F1 legend Juan Pablo Montoya admits CONTROVERSIAL act would see him axed from sport

Juan Pablo Montoya, GoodWood, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Legends

F1 legend admits CONTROVERSIAL act would see him axed from sport

Juan Pablo Montoya compares F1 from the early 2000s to today

Jay Winter

Wednesday 14 August 2024 17:57

Former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya has confessed that his aggressive driving style and outspoken nature would likely see him ejected from the sport if he were competing today, referencing one controversial act in particular.

Max Verstappen is arguably the most aggressive star on the current grid, but, whenever he, or indeed any other driver on the grid crosses a line, the FIA are very quick to intervene.

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Now, Juan Pablo Montoya - who won seven Grands Prix during his career from 2001 to 2006 - has reflected on how the sport has evolved, admitting that his past antics would no longer be tolerated in the current F1 environment.

A popular figure in the paddock as a pundit and commentator these days, Montoya has candidly discussed his racing days.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris collided at the Austrian Grand Prix

Juan Pablo Montoya raced in F1 from 2001 to 2006

Montoya: I'd be out of F1

Montoya has explained how the sport's culture in his era allowed for a more combative approach, something that he believes would be unacceptable in today’s more regulated and scrutinised F1.

“When I think back to some of the things I did, especially at Monaco in 2005, I know I’d be out of F1 very quickly if I did that today,” Montoya stated with a chuckle, via GPBlog.

The Colombian was referencing an incident where his unsportsmanlike conduct during practice in Monaco led to a chain-reaction crash that involved several drivers.

“The sport has changed a lot. It’s not just me—everyone raced with a different mentality back then.

“It was a very cultural sport, and now it’s a little different.”

Juan Pablo Montoya won seven races in F1

Despite stepping away from full-time racing, Montoya remains deeply connected to the sport.

When he’s not guiding tours or sharing anecdotes, he’s offering his unfiltered analysis of current events in F1, much like he did during his racing days.

“Some things haven’t changed,” he laughed.

Montoya’s reflections offer a stark contrast between F1 of the early 2000s and the highly controlled environment of the modern era, underscoring how much the sport has evolved in just over a decade.

Max Verstappen FIA Sergio Perez Sebastian Vettel Juan Pablo Montoya