Juan Pablo Montoya: "Verstappen won't win in 2025, it will be a Ferrari – McLaren duel"
12/29/2024 10:53 AM
According to Juan Pablo Montoya, Max Verstappen will not be the favorite in the 2025 F1 title fight. The quality of the car is a crucial factor in a driver's chances of victory. Given the challenges Red Bull faced in the recently concluded season and the strong resurgence of rivals McLaren and Ferrari, it's unlikely that Red Bull will replicate their dominance from 2021 to 2024.
The Formula 1 Circus never truly rests, even during the cold winter break. After wrapping up the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi and enjoying a well-earned end-of-year vacation, thoughts are already turning to 2025. This will be a pivotal championship, the last before a major regulatory overhaul. With the current generation of cars nearing its end, the title could be within reach for several teams.
McLaren is undeniably the top favorite, aiming to build on their Constructors' Championship victory at Yas Marina. Ferrari, meanwhile, hopes to learn an important lesson from Yas Marina: winning requires consistent performance, not just untapped potential. Red Bull, with Max Verstappen and newcomer Liam Lawson, may find themselves chasing the front-runners.
Juan Pablo Montoya: “2025 Will Be Very Difficult for Verstappen”**
Among the first to share thoughts on the upcoming season is Juan Pablo Montoya. The Colombian driver, who raced in F1 between 2001 and 2006, has a warning for Max Verstappen: "The truth is that, if you look at the grid, you still see eight or even ten strong drivers," he explained in an interview with *Marca*. "Starting with a car that can win right away is a huge advantage." – he pointed out.
"This doesn't mean the other drivers are less skilled. It's like saying Lewis Hamilton doesn't know how to race anymore, so he can't win another title. The main issue was that Mercedes wasn't as fast as Red Bull. They also struggled in the final races, but it's not as if Verstappen forgot how to drive. He proved that in Brazil." – the former Formula 1 driver added.
"Next season will be very tough for Max Verstappen. If Red Bull doesn't make significant progress, it will be very hard for him to become champion with the car they currently have. They don't have the required speed. So, I don't see him as a favorite. If you look at the last few F1 races of last year, it's impossible to consider him the favorite anymore. We'll have to wait and see what Red Bull comes up with, but I'd say the title fight next year will be between McLaren and Ferrari. I think Mercedes is even more likely than Red Bull." – Juan Pablo Montoya concluded.
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