The prediction from the former Colombian driver
The 2026 Formula 1 season will kick off this weekend in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix. Albert Park will provide the first answers after weeks dominated by pre-season mind games, during which all four top teams claimed to be the fourth force on track in an attempt to lower expectations from their rivals.
Red Bull certainly showed during testing that it has a power unit far more reliable and performant than many expected. However, according to Juan Pablo Montoya, this alone will not be enough to allow Max Verstappen to fight for the 2026 World Championship.
Verstappen could end up at Mercedes or McLaren
The Colombian driver pointed to George Russell and Mercedes as the likely title winners for 2026, and according to Montoya, Verstappen could end up at Mercedes or McLaren at a bargain price: “If you’re third and you want Max Verstappen, you have to meet all his demands. If, on the other hand, you’re winning repeatedly and he wants to come to you, the situation reverses,” said the former Colombian driver, speaking to Vision4Sport. “You don’t have to give him 70 million anymore, you can offer 20. I think for Verstappen, glory is now more important than money because he’s already earned enough. Therefore, teams can now get him at a bargain.”
As the paddock settles into the crucial reality of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Juan Pablo Montoya’s assessment highlights the brutal nature of the F1 transfer market. While Max Verstappen remains arguably the most talented driver on the grid, the new technical era proves that even a three-time champion is only as strong as the machinery beneath him. If Red Bull fails to maintain its advantage, the “bargain” move Juan Pablo Montoya describes could become the defining story of the year, potentially seeing the Dutchman trade his massive paycheck for the chance to reclaim the top step of the podium in silver or papaya.
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