(Motorsport-Total.com) – Exactly 25 years ago, Jos Verstappen drew the wrath of Juan Pablo Montoya when he took out the then BMW-Williams driver who was leading at the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix. A quarter of a century later, there is again trouble between Montoya and a Verstappen.
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This time, however, it is Jos’ son Max with whom Montoya – no longer an active Formula 1 driver, but an expert – has clashed. The starting point was the Colombian’s statement that the FIA should calmly suspend Verstappen for a race after his ongoing criticism of the new regulations.
“I don’t know what his problem is,” replies the four-time world champion now in an interview with De Telegraaf. Montoya is someone “who talks so much nonsense,” Verstappen finds and explains he does not understand “that such guys are paid by Formula 1 management.”
Montoya is working this season as an expert for F1 TV, the official streaming service of Formula 1. “You don’t want someone who talks so much nonsense in the paddock, do you?” wonders the Dutchman.
The suggestion to suspend Verstappen, however, was made by Montoya elsewhere, namely in the Chequered Flag podcast of the BBC. “I think it’s a case of: ‘I say something different than everyone else, then I’m relevant,'” the Red Bull driver suspects.
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He himself is not particularly “interested in such things,” he emphasizes and explains: “That’s his problem. I live my life and don’t let it affect me.” Montoya was also on duty as an expert for F1 TV again last weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
That it will someday again be “Montoya versus Verstappen” on the racetrack cannot be completely ruled out, by the way. Montoya’s son Sebastian is currently racing in Formula 2 and is thus directly on the threshold to the top class.
However, Montoya’s results there are modest. He finished his debut season in 2025 in twelfth place overall; in 2026 he is currently in eleventh position. He finished the Formula 2 race in Canada last Sunday in fourth place.
At least for now, the duel “Montoya versus Verstappen” must continue to be fought off the track.
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