Juan Pablo Montoya predicts a difficult 2025 season for Max Verstappen, citing Red Bull’s struggles and the rise of McLaren and Ferrari
Juan Pablo Montoya has caused a stir in the world of Formula 1 by predicting that reigning world champion Max Verstappen may not defend his title in 2025. The former F1 driver raised concerns about Red Bull’s ability to keep up with rivals McLaren and Ferrari, who he believes are the favourites to fight for the championship next season.
Since claiming his first world title in 2021, Verstappen has dominated F1, successfully defending his crown for three consecutive seasons. However, Montoya pointed out that Verstappen’s success has largely been due to the performance advantage of the Red Bull car.
In the latter part of the 2024 season, Red Bull faced difficulties with their RB20, causing a rare mid-season winless streak for Verstappen over ten races. Montoya acknowledged that Verstappen is undeniably talented but argued that without a fast car, even the best drivers can struggle to secure victories.
Embed from Getty Images“The truth is, if you look at the grid, you can see eight or even ten drivers who are capable of winning,” Montoya told Marca. “The problem is having a car that gives you a huge advantage, allowing you to win week after week and be number one straight away.”
Montoya elaborated further, drawing comparisons with Lewis Hamilton’s recent struggles at Mercedes. He suggested that just as people don’t blame Hamilton for Mercedes’ lack of pace, Verstappen should not be seen as any less of a driver due to Red Bull’s recent issues.
“Red Bull suffered in the last few races, but it’s not that Verstappen has forgotten how to drive,” Montoya said. “He showed in Brazil that his skill is still unmatched, but the reality is that without the right car, it’s incredibly hard to compete for titles.”
Montoya’s comments underline the growing uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s chances in 2025, as McLaren and Ferrari both seem to be closing the gap to Red Bull. With the team’s dominance threatened, Verstappen will have to rely not only on his driving prowess but also on the performance of his car to continue his reign at the top.
As the 2025 season approaches, Verstappen’s fight to maintain his title will be one of the most anticipated battles in recent F1 history.
