Juan Pablo Montoya has downplayed ideas of a rising rift with Max Verstappen following his controversial remarks concerning the Dutchman throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
Earlier, the previous driver had referred to as for over his criticism of the present rules. Montoya, who had already taken a agency stance together with his earlier feedback, doubled down by suggesting that penalty factors needs to be added to the four-time world champion’s licence.
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As reactions to the Colombian’s remarks continued to dominate discussions within the paddock, when questioned by Sky Sports activities’ Martin Brundle throughout his grid stroll on the , insisting he was not shocked by the response to his feedback. “Something new?” Montoya replied.
Nonetheless, following the Grand Prix in Quebec, with tensions from the 4.361 km circuit now cooled, Montoya has supplied additional readability on his relationship with Verstappen.
Montoya reacts to state of affairs with Verstappen
Talking through a playing platform, the seven-time Components 1 race winner insisted there isn’t any unhealthy blood between himself and the driver. The 50-year-old added that if Verstappen had genuinely been offended by his remarks, then the Dutchman would have “greater points in life”, whereas additionally revealing that they nonetheless change greetings within the paddock alongside Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen.
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“No, there’s no drama between Max and me. If he obtained offended about this, then he has extra points in life than he ought to. We’ve talked earlier than throughout races, and really, we get alongside fairly effectively. We don’t chat a lot, however we greet one another and I additionally say hi there to Jos,” Montoya defined.
Juan Pablo Montoya on the F1 grid – Photograph: Race Photos
Juan Pablo Montoya on the F1 grid – Photograph: Race Photos
The previous Williams Racing driver additionally clarified the context behind the remarks that sparked the controversy. Montoya had earlier advised that drivers who publicly criticise Components 1 ought to face sporting penalties.
“I stated drivers who badmouth ought to get penalty factors or be disqualified from a race, like in some other sport. When requested if this included Max, I stated ‘sure’. Folks requested Max what he considered me, so naturally, he reacted.”
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Verstappen hits again at Montoya
Earlier, Verstappen had expressed his ideas on the feedback made by Montoya. The Dutch driver, in an interview with De Telegraaf, defined that he cares little about people who discuss an excessive amount of, whereas additionally questioning why drivers like Montoya proceed to be engaged by Components 1 administration.
“I don’t know what his downside is. I additionally do not care a lot for somebody who talks a lot nonsense. I simply don’t perceive why varieties like that receives a commission by the administration of Components 1, as he typically works for them.”
The Crimson Bull driver, nonetheless, famous that he definitely wouldn’t need somebody who speaks lots of garbage within the paddock, earlier than including that he wouldn’t let such feedback hassle him.
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“Certainly you don’t need somebody like that within the paddock who spouts a lot garbage? I believe it’s a case of: ‘I say one thing totally different from everybody else, so I’m related.’ It doesn’t hassle me that a lot; it’s his downside. I reside my life and received’t let it affect me,” he concluded.
On the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen claimed his maiden podium of the 2026 marketing campaign, following a third-place end on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after an intriguing battle with seven-time champion and Scuderia Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton. The Crimson Bull Racing star, nonetheless, in his post-race response, didn’t fail to specific his Verstappen famous how the racing spectacle followers have been handled to on the Canadian Grand Prix may have been replicated even in a rental automotive.
