In a season overflowing with drama and intensity, the explosive rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris has quickly become the center of the 2024 F1 world championship. The tension has been stoked by on-track incidents and penalties that have set the two title contenders on a collision course, literally and figuratively. Former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, known for his no-nonsense racing style, recently weighed in on the Verstappen-Norris saga, offering brutally honest advice for Norris.
Montoya, speaking to InstantCasino.com, held nothing back in analyzing the championship battle, suggesting that Norris’s approach of “too much respect” for Verstappen may be a fundamental flaw in his title fight.
“Lando has way too much respect for Max,” Montoya declared. “He’s a fantