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Juan Pablo Montoya: Why F1 Drivers Would Struggle at the Daytona 500

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 16, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 6 mins read
0
Juan Pablo Montoya: Why F1 Drivers Would Struggle at the Daytona 500

Feb 16, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) and driver Chase Briscoe (19) lead the field during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

For decades, the debate has raged: Could Formula 1 drivers dominate in NASCAR?

According to Juan Pablo Montoya, one of the few drivers to have raced at the highest levels of F1, NASCAR, and IndyCar, the answer is a resounding “not so fast.”

As the 67th running of the Daytona 500 gets underway, Montoya has laid out why even the best F1 drivers would struggle to adapt—especially at NASCAR’s most unpredictable and grueling event.


F1 vs. NASCAR: A Completely Different Animal

Montoya, a seven-time Grand Prix winner with Williams and McLaren, knows first-hand how difficult the transition can be. He argues that Formula 1 drivers are conditioned for precision, but NASCAR’s chaotic, pack-racing environment demands something entirely different.

“You can’t compare one with the other,” Montoya explained.
“You can’t just say F1 drivers are so much better. If you bring the best F1 driver to NASCAR and put him on an oval, at the beginning, he’s going to struggle.”

Why? Because bad habits in one series don’t translate well to the other.

“They’re going to go out and say, ‘This car has no grip. The car is sh*t.’”

Formula 1 has high-downforce, ultra-responsive machines, where keeping the tires in the perfect temperature window is crucial. In NASCAR, it’s about managing chaos, adapting to unpredictability, and muscling a 3,500-pound car around tracks that require cooperation as much as raw speed.

“F1 is all about the tires and managing them,” Montoya continued.
“NASCAR is about how fast you can drive, how aggressive you can be, and how hard you can push.”

And nowhere is that contrast more extreme than Daytona.


Why Daytona is NASCAR’s Ultimate Challenge

If an F1 driver thinks they can show up and immediately win the Daytona 500, Montoya says they’re in for a rude awakening.

“People in Europe don’t understand restrictor plate racing,” Montoya said.

Unlike F1, where drivers battle the limits of technology, NASCAR’s superspeedway package intentionally restricts horsepower to create tighter racing—forcing drivers into huge packs at 200 mph, inches apart.

“You’re doing 190 miles an hour by yourself, with the throttle wide open, and 200 mph in the pack,” Montoya explained.
“If you lose the pack, you’re losing one or two seconds a lap.”

That’s why Daytona isn’t just about raw pace—it’s about survival.

Drivers must constantly read the pack, anticipate wrecks, and know when to push and when to back off.

“Being in the pack is crazy,” Montoya added.
“You’re pushing your lane forward. It’s so amazingly misunderstood. I don’t think anybody really understands how challenging, physically, and mentally demanding Daytona is.”

And then there’s the crashes.


“Tenpin Bowling with Race Cars”

Superspeedway racing isn’t just about drafting and strategy—it’s about staying out of the ‘Big One’.

“The cars are big and heavy,” Montoya explained.
“So when you lose it, or when they hit you, it’s really hard to keep the car straight.”

Worse yet? The brakes are tiny, meaning when a wreck happens, there’s no stopping in time.

“If somebody crashes, you can’t stop even if you wanted to,” he said.
“You either avoid it, or you’re in it. There’s no, ‘Wow, that was close.’”

That’s why Daytona often turns into a demolition derby.

“I used to say it’s like tenpin bowling with race cars,” Montoya joked.

The result? A wreck can take out half the field in an instant—and that’s what makes the Daytona 500 so unpredictable and thrilling.


Can an F1 Driver Ever Master Daytona?

Montoya isn’t saying F1 drivers aren’t talented enough—but he is saying NASCAR’s skill set is vastly different.

“Although NASCAR is very different from F1, it is equally challenging,” Montoya said.
“It’s crazy because you need to rely on other people to be able to win.”

That’s the biggest difference—Formula 1 is an individual sport. NASCAR is a team sport—even on the track.

  • In F1, drivers battle for position at all times.
  • In NASCAR, you sometimes have to help others to help yourself.

If an F1 superstar were to try their luck at the Daytona 500, they’d have to completely reset their instincts—learning when to push, when to draft, and when to survive.

And even then, they’d still need luck on their side.


Daytona 500 2025: The Battle Begins

The 67th running of the Daytona 500 kicks off today at Daytona International Speedway.

  • Chase Briscoe leads the field from pole position in the #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
  • Austin Cindric will start alongside him in the #2 Team Penske Ford.
  • 41 cars are set to take the green flag in one of the most unpredictable races in motorsports.

And if any Formula 1 driver is watching, thinking it looks easy?

Montoya would tell them to strap in and prepare for a wake-up call.

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