Montoya: Verstappen 'no faster than two years ago', but car is better

40

Seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya doesn't believe that Max Verstappen's speed has improved over the last two years, but the Red Bull charger's car certainly has.

Red Bull and Verstappen's 2023 campaign is one of near total dominance for team and driver, with the former currently enjoying a 100 per cent win record while the latter claimed at Spa recently his tenth win of the season.

All signs point to Verstappen sealing his third consecutive world title in F1, a feat that could be achieved as early as next month in Singapore.

Queried on Verstappen's unwavering and seemingly invincible forward march, Montoya acknowledged the Dutchman's performance but reckons he is no faster today than he was two years ago.

Read also: Verstappen names most 'enjoyable' win so far in 2023

"Well right now he's doing a very good job, but he looks just as invincible as when Hamilton was winning everything, that's the reality," Montoya told Colombian website Semana.

"Max is a very good driver, but so far he's in the best car. Max's speed right now is no better than Max's speed two years ago, it's probably the same. The car is much better."

Asked if Verstappen would be as successful in another car, Montoya responded by saying that many other drivers would likely be leading the world championship if they were onboard Red Bull's dominant RB19.

"If you take Max out of that car, there are about seven or eight drivers who could be world champions in that car," argued the former Williams and McLaren driver.

"If he were not there, Checo [Perez], Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc would be world champion. It's about the timing in motorsport, not only for a driver but also for the machine one has.

"It’s clear that if you’re not a good driver it becomes difficult because the better you are, the more chance you have of being in a good team.

"Norris, for example, is a very good driver and McLaren has improved a lot this year, but Lando would probably be World Champion in a Red Bull."

Montoya also offered his opinion on Lewis Hamilton's view that Mercedes was never as strong as Red bull is today during its own period of supremacy.

"It’s always very nice to complain when you don’t win, but when Lewis won he said that the car didn’t give him any advantage," commented Montoya.

"Actually Mercedes’ advantage was as big as what Red Bull currently has.

"I don’t want to say that Hamilton isn’t good, on the contrary, he is a great driver. But the reality of this sport is that you have to be in the best car."

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

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.