Juan Pablo Montoya Isn't Particularly Awed by Max Verstappen's Formula 1 Supremacy

Perhaps Max Verstappen's accomplishments, including his 10 out of 12 victories in this Formula 1 season, might not be as exceptional as they seem. Juan Pablo Montoya, a veteran of six years in F1 and a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, doesn't share the widespread amazement. Montoya suggests that there are "seven or eight drivers" who could achieve similar results if they were driving Verstappen's Red Bull and contends that Verstappen's success isn't solely due to his driving skills but also the superiority of his car.

Montoya was questioned about Verstappen's dominant performance, even surpassing his teammate Sergio Perez in the same Red Bull team. Gian Carlo Minardi, a former F1 team owner, noted Verstappen's impressive lead over Perez in the Belgium race, and remarked that Verstappen's skill in driving the powerful Red Bull car is what sets him apart from the rest. He went on to say that if Verstappen were absent, Formula 1 would offer a more evenly matched and thrilling competition.

However, Montoya isn't entirely convinced that Verstappen's dominance is more remarkable than Lewis Hamilton's during the period of Mercedes' supremacy. Montoya, a seven-time F1 winner, compared the two situations and expressed that while Verstappen is undoubtedly performing well, his speed appears to be consistent with what it was two years ago. He implies that the major difference lies in the performance of the car itself, suggesting that a handful of other drivers, including Perez, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, and Norris, could potentially achieve championship success in the same car.

Montoya also playfully ridicules Hamilton's recent proposal to change the rules of F1 to level the playing field, given the current one-sided competition. He sarcastically praises Hamilton's complaint about the situation when he isn't winning, contrasting it with Hamilton's previous stance when Mercedes was dominating. Montoya reinforces the idea that being in the best car is a significant factor in F1 success, emphasizing that while Hamilton is a skilled driver, the competitive landscape is inherently influenced by the machinery at hand.