According to the former driver, racers have been advised to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem
The Colombian notices a change in approach
After more than a month of waiting, Formula 1 is ready to return to action in Miami for what will be the second Sprint weekend of the 2026 season. The Florida event will also be the first race weekend to feature the new energy management regulations. For this reason, the first free practice session has been extended by 30 minutes to give teams and drivers more time to adapt and fine-tune their preparation ahead of Sprint Qualifying.
The regulation changes were introduced in an effort to reduce lift-and-coast strategies during qualifying and to avoid further incidents like the one involving Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman, where the Ferrari junior, in an attempt to avoid the recharging Alpine of Franco Colapinto, was effectively forced off track and lost control of his Haas.
Max Verstappen has been highly critical of the 2026 regulations, and Juan Pablo Montoya would not be surprised if the Dutch driver — among others — had received a phone call aimed at lowering the tone of public criticism in favour of more constructive feedback that does not necessarily need to be delivered through the media.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone from F1 called Max and told him to tone it down,” said Montoya in an interview with Betpack. “I guarantee you they have spoken to him and all the drivers and told them that this game can be played by two sides. Since then, none of the drivers have said much.”
“I think the drivers are starting to understand that they need to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Drivers have enormous power and influence over what is said. I’m sure F1 told them they are working on it, but that if they don’t support them, they won’t be supported either, and that if they want to leave, the door is there. Since then, everyone has changed their tone.”
“Bearman first blamed his incident on the cars, then last week he appeared on an F1 show and said the cause of the crash was Colapinto’s manoeuvre on corner exit. Their perspective is completely changing, and that’s because F1 has grabbed them by the… well, as it should have done from the start of the season.”
Juan Pablo Montoya therefore believes that F1 leadership has intervened to silence driver criticisms of the 2026 regulations, urging them to be part of the solution rather than the problem. This shift follows a period of public controversy and includes a notable change in how drivers like Max Verstappen and Oliver Bearman address technical and on-track issues. By emphasizing the team effort required to improve the sport, F1 has effectively managed driver influence to ensure a more unified front as the season resumes in Miami.
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