Montezemolo 'betrays' Alonso

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is strongly linked to the history of Ferrari. It is no coincidence that he arrived at the Italian house in 1973. Since then, he has held various positions, including director of the Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 and also president of the company.

His time in Maranello ended in 2015, but Luca di Montezemolo will always feel like a Ferrari fan and also has the right to comment on everything related to the Italian team in the top category. And he has done so.

"Sainz and Leclerc were a very good pair for Ferrari"

Neither Alonso nor Hamilton

In statements given to Reuters, Luca di Montezemolo stated that the best driver in Formula 1 is not in Ferrari and, therefore, is not Lewis Hamilton, nor is it Charles Leclerc.

The signing of the seven-time world champion caused a stir in Formula 1 and sparked excitement among many Ferrari fans, although it also caused skepticism among many of them. The reason? A last season in Mercedes that, as seen, was a replica of the current one in Ferrari.

Luca di Montezemolo believes that Ferrari made a mistake by breaking up the Sainz-Leclerc pair, but he is also very clear that the best driver today is not the Spaniard either. Nor is it his compatriot, Fernando Alonso, whom he has always pointed out as a driver who transcends his era.

"Today I have to say that, for me, Verstappen is by far the number 1. Even in the last race in Baku, in difficult conditions, he never lost control. He was always fast, he never makes mistakes," pointed out the former president of Ferrari.

"Sainz and Leclerc were a very good pair [for Ferrari]". But there is no doubt that Verstappen is, by far, the best in my opinion. By far, reiterates Luca di Montezemolo, who no longer sees Fernando Alonso as the reference of the grid, but rather the Dutch four-time champion who is only 27 years old.

Ferrari is not well managed

Luca di Montezemolo has also commented on the current situation in the Scuderia Ferrari. After coming close to winning the constructors' world title in 2024, the Italian team has taken a clear step back this year and, with less than half the points of McLaren, aims not to be surpassed by Mercedes and Red Bull.

A few months ago, the former leader of the Italian house stated that the current Ferrari has no soul, and now he reiterates his disapproval of the management being carried out by Frédéric Vasseur. "If tomorrow morning I find myself forced to work at Ferrari, in a week I know exactly who to place in different positions."

In addition, Luca di Montezemolo recalls the predecessor of the Frenchman, Mattia Binotto, now leading the Sauber and Audi project. "I am happy for Binotto... he is investing in the future with a good young Brazilian driver [Gabriel Bortoleto], looking towards the future," he concludes.

Ferrari matches this year its worst streak in history without winning the constructors' championship (16 years, the previous one was between 1983 and 1999. As for the drivers' championship, Michael Schumacher broke a 21-year drought in 2000, and it has already been 18 years since Kimi Räikkönen won in 2007.