Former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya has labelled Max Verstappen as ‘selfish’ for his racecraft during combat.
Verstappen remains one of F1’s most controversial figures when overtaking rivals on track, the four-time World Champion known for his robust battling.
Miami proved to be no different, with the Dutchman engaged in a tight battle with Carlos Sainz’s Williams, Sainz unhappy with Verstappen’s racecraft.
Montoya, known for his straight-talking nature, defended Verstappen’s on-track strategy, believing it was the right one.
“I would wake up and figure out how I could beat the hell out of everybody, you’ve got to be selfish,” Montoya said on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast with Damon Hill.
“You know, for me, it’s shocking. You look at them [the F1 drivers], they all go play padel together, and they’re really good friends and go for dinner together.”
“But that’s why Max is good, because he doesn’t play along.”
Montoya also dismissed suggestions that friendships on the grid will affect Verstappen’s racecraft, incredulous at the suggestion.
“So you’re going to tell me when Max cuts [gets cut up by Gabriel Bortoleto], he’s going to go, ‘I’m not going to dive bomb and put you in the wall like I do everybody else’. Come on!”
Montoya reveals brutality of teammate mindset
Montoya then turned on George Russell, believing that teammate Kimi Antonelli would go all out to beat the Briton in Canada, a track Russell conceded was not one of his best.
“I did F1TV, and they were saying, ‘George knows this [Miami] is not a great place for him. Canada is the best place for him’.
“If I’m Kimi, I’m going out for blood. Oh my God, if I’m going out for blood.
“The way, for example, for me, when I had Ralf [Schumacher] as a teammate. I knew how much going well in Germany meant for him.
“So if we beat him in Germany. Even if it was by a thousandth of a second, it was gold, baby.”
Hill then commented on mind games, stating that “it’s in the mind” Montoya then stating: “It’s money. It’s just so good. Honestly, it’s like taking that little knife and twisting it in there.”
Montoya’s take on Verstappen’s mindset showcases a different view of the Dutchman’s on-track moves, and the brutality of the teammate relationship in F1.
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