Former Grand Prix driver Juan Pablo Montoya has waded into the ongoing heated debate over F1’s 2026 regulations – and, predictably, he has some strong opinions about who should face consequences.
In a move that feels a bit like a "get off my lawn" moment for the ages, Montoya has suggested that the sport’s biggest stars should either zip their lips or pack their bags.
The catalyst for this sudden surge of veteran discipline? The brutal honesty of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
The Red Bull driver, never one to provide a sanitized corporate soundbite, has famously compared the current state of the sport to “Mario Kart,” further doubling down by calling it “a joke” and “Formula E on steroids.”
Not to be outdone in the bluntness department, Norris weighed in by suggesting that driving these new-spec machines is “probably not something any of us grew up wanting to do.”
While fans generally appreciate a driver who doesn't speak in PR-approved riddles, Montoya seems to think the youngsters are being a bit too "spoiled" by their right to free speech. Apparently, having an opinion is only acceptable if it doesn't hurt the brand’s feelings.
Mocking F1 'not acceptable'
Speaking to AS Colombia, Montoya didn't just suggest a slap on the wrist; he proposed a full-blown North American sports-style crackdown.
“At some point, Formula 1 needs to do what the sports world in the United States does: for people who don’t respect the sport, there’s the door,” Montoya declared, seemingly forgetting that F1's history is practically built on drivers complaining about their cars.
He didn't stop there, offering a "pay up or get out" solution for those who dare to criticize the 2026 direction: “They can leave or get a fine, so they truly learn to respect what they’re doing. That’s what I would do.”
It’s an interesting take, considering that Verstappen and Norris are hardly the only ones raising eyebrows at the new regulations, with Fernando Alonso and Carlos also taking a flamethrower to the new rules.
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But for Montoya, there is a very specific line between healthy debate and what he perceives as mockery.
“It’s fine for people to have an opinion,” he added. “I’m not saying they have to like it, but mocking Formula 1 and comparing it to Mario Kart, that shouldn’t be accepted by Formula 1.”
While the Colombian legend is busy calling for fines and exits, the rest of the world might argue that when the fastest drivers on the planet tell you the car feels like a video game, it might indeed be the regulations – not the drivers – that need a tune-up.
Whether F1 takes Montoya’s "iron fist" advice or continues to let the drivers speak their minds remains to be seen, but for now, the "Mario Kart" comparison seems to be staying in the race.
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