Montoya makes sensational claim over Red Bull driver line-up

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya feels Red Bull should have signed Isack Hadjar as Liam Lawson's replacement.

Following a difficult opening two rounds of the year with Red Bull, Lawson was last week demoted back to Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda called up in his place.

The Japanese driver gets his opportunity at the senior team in what is his fifth F1 campaign after originally being overlooked in favour of Lawson at the end of the 2024 season. 

However, Montoya has suggested Hadjar, who has just two F1 grand prix starts following the French-Algerian driver's step up from F2, should have been given the nod.

“I would have put Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull, more than Yuki Tsunoda,” Montoya told Vision4Sport. “He would have been my choice.

“If I was Red Bull, I would have stated publicly that they were signing Hadjar for two years and guarantee him the seat without question whatever happens. 

“We don’t know what the deal is with Yuki. One year? Two years? I think it's for the whole season.

“Choosing Tsunoda now is an admission they got it wrong last year.”

Tsunoda backed for 'assured future' if he can match Verstappen

Tsunoda's debut race for Red Bull will come at his home event in Japan as he looks to make an impression on the F1 team.

Montoya asserted that should Tsunoda get close to Verstappen's pace in the coming rounds, it will force Red Bull's hand to sign him to a long-term deal.

“I see Suzuka as an opportunity for Tsunoda more than anything else,” Montoya said.

“If he even half performs it's way better than what Liam was doing. If Max qualifies fourth and Tsunoda qualifies 12th, it's way better than what Liam was doing and what Checo was doing.

“It’s his home race, somewhere where he's raced a lot, he knows well, and where he performs well. 

“And if for some reason he can drive the car and be close to Max, my God, his career is off. 

”His future would be assured to a point where Red Bull would be forced to sign him long-term.”