Montoya drops Verstappen bombshell as Red Bull concern raised

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Max Verstappen is unlikely to defend his drivers' title next season. 

The Colombian has raised concerns that Red Bull will be unable to catch McLaren and Ferrari, who he pinpoints as the favourites to battle for the title in 2025.

Since claiming his first drivers' title in 2021, Verstappen has successfully defended his crown for a further three straight seasons. 

The four-time world champion has been unstoppable in that sense, although Montoya has recognised that a key advantage for the Dutchman has been his car. 

In the second half of the most recent season, that advantage ended due to Red Bull encountering difficulties with the RB20, resulting in a mid-season 10-race winless streak for Verstappen.

"The truth is that if you look at the grid, you see eight or even 10 good drivers anyway," Montoya told Marca. 

"The problem is just that you have a big advantage if you start with a car in which you can win every week and are immediately number one with that.

"That doesn't mean that the other drivers are bad, because they are actually very good. But it's like saying to Lewis Hamilton that he doesn't know how to race anymore and therefore he can't take another title, when the problem was mainly in the fact that Mercedes doesn't run as fast as that Red Bull. 

"Red Bull suffered from that in the last few races, but it's not that Verstappen has forgotten how to drive. He showed that in Brazil."

Red Bull pressure

Red Bull is not expected to enter next year with the strongest package, with Montoya suggesting that Mercedes could also be above the Milton Keynes-based team. 

Should this be the case and Red Bull are adrift of the lead places, then a challenging season is forecast for Verstappen. 

Montoya struggles to see a way how Verstappen can become a five-time world champion in 2025, with the underlying issue being Red Bull's pace at the end of last season.

"For Verstappen it will be very difficult next season," stated Montoya. 

"If Red Bull can't suddenly make a big step, it will be really difficult for him to become champion with the car he has at the moment. They just don't have the speed they need."

"So I don't see him as a favourite. If you look at the last Formula 1 races of the last year, it is impossible to see him as a favourite anymore. 

"We have to wait and see what Red Bull comes up with first, but I would say the title fight next year will be between McLaren and Ferrari. I think Mercedes is even more likely than Red Bull."