Juan Pablo Montoya needs Max Verstappen penalised for his public criticism of the 2026 guidelines.
Clearly the Colombian wasn’t exaggerating when he claimed his head had been damaged after colliding with a TV cameraman all these years in the past, for not solely has he known as on the powers that be so as to add penalty factors to Verstappen’s superlicence however has described the Dutchman ’save‘ following his first lap spin in Miami as „fortunate“.
Whereas Verstappen has been most vocal in criticising the 226 laws, he’s not alone, and even after Sunday’s race a number of drivers, together with the McLaren pair, remained sad.
Nevertheless, it’s the Dutchman that Montoya clearly has a problem with.
„You have to respect the game,“ he advised the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast. „For me, what the drivers are doing, I am okay with you not liking the laws, however the way in which you have been talking about what you are dwelling off and your personal sport, there ought to be penalties for that,“ he added, nearly echoing Stefano Domenicali’s earlier feedback.
Requested what these penalties ought to be, the previous Williams and McLaren drivers was in little doubt: „Park him“ he replied. „Add seven factors to the licence, eight factors to the licence. No matter you do after, you are going to be parked. I assure you all of the messaging could be totally different.
„I am not saying; ‚do not say that you do not just like the laws‘, as a result of for those who do not prefer it, you’ve gotten the entire proper to an opinion,“ he continued. „It is okay to be outspoken,“ added the 1999 CART Champion and two-time Indy 500 winner. „I am not saying do not be outspoken, however do not come and name an F1 automotive a Mario Kart.“
Montoya then advised that Verstappen’s criticism won’t solely replicate his personal emotions concerning the laws however these of his workforce.
„There are two issues there,“ he mentioned. „One, what he actually feels, and two, is what the workforce might be asking him to say,“ he added. „The politics of the game are actually necessary, and the message the drivers come throughout and ask for, a variety of them are guided. They let you know we actually have to push for this as a result of that is going to actually assist us.“
After 4 seasons with Williams, throughout which era he twice completed third within the championship, Montoya moved to McLaren the place he loved a fractious relationship with Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh, ultimately strolling away from F1 after the tenth spherical of his second season and headed to NASCAR.
Reflecting on Verstapepn’s 360 spectacular spin on the opening lap, which noticed the Dutchman handle to keep away from being hit by the chasing pack and solely drop a few positions, Montoya, presumably nonetheless traumatised by that point he allegedly walked in on a teammate reenacting a line from a Lou Reed tune, was unimpressed.
„Yeah, he is obtained such a ability set at spinning automobiles and get it going once more on the proper level,“ he sneered.
„You say that is expertise?“ he requested podcast host Jolyon Palmer. When the Briton confirmed that he did, the Colombian mentioned: „I assumed it was pure luck.“
