Montoya: Debate over track limits getting 'too controversial'

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya is fascinated by the titanic battle unfolding this season between Mercedes and Red Bull but says the endless discussions over track limits are getting "too controversial".

From the outset, Red Bull and Max Verstappen have taken the fight to Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, and all signs point to an enduring race-by-race showdown between the two teams and their leading drivers.

After three rounds, the reigning world champions hold an edge over their rival, but Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes the order could have been reversed had the stewards been less "brutal" with their track limit calls against Verstappen, the most recent of which deprived the Dutchman of a championship point for fastest lap in last Sunday's Portuguese GP.

"The whole track limit debate is just frustrating," said Horner at Portimão. "It’s been brutal for us across the first three events: the win in Bahrain, pole yesterday and now fastest lap. So it’s been pretty expensive for us."

As a mere fan, Montoya is relishing the battle up front, but the Colombian doesn't envy the stewards' role when it comes to making the right call on track limit infringements.

"I think it's great. I think it's great for TV to have, especially two teams going at it," the seven-time Grand Prix winner told Motorsport TV.

"I think F1 in the last couple years was missing that a little bit. Having the two, Red Bull and Mercedes, go at it like that, it's been a lot of fun.

"But I would say it's been a little too controversial with the track limits.

"I know they're trying to make the tracks safer with runoffs and everything, but it's so hard to control, and why sometimes it's right and [sometimes] it is wrong.

"When it's a judgement call, it's very difficult. I don't envy the stewards of F1 dealing with this."

• Read also: Marko demands action on 'inconsistent' track limits

Although the Red Bull team feels thwarted by the stewards' track limit sanctions, Montoya reckons the frustrations will have also boosted the Milton Keynes-based outfit's determination to finally vanquish its all-conquering Mercedes opponent.

"I'm excited because I think it's just raising the anger level at Red Bull," he said. "They really want to beat Mercedes really, really bad, and that just makes it cool to watch.

"You know, Marko is not a guy with a lot of patience and I wouldn't think Max is either, so if they get a chance to go for it, they will."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter