Sebastián Montoya: I inherited some of my father's qualities.

      Sebastian Montoya made his Formula 2 debut this year and has already attracted attention: he definitely has speed, and he has already stood on the podium twice. But when a young driver has a famous surname, he will get attention anyway, which is not always good, because it usually only brings additional pressure.

      However, the 20-year-old driver insists that this is not his case, because his father, who in his time raced very brightly in Formula 1, became a role model and a source of inspiration for him.

      In an interview with the championship’s official website, Sebastian talked about the role his father, Juan Pablo Montoya, plays in his career.

      The thing is, I don’t have real memories of my father racing in Formula 1, because I was born in 2005 and he left the championship in 2006. But I’ve seen photos and videos – probably the earliest event that comes to mind is when, after his win in Brazil (in September 2005), they put me in the trophy he had won.

      Also, if you ask me about my father’s achievements in Formula 1, I’ll tell you about his win at Silverstone. If you watch the highlights of the 2005 British Grand Prix, you’ll see the podium ceremony, and my mother is there next to the podium holding me in her arms and lifting me up, as if I were Simba from the movie The Lion King.

      And there was the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix where he overtook Michael Schumacher. That was an incredible move! Or you can recall his first win at Monza, which is impressive too. But I would say the vivid moment was the 2003 Monaco Grand Prix, which he won.

      This year I got on a Formula 2 podium for the first time, and that was also in Monaco. To be honest, I didn’t even realize I was on the podium until the anthem started playing (it was the US anthem, because the race was won by American Jack Crawford). Only then did I realise what was happening. I looked at the crowd standing below, and it was an unforgettable moment.

      I’ve seen that ceremony from the other side too: I stood by the podium and looked up, because I live in Monaco, and on the opposite side of the street is my favourite ice-cream café.

      At the start of the year I told myself I wanted to get on the podium, like my father once did. Of course I dreamed of winning, but I’ll accept third place – I can’t complain…

      I’ve always felt that I show good speed on the Monaco track, but I never managed to get results that would prove it. So the moment was all the more joyful, since my father once performed well on that circuit.

      If we talk about my career, my father has influenced it a lot… And my situation is different from that of other guys. Because of my father people always look at me a little differently, they talk about me differently, since I’m the son of someone with a big name in motorsport.

      But it never seemed to me that there were any negatives connected with that. I’m used to it and I think it’s a huge plus. My father trains me; he is one of the best drivers in the history of motorsport, and that’s not only about Formula 1 – it’s great that he’s by my side and always supports me.

      In the 2002 season he started from pole seven times, and that’s another striking achievement that distinguishes my father. He was a fearless driver, and I think I inherited some of his qualities and learned a lot from him.

      It doesn’t matter who your rivals are, or who among them is the fastest. If, while racing, you do your job excellently, if you use everything at your disposal with maximum efficiency – you work well with the engineers, you set the car up well – then there are no obstacles for you.

      My father and his achievements inspire me, and that is still very important to me.