The son of Montoya speaks without filters: “Bearman cheated, but I still beat him”
Sebastián Montoya, son of former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya and current Prema driver in Formula 2, has once again raised his ambitions of reaching Formula 1 with bold and provocative statements about Oliver Bearman, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Gabriel Bortoleto, sparking heated discussion in the paddock.
At the beginning of this season, four young talents moved up from Formula 2 to the world of Formula 1. Among them were reigning F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Ferrari junior driver Oliver Bearman, and Mercedes prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli. All of these drivers had shown flashes of great speed during the previous season, convincing Formula 1 team principals to gamble on their potential and give them the chance to make the leap into the highest category of motorsport.
However, as is well known in the F1 world, available seats are extremely limited and not every driver is able to realize their dream of making it to the grid. Even winning the Formula 2 championship is no guarantee of a spot in Formula 1. The case of French driver Théo Pourchaire, who won the F2 title but failed to secure a permanent F1 seat, is a perfect example of how ruthless the system can be. Over the years, several other drivers have faced similar frustrations. That is why it is necessary to prove that one is truly exceptional to have any real hope of progressing to Formula 1.
Among the current competitors in the Formula 2 Championship, there is one young driver who believes he has everything it takes to deserve a chance in F1: Sebastián Montoya. The Colombian driver, who races with Prema alongside Italian driver Gabriele Minì and is also a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, feels that he has already proven himself against several of the rookies who are now racing at the highest level.
According to Montoya, by analyzing the performance of his former rivals who have already made the step up, it is clear that Formula 1 is an achievable goal for him as well. He has not hesitated to make direct comparisons and even took a jab at Oliver Bearman, one of the most highly regarded talents of the new generation.
Sebastián Montoya insists he has already been faster than today’s F1 rookies
The Colombian believes he can accelerate his career path and make it to Formula 1 by the age of 20. Currently sitting ninth in the championship standings and already showing strong performances in several races this season, Montoya dreams of following in his father Juan Pablo Montoya’s footsteps and building a successful career in F1. Speaking to AS Colombia, the young driver was clear in his ambition: “I can make it to Formula 1 too.”
He continued by explaining that recent weeks had strengthened his belief: “Honestly, these last few weeks have proven to me that it is possible. In particular, by looking at this year’s rookies. Gabriel Bortoleto was my teammate and I was quicker than him. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was also my teammate, and I was much quicker than him too.”
Then came the most controversial part of his comments, directed at Ferrari reserve driver Oliver Bearman: “Bearman? I raced against him and I was able to beat him when we had more or less the same engine. When he wasn’t cheating, I beat him. When he was cheating, we fought.”
Montoya went on to say that seeing these drivers succeed had reinforced his motivation: “I thought to myself, if they managed to make it, why can’t I? Kimi Antonelli has already stepped onto the podium, but he has had a very difficult season despite being well prepared. I think I can beat him.”
The Colombian driver did not hold back, firing off bold comparisons and thinly veiled provocations, especially aimed at Oliver Bearman. Such words are bound to echo around the paddock and fuel debate. Yet, in the world of motorsport, it is performance on track that ultimately speaks louder than any statements made off it. Whether Sebastián Montoya will be able to turn these confident claims into concrete results is something that only time, and the racing circuit, will reveal.
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