(Motorsport-Total.com) – Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes that the upcoming return of the premier class to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia will primarily benefit Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
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“It was one of those tracks where you really had to push the car,” the Colombian recalls on F1TV about his own time in Formula 1, where he finished second on the podium in 2002 and 2004.
“I think it’s a fantastic track for a guy like Max, who loves to push the car hard. I think Antonelli will also be successful there. So it will be really cool to see that. And it will be extremely hot,” said the former BMW-Williams and McLaren driver.
Formula 1 announced a few days ago that Malaysia will take Bahrain’s place on the current calendar to compensate for the race canceled in April – under the desert state’s name. The Grand Prix will be held on October 4 between the races in Baku and Singapore, forming a triple-header.
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For Montoya, the return after almost ten years is good news as he likes the track: “It’s fantastic. I raced there and it’s incredible,” he says. “Honestly, it’s my favorite track in Formula 1 of all. If you ask me what my favorite track is, it’s this one. You have to be especially brave to be fast there.”
“That’s not because you can’t take the fast corners at full speed, but you just barely can if you believe you’re brave enough – or dumb enough – to try. Many times I managed it, and many times I crashed there.”
The Verstappen he praised had won the last race in Malaysia in 2017, while for Antonelli it will be his first appearance in Sepang. However, the Mercedes driver is not alone in this: of the current 22 drivers, only ten were present at the last race in 2017.