Montoya: People listen to drivers too much

      Juan-Pablo Montoya is confident that if Max Verstappen were winning races now, he wouldn't be complaining about the 2026 regulations and the new generation of cars, and since the four-time world champion is not doing well at the start of the season, he is playing a certain game now.

      "I think if Max were winning every race in a row, he wouldn't be complaining. I believe he's just letting off steam, and that's a different story," said the former Formula 1 driver in an interview with RacingNews365. "What's the point of complaining that acceleration is now provided by a battery instead of the open wing of the DRS system, since in the end, it's the same thing? When I was in Formula 1, we didn't have anything like that.

      In IndyCar, we used the push-to-pass overtaking mode, which gave extra acceleration. But in reality, all of this is done to enhance the spectacle. In my opinion, people don't understand the very idea on which all this is based. People listen too much to drivers, forgetting that such comments are always made for political reasons.

      When you don't like something and find yourself in an unfavorable position, you try to find a way to harm everyone else – and this is done quite openly.

      Think about why Mercedes complains that starts are unsafe? Why does Carlos Sainz say the same thing, while Ferrari insists that the starts are perfect? It's all games, you understand?

      In general, it's just letting off steam. I have my own podcast, and in it, I said that Formula 1 shouldn't allow this. Commenting on something, expressing your opinion – that's perfectly normal, and I'm not saying it shouldn't be done. But it shouldn't harm the sport you are involved in."