Juan Pablo Montoya has expressed his doubts about the decision of Red Bull Racing to choose Liam Lawson as the new teammate for Max Verstappen. Following the dismissal of Sergio Pérez at the end of the season, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner opted for Lawson, who had previously replaced Daniel Ricciardo in six races and scored four points. However, Montoya believes that this choice may not be the best for the team.
Lawson’s performance in the six races he participated in was marked by aggressiveness on the track, which sometimes led to bad passes. This behavior has raised concerns that he may struggle to work well with Verstappen, who is known for his strong personality and competitive nature. In fact, Verstappen’s father, Jos, has warned Lawson not to make the same mistakes that other drivers have made in the past when trying to emulate his son’s driving style. Jos Verstappen advised Lawson to focus on his own development and not try to compare himself to Max, recalling his own experiences racing with Michael Schumacher in 1994.
Alternative Choice
Montoya has stated that he would have preferred Isaak Hadjar, a French driver of Algerian origin, to be chosen for the seat instead of Lawson. He believes that Hadjar would have been a better teammate for Verstappen, citing his more even-tempered approach to racing. Montoya also praised Hadjar’s performance in the junior categories, saying that he is “the next Oscar Piastri” and that he has been consistently good throughout his career. He thinks that Hadjar’s calm demeanor would have made him easier to handle and a more suitable companion for Verstappen.
Montoya’s opinions are informed by his close following of the junior categories, and he is particularly interested in the development of young drivers. His son, Sebas Montoya, is set to debut in the F2 in 2025, and Juan Pablo is eager to see how he will perform. He also highlighted the impressive performance of other young drivers, such as Antonelli, but believes that Hadjar is the most complete debutant and the one to watch this season.