Lando Norris’s interview with The Guardian is making waves in the paddock. Caught in a tense and highly controlled exchange, the Briton saw Juan Pablo Montoya step up to defend him… with particularly sharp words.
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At the origin of the controversy, an interview granted by Lando Norris in a very strict setting, where several sensitive subjects were clearly forbidden. Among them, relations with Max Verstappen, George Russell or criticisms of current regulations.
Despite these limits, the journalist insisted on certain themes, provoking a direct intervention from the driver’s entourage and a premature interruption of the exchange. A situation that gave the image of an uncomfortable Norris, caught between media expectations and his management’s instructions.
Montoya lambasts an “unacceptable” attitude
Faced with this sequence, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya did not mince his words, denouncing behavior he considers disrespectful and counterproductive.
“It’s very bad on the part of this journalist. If you are told: we grant you an exclusive interview with Lando, but you cannot address certain subjects, and you do it anyway… I would never speak to him again. Lando handled the situation very well by pretending to answer, knowing full well that he couldn’t and that his entourage would intervene” affirms Montoya.
The former driver goes further by pointing out a practice he considers common in the industry: asking deliberately provocative questions to generate catchy headlines.
“You ask a question and if he answers: ‘Honestly, I’m not a fan of Max, I don’t like his way of racing’, then 80% of the article is based on that. With all due respect to journalists, they are incompetent people. That’s why management intervened, because they knew what was going to happen” estimates the Colombian.
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A warning against the media world
Drawing on his Formula 1 experience, Montoya makes a harsh assessment of the relationship between drivers and the media, calling for constant vigilance.
“Very few journalists are people you can truly trust to speak freely without it being used against you” confides Montoya.
At first, you are open with everyone, then you learn with time. There is always someone who will use what you say, even off-mic. Many, just for a scoop, will stab you in the back without hesitation.”
This episode perfectly illustrates the difficulty for modern drivers to navigate between authenticity and control of their image. In a sport where every word can become a headline, the slightest statement is scrutinized, interpreted… and sometimes distorted.
In this context, Montoya’s strong defense highlights an often invisible reality: in Formula 1, the battle is not only fought on the track, but also in front of the microphones.
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