The verbal sparring between Juan Pablo Montoya and Max Verstappen continued during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, where the former Colombian Formula 1 driver was present in the paddock following the action firsthand.
Never short of a strong opinion, the 50-year-old once again commented on the four-time world champion and the possibility of a future move away from Red Bull should Max Verstappen decide to seek success elsewhere.
According to Juan Pablo Montoya, speaking in an interview with the betting website TalkSPORT BET, the Dutch driver could eventually be tempted by McLaren, where he would reunite with his longtime race engineer and close collaborator Gianpiero Lambiase, who is expected to join the Woking-based team in 2028.
Juan Pablo Montoya’s view on Max Verstappen’s future
“There are two things to consider,” Juan Pablo Montoya explained. “The first is Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren. Because of that, I think that if Max changes teams, he will end up at McLaren.
“Looking at how Kimi is performing right now, it would make absolutely no sense for Toto to sign Max. It doesn’t make sense when you already have this young guy winning every week, someone who looks capable of breaking every record. He has probably achieved more success at his age than almost anyone else. On top of that, he is working in a great environment with George, who is excellent at team play, well-mannered and respects team orders.”
Juan Pablo Montoya was referring to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, whose impressive performances have further strengthened Mercedes’ long-term plans and intensified speculation about whether the team would truly need to pursue Max Verstappen in the future.
Another dig at Max Verstappen
Juan Pablo Montoya also could not resist taking another swipe at the Dutchman. In a rather unusual comparison, he described Max Verstappen as being “too Latin” in his approach and suggested that his personality could disrupt the harmony currently present within Toto Wolff‘s team.
“Why would you bring someone into the team who creates problems?” Juan Pablo Montoya asked.
“During the Montreal weekend, Toto told my wife that Kimi and George are not easy to manage, but that he can handle them. Then he told her, ‘If I had to manage your husband, that would really be complicated!’
“That’s the Latin spirit. Max has that Latin attitude where he simply wants to give everything all the time. That’s what makes him great. At the same time, if you’ve invested so much in a young driver like Antonelli, why would you bring someone like Max Verstappen into the team?”
The comments are likely to fuel further debate about Max Verstappen’s future, especially as rumours continue to link the Red Bull driver with several potential destinations should he ever decide to leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
For now, however, Mercedes appears fully focused on its current line-up, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli continuing to impress and George Russell remaining one of the team’s key pillars heading into Formula 1’s new era.
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