The roar of the Tifosi at Monza often fuels Ferrari's dreams, but the 2026 Italian Grand Prix delivered a nightmare, exacerbated by an on-track clash involving star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. With Ferrari's home race unraveling almost immediately, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes the team's senior management must step in and establish clear boundaries between its two drivers.
Key Takeaways from Ferrari's Monza Meltdown:
- Juan Pablo Montoya has urged senior Ferrari management to intervene following the team's difficult Monza weekend.
- Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were involved in early incidents that quickly derailed Ferrari's home race.
- Mercedes secured a dominant 1-2 finish, led by Kimi Antonelli after his remarkable charge from P19.
- Montoya wants both Ferrari drivers to sit down with management in Maranello before the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
Monza Meltdown: A Home Race Nightmare
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza was supposed to be a celebration for Ferrari, but its home race quickly turned into a nightmare. While rivals Mercedes celebrated a dominant 1-2 finish, led by Kimi Antonelli after his impressive charge from 19th on the grid, Ferrari's afternoon began to unravel from the opening lap.
Hamilton and Leclerc Clash on the Opening Lap
The drama began almost immediately when Lewis Hamilton dived down the inside of Charles Leclerc into Turn 1 before attempting to go around the outside of Turn 2. Leclerc held his line, forcing Hamilton onto the gravel. The seven-time world champion dropped to 10th as a result, immediately putting Ferrari on the back foot at its home circuit.
The situation became even worse on the following lap. While defending against McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Leclerc ran wide onto the kerb while exiting Parabolica. He subsequently lost control of his Ferrari and crashed into the barriers, bringing his race to a premature end.
Hamilton managed to recover and finish sixth, but Ferrari's disastrous start had already transformed what should have been a major home-race opportunity into a frustrating afternoon.
Montoya's Blunt Assessment: Management Must Step In
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Ferrari cannot simply allow the situation between its two drivers to continue without intervention. Speaking on F1 TV after the race, Montoya argued that the issue requires action not only from team principal Fred Vasseur, but also from Ferrari's senior management.
"They need to go to not only Fred but above Fred and sit them down. Both of them need to go to Maranello this week, and they need to sit down and have a proper talk because, in my opinion, Charles came out and said, 'I raced Lewis like I would have raced anybody else,'" Montoya explained.
For Montoya, the key issue is the fact that Hamilton and Leclerc are teammates. He believes that should change how they approach their on-track battles, particularly when the team's interests are also at stake. "But it's your team-mate, and you've got to respect your team-mate, and you've got to respect the team."
Hamilton Left to Swallow Another Difficult Result
For Hamilton, the Monza weekend ended with a sixth-place finish after the opening-lap incident with Leclerc. Speaking after the race, the seven-time world champion admitted that the outcome was a "tough one to swallow".
The result also came at a costly point in the championship. Hamilton slipped to 10 points behind George Russell in second place and now sits 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc, meanwhile, remains fifth in the drivers' standings with 155 points, putting him 112 points behind Antonelli.
Ferrari Faces Pressure Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix
With the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid next on the horizon, Montoya believes Ferrari needs to address the situation before the two drivers return to the track. The former F1 driver specifically wants Hamilton and Leclerc to meet with Ferrari's leadership in Maranello and have a clear discussion about how they should race each other moving forward.
After a home weekend in which Mercedes walked away with a 1-2 finish while Ferrari's two drivers endured separate incidents almost immediately, the Scuderia now faces a crucial opportunity to reset. For Ferrari, the priority is not simply recovering from a disappointing result at Monza. According to Montoya, it is also about making sure its two star drivers understand the boundaries before their next battle arrives.
