F1 News: Juan Pablo Montoya Belittles Max Verstappen's Dominance

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya claims that Max Verstappen is no faster than he was two years ago and if he wasn't in the RB19, there are "seven or eight drivers who could be world champion in that car".

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya claims that Max Verstappen's dominance is down to the Red Bull RB19 rather than an improvement in his performance over the last two years.

The two-time champion has won ten of the twelve races of the 2023 season so far and is well on his way to winning his third championship title. 

During an interview with Semana TV, Montoya explained that if Verstappen wasn't in the RB19, there are "seven or eight drivers who could be world champion in that car". He commented:

“Right now, Max is doing a very good job.

“But he looks just as invincible as when Hamilton was winning everything. That’s the reality. Max is a very good driver, but he’s in the best car.

“His speed right now is no better than his speed two years ago. It’s probably the same. It’s the car that is much better.

“If you take Max out of that car, there are seven or eight drivers who could be world champion in that car. If he wasn’t there, Checo, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris – they’d be world champion.

“In motorsport, it’s about timing. With these rules, the Red Bull is the best car. If the rules then change suddenly, it might not be.”

The former F1 driver went on to comment on how seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is coping in Mercedes' downturn in performance. He said, jokingly:

“Very cool, complaining when you’re not winning, but when he was winning, he said that the car had no advantage. But the advantage that Mercedes had was just as great.

“I don’t want to say that Hamilton isn’t good – he’s a great driver. But the reality of this sport is that you have to be in the best car.”