'Not even Verstappen could beat Hamilton if he had the right car'

After a few seasons of racing without a real shot at winning the title, Hamilton is determined to prove he still has what it takes at 40 years old. Now, at Ferrari, he wants to show that he’s more than just an experienced veteran. According to Montoya, there’s no doubt that Hamilton still has the speed to compete at the very top.

He cites Fernando Alonso as an example. “They still have 100 per cent of their speed, but they will still somehow qualify just in the top 10. If the car is capable of winning, then they would be much higher," the Colombian told Crash.net.

Therefore, the former F1 driver believes, “If Hamilton has a fast car this season, we’ll see the old Hamilton from a few years ago, the Hamilton that nobody can beat, not even Max Verstappen."

How will Ferrari keep Hamilton motivated?

Montoya also states, "But the question for Ferrari is how will they keep him motivated?” To that question, the seven-time Grand Prix winner answers himself. Indeed, Montoya thinks Ferrari has a good chance of winning a world title, but it's not going to be easy.

"Ferrari are putting all their eggs in the basket so they can compete this season, Mercedes don’t have to risk much, McLaren have a huge opportunity to keep dominating before the 2026 regulation changes, where they could become average.”

This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon