Verstappen is the best; Ferrari requires improvement - Montezemolo

      "He showcased this even in the most recent race in Baku."

      29 September 2025 - 11:37

      Luca di Montezemolo stated that he could swiftly determine what is necessary to revitalize Ferrari - and identified Max Verstappen as the premier driver in Formula 1. The 78-year-old ex-chief of Ferrari and Fiat made his comments at the London premiere of ‘Luca, Seeing Red’ - a new documentary about his life. The gala attracted a celebrity-filled guest list that included Bernie Ecclestone, Stefano Domenicali, Mattia Binotto, Andrea Stella, Adrian Newey, and Lawrence Stroll, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. "If I were to resume work at Ferrari tomorrow morning, I would have a clear understanding within a week regarding which individuals should be placed in various roles to achieve success," Montezemolo remarked. He also commended four-time world champion Max Verstappen’s performance, noting that the Red Bull driver won in his GT3 racing debut at the challenging Nordschleife while driving a Ferrari 296. "In my view, Max Verstappen is undoubtedly the best driver, and he proved it once again in the last race in Baku under tough circumstances. He was consistently fast and made no errors," he stated. Montezemolo emphasized that even the top driver cannot achieve success on their own. "If Enzo Ferrari always claimed that 50 percent is dependent on the car and the rest on the driver, now the car accounts for 80 percent – and we need to develop as a team," he explained. The former Ferrari president also mentioned: "Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc made an excellent driving duo. However, there is no doubt that, in my opinion, Verstappen is far superior."