Montezemolo believes Ferrari should have signed Antonelli.

      "Antonelli is an exceptional driver."

      It’s unfortunate that Ferrari did not secure the young Italian talent Kimi Antonelli. This opinion comes from former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who made a rare appearance at a Formula 1 paddock this weekend in Bahrain. Now 77 years old, the Italian has frequently critiqued the Maranello-based team since resigning as president. Montezemolo remarked in Bahrain: "I see all the Ferrari team members very motivated, and it’s great to see them this way. (Charles) Leclerc is in third place, which means he can compete.

      "This is a team that occasionally lacks leadership, and I say this generally, but we hope to see not just a podium finish, but a car capable of leading. Achieving this requires time and organization," he stated to Sky Italia. "Firstly, I’m thrilled to return after ten years, and it’s significant for Ferrari to secure third place. This is a challenging race where we’ve always faced issues with the rear tyres."

      On a broader note, Montezemolo believes that the Sunday race under the lights should be more exciting compared to Suzuka. "(Lando) Norris will have to battle, it will be an incredible grand prix. I’m glad to have seen people with whom I spent weekends and sometimes had disagreements—like Toto (Wolff) and Helmut Marko, who were all very kind to me.

      "I didn’t get the opportunity to speak with Lewis." Regarding Antonelli, he is currently the only Italian on the grid, and Montezemolo expresses regret that Mercedes signed him instead of Ferrari. "Antonelli is a top-tier driver, especially since he’s in his first year of F1 and makes no mistakes; he’s fast and I can see him improving. Plus, he's from Bologna, just like me," the Italian said. "I just wish he were at Mercedes. Would I have picked him? Maybe not at 18, but I would have placed him at Sauber for two years. Toto was skilled in discovering and developing him, similar to how McLaren nurtured Lewis."

      Binotto questions if Hamilton is still ‘fast.’

      There’s uncertainty regarding whether Lewis Hamilton still possesses competitive speed in Formula 1. That’s the perspective of Mattia Binotto, who a few months ago stated that had he remained at Ferrari, he would not have replaced Carlos Sainz with the seven-time world champion. Hamilton, now 40, departed Mercedes at the end of last year after struggling with his form following his loss to Max Verstappen in the 2021 world championship on the final lap.

      "He has brought immense enthusiasm, passion, and a wealth of experience to Ferrari," Binotto, currently leading Audi-owned Sauber, shared with Corriere della Sera. "However, that alone might not suffice."

      Except for the Shanghai sprint, Hamilton has been trailing Charles Leclerc so far in 2025, and following qualifications in Bahrain, the Briton actually apologized to his team over the radio. "I’m not performing as required," acknowledged Hamilton, who finished P9. "The car is much better than what I’m capable of delivering."

      Binotto explained: "We still do not know how fast Lewis truly is, and this experience will assist him in adjusting, as a strong driver adapts swiftly. In these initial races of 2025, we will observe the balance of power between him and Charles, as well as Charles’s influence on him (Hamilton). These remain uncertainties I won't delve into."