Luca di Montezemolo has thrown the spotlight back on Ferrari’s recent past, singling out Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as a “very good couple” while leaving Lewis Hamilton out of the conversation entirely. Hamilton, Leclerc and Vasseur at Monza @RacePictures
(Carlos) Sainz and (Charles) Leclerc was a very good (Ferrari) couple.
- Luca di MontezemoloSpeaking at the London premiere of “Luca: Seeing Red”, the 78-year-old praised Ferrari’s old pairing and hailed Max Verstappen as
Formula 1’s standout driver, but had nothing to say about the seven-time world champion who replaced Sainz at Maranello.
“(Carlos) Sainz and (Charles) Leclerc was a very good (Ferrari) couple,” Montezemolo said to Reuters, before making his feelings clear on today’s benchmark.
“Today I have to say, for me, Verstappen is by far the number one. Even in the last race in Baku, difficult conditions, he never lost control. He was always quick. He never makes mistakes.”
Hamilton, still chasing his first podium in red, was not mentioned, unlike Sainz, who already delivered a third place for Williams in Baku. Montezemolo also chose not to reference current Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, instead stressing the need for teamwork and clarity.
“If tomorrow morning I will be obliged to go to work in Ferrari, in one week I have clear in my mind who to put in different positions,” he said, criptically.
Ferrari under fire in F1 2025
The Scudería has been the target of several pundits. Ralf Schumacher after assuring that Hamilton's
criticism of the team was unnecessary, he also stated that the Brit's issues stemmed from a lack of authority within the team.
The German also referenced Hamilton's inability to give the position back to Leclerc at the line in Baku, suggesting that if there was no trust in the team then both parties should say thier goodbyes at the end of the current season.
This, however, is the Canadian's opinion. Hamilton did brake and lift before reaching the line and later apologised to the Monegasque for what he himself acknowledged as a
misjudgment.GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update
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