Max Verstappen’s repeated criticisms towards Red Bull would hide a very specific strategy according to Juan Pablo Montoya.
Read more McLaren acknowledges having paid «a heavy price» for its 2025 titles
Max Verstappen’s future continues to fuel speculation as Red Bull goes through a particularly difficult 2026 season. Still searching for his first win this year, the four-time world champion did not hesitate to publicly point out the weaknesses of his car.
The RB22 remains behind compared to Mercedes, Ferrari and now McLaren. An unusual situation for Verstappen, who also has performance clauses that could allow him to leave Red Bull before the end of his contract, set for the end of 2028.
For Juan Pablo Montoya, these criticisms do not mean that the Dutchman is preparing to leave. The former Formula 1 driver sees it rather as a way to push his team to react.
Verstappen would not really want to leave
For several months, different potential destinations have been mentioned for Max Verstappen. Mercedes has long been presented as the most credible option, while the name of McLaren is now also coming up in discussions.
Juan Pablo Montoya nevertheless believes that leaving Red Bull is probably not the priority for the 28-year-old driver.
“I don’t think Max wants to leave Red Bull”, says the Colombian. “You are in one of the best Formula 1 teams, probably the best of the last twenty years with Mercedes. You are in the right place.”
The former Williams and McLaren driver acknowledges that the Milton Keynes team is no longer exactly the one that dominated Formula 1 for several seasons. Several key figures have left the structure in recent years, but Red Bull remains, according to him, capable of turning around a difficult situation.
A strategy to provoke a reaction from Red Bull?
Montoya specifically takes the 2025 season as a reference. Red Bull had encountered significant difficulties before considerably improving its car during the second half of the championship.
This progress allowed Verstappen to come back into a title fight that seemed lost. The Dutchman ultimately failed by only two points to Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi finale.
“Yes, things have changed because many people have left, but the team remains competitive. Last year, they almost came back to win the championship.”
Read more Toto Wolff impressed by Kimi Antonelli’s transformation: «The best I’ve seen»
According to Montoya, Verstappen is therefore primarily trying to provoke a similar reaction this season.
“I think that’s what he wants to see from the team and he’s simply trying to put pressure on them.”
An interpretation that would shed a different light on the many critical statements from the four-time world champion since the beginning of the year.
There would be no shortage of suitors
However, this does not mean that Verstappen would be without options if the situation did not improve. Stefan Johansson believes that practically all the big teams would be interested if the Dutchman really decided to leave Red Bull.
The former Formula 1 driver also understands Verstappen’s frustration with the current lack of competitiveness of his car.
“I can understand his frustration. If you don’t have the car, you won’t win. There has never been a world champion who did not have the best car. That’s the reality.”
Despite the limitations of the RB22, Johansson considers that Verstappen continues to make a difference behind the wheel.
“He continues to perform miracles most of the time and he remains obviously incredibly strong. I’m sure that opportunities would not be lacking for him. I think all teams would give an arm to have him in their car.”
For now, Verstappen therefore remains with Red Bull. But between his contractual clauses, the difficulties encountered in 2026 and the potential interest of rival teams, the pressure will remain strong during the second half of the season. It remains to be seen if this pressure will allow, as Montoya thinks, to provoke a new surge from Red Bull.
Read more Mercedes warned: the battle for the titles is «far from over»