Juan Pablo Montoya predicts 'a lot of drama' between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Monza

There are 22 players on the pitch, but the real match takes place between two brains. In Formula 1, the same holds true: 20 drivers on track, but the real battle lies in the decisions made in the garage and on the pit wall. At Zandvoort last week, Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari number 44 emitted frustrated radio messages. He was unhappy that the team did not issue team orders. Charles Leclerc, in car number 16, was ahead, and Hamilton felt he was faster. Ferrari remained silent. No team orders. The result: two cars finished in tension, and Hamilton later had to publicly apologize. It was a crack. And Juan Pablo Montoya, former F1 driver and now F1 TV pundit, sees that crack widening into a chasm at Monza, where Ferrari celebrates the 30th anniversary of Michael Schumacher's death with a special livery, where the red cars will race before thousands of passionate tifosi. Montoya predicts: 'There will be a lot of drama.' The context of this rivalry is not just an ordinary race. Monza is Ferrari's holy ground. This high-speed track, with its Parabolica and Curva Grande corners, is where engine power and aerodynamic efficiency reign supreme. Ferrari, according to Montoya, 'has done a really good job with the car this year.' They have a chance to win at home. But that chance is partly opened by a grid penalty for championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. The young Italian driver will start from the back of the grid, clearing the path for a fight between Ferrari, McLaren's Lando Norris, and Mercedes' George Russell. At Monza, Ferrari can win. And precisely then, the internal battle between Hamilton and Leclerc becomes most dangerous. The gray area is not where light is lacking. It is where football is most real. In F1, that gray area is the moment between 'let them race' and 'issue team orders.' At Zandvoort, Ferrari chose not to intervene. They let the two drivers fight freely. That led to Hamilton's frustration, who felt he was being held up by a slower teammate. Montoya analyzes: Hamilton apologized afterward, but it was a political move. 'He's just playing the game the right way,' Montoya said. 'He did the politically correct thing to do.' In other words, the apology was not remorse but a PR move to ease tension ahead of Monza. But the tension remains. Leclerc, according to Montoya, 'has found some speed lately.' He is no longer the underdog. At Monza, where Hamilton arrived in a Ferrari F40 – a symbol of luxury and power, as Montoya points out – Leclerc has even more motivation to beat his teammate. 'Whoever beats the other here, it's a big honor, especially if they have a shot of winning the race,' Montoya said. The core analysis of this rivalry lies in the power structure within the team. Ferrari has no clear number one driver. Hamilton, currently second in the standings, level on points with George Russell, 59 points behind Antonelli. Leclerc is fifth, 87 points behind. The points gap creates asymmetric pressure: Hamilton is fighting for the championship, Leclerc is fighting for honor. A driver fighting for honor is often more reckless. A driver fighting for the championship is often more cautious. But at Monza, before thousands of tifosi, both want to win. This combination creates a volatile formula. My World Cup theorem does not predict the champion. It predicts who will collapse first. At Monza, the question is not whether Ferrari can win, but whether they will beat themselves before they can win. The risk of a collision between the two Ferrari drivers is real. Monza is a high-speed track with slipstreaming and heavy braking. If Hamilton and Leclerc fight too hard, they could hit each other, causing a catastrophic double DNF for the home team. That would be a sporting and image disaster. Ferrari was already criticized for not issuing team orders at Zandvoort. If they remain silent at Monza, and something bad happens, the pressure on management will be immense. But there is a contrarian view: should Ferrari let them race freely? Some argue that imposing team orders too early could demoralize the driver asked to yield, especially Leclerc, who is in good form. If Ferrari tells Leclerc to let Hamilton pass, Leclerc may feel disrespected, causing a long-term rift. On the other hand, if they let them race, they accept the risk of a collision. This is a difficult puzzle. Montoya, with his driving experience, leans toward the dramatic scenario. 