent, but Ferrari today is not the Ferrari of old,” Montezemolo said. “Winning titles requires a perfect combination of driver, car, and team harmony — and right now, that simply doesn’t exist at Ferrari.”
Montezemolo pointed to Ferrari’s ongoing struggles with car performance and strategic decisions as major hurdles that even a driver of Hamilton’s caliber would find difficult to overcome. “When I was at Ferrari, we built an environment where excellence was the standard. Today, I see a team that is still searching for itself,” he added.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, has remained optimistic about his move, describing it as a “lifelong dream” and an opportunity to write a new chapter in his storied career. Yet Montezemolo’s remarks underscore the significant challenges ahead as Ferrari seeks to end a championship drought that stretches back to 2008.
With the 2025 season still months away, all eyes will be on how Ferrari prepares to give Hamilton the tools he needs — and whether the British superstar can defy the odds to deliver a title that Montezemolo believes will ultimately remain out of reach.
