Montoya Criticizes Ferrari Strategy at Australian Grand Prix

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya expressed surprise and disappointment with Ferrari’s strategic decisions during the 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Montoya criticized the team’s decision to not pit both drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, during the virtual safety car phase, while other teams did.

Strategic Disagreement

“To be honest, that surprised me – and at the same time it didn’t surprise me,” Montoya stated after the race. He argued that Ferrari should have split its strategy, pitting one car while leaving the other on track. Mercedes, in contrast, brought both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli into the pits, a move Montoya praised for its clarity and execution. “Mercedes was very clear in what it wanted to do, and you have to grab your hat off to that. They implemented it well.”

A Pattern of Missed Opportunities?

Montoya believes Ferrari’s strategy reflects a recurring issue. “We complained again and again in the 2025 season that Ferrari was never aggressive enough and constantly missed a strategy. In my opinion that has happened to them again,” he said. He suggested that Ferrari may not have had a car capable of winning, but still managed to pressure Mercedes, particularly at the start of the race where both Ferrari drivers held strong positions.

Virtual Safety Car Dilemma

The virtual safety car period proved pivotal. “Maybe the Ferrari wasn’t good enough to win, but Ferrari put Mercedes under pressure. The start was strong, Ferrari was able to maintain its position. Charles was always able to catch up to George and made a very good impression. Then the virtual safety car comes and suddenly everyone goes into the pits – except Ferrari.” Montoya questioned why Ferrari didn’t follow suit, stating, “You think again: ‘Not again! Why?’ At some point someone has to say: ‘Are we really the only ones doing it differently?’ You can’t have ten smart teams and one that misses out and thinks everyone else is wrong.”

Ferrari’s Explanation

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explained that the virtual safety car phase came too early in the race to seriously consider a one-stop strategy. Vasseur stated that it was tough to anticipate that the race would ultimately allow for a single pit stop, and that the team later realized the Pirelli tires were more durable than initially expected.