'There will be a lot of drama,' he says. And I, with 14 years of observing the sports industry, tend to agree. Not because I believe in prophecies, but because I see the systemic factors converging: a team without a clear hierarchy, a track where speed and recklessness are rewarded, a passionate crowd, and two drivers with large egos. In fact, Hamilton expressed his frustration publicly. That shows his relationship with the team is strained. Leclerc, on the other hand, is finding form and wants to prove he deserves to be Ferrari's number one. At Monza, where history and emotion reign, this fight could explode. I have followed F1 since my days as a journalist in Turin, and I remember well the internal rivalries at Ferrari: Prost vs Mansell, Alonso vs Massa, Vettel vs Leclerc. Each time, when the team lacked a clear driver management strategy, the result was often chaos. This time is no exception. From a tactical perspective, Monza poses a unique challenge. This track has low tire degradation, a short pit lane, and strong DRS effect. Conventional pit stop strategy is less important than at other tracks. The deciding factor is often track position and the ability to manage overtakes. If Ferrari lets both drivers race freely, they could waste precious time fighting each other, giving opportunities for Norris and Russell to pass. This is a major tactical risk. A smart team would issue orders from the start: whoever leads into the first corner gets priority, or whoever has better pace after 10 laps gets support. But Ferrari didn't do that at Zandvoort. Will they do it at Monza? I doubt it. I have seen many teams collapse due to poor internal management. McLaren in 2026 with Hamilton and Alonso is a classic example. Ferrari in 2026 with Vettel and Leclerc as well. When two drivers are evenly matched, and the team has no clear number one, competition can become toxic. Montoya, who has been teammates with both, understands this well. He has been in that situation. And his prediction is based on real experience, not just speculation. So what will happen at Monza? I don't have a crystal ball, but I can analyze the scenarios. Scenario one: Ferrari issues team orders from the start, choosing a number one driver. This reduces collision risk but may cause resentment. Scenario two: Ferrari lets them race freely, and they fight hard but without collision. Scenario three: they collide, and Ferrari loses both cars. Scenario four: one driver dominates and wins, the other accepts second place. Among these, I think scenario two or three is most likely. Because Ferrari didn't act at Zandvoort, and they may continue to hesitate. And when they hesitate, they leave it to the drivers to decide. And the drivers, especially Leclerc, will not hesitate to fight. From a data perspective, Hamilton is in consistent form, level with Russell. Leclerc is finding speed again. But Monza is a special track: it favors drivers with good tire management and the ability to use slipstream. Both Hamilton and Leclerc excel in this area. So the fight will be very balanced. And that balance increases the risk of conflict. I recall an interview with a Ferrari engineer in Turin, who told me: 'When you have two racehorses, you must choose one to ride, or you will fall.' Ferrari seems not to have chosen. And Monza may be where they fall. Montoya added: 'Hamilton arrived at Monza in an F40. That makes Leclerc want to beat him even more.' This small detail shows the psychological battle underway. Hamilton, with his experience and stature, is trying to project a powerful image. Leclerc, with his pride and desire to prove himself, does not want to be overshadowed. This is a clash of egos. And in a team, egos often destroy unity. Interestingly, Montoya, who has been teammates with both (indirectly through other teams), has deep insight. He is not just a commentator but someone who has been there. When he says 'there will be a lot of drama,' I believe him. Not because he has inside information, but because he understands the nature of drivers. And that nature is: they want to win, and they will do anything to win, even if it hurts the team. So what is the lesson for Ferrari? They need to be decisive. They need to choose a number one driver for this race, or at least establish a clear rule: whoever leads into the first corner gets priority, or whoever has better pace after 10 laps gets support. Otherwise, they will face a media and sporting storm. And at Monza, where the whole world is watching, such a storm could have long-lasting consequences. I end this article with a question: Will Ferrari have the courage to issue orders, or will they leave it to fate? The answer will be known this weekend at Monza, where the red cars will race on the sacred track, and where their two drivers may write a new page in history – or a tragedy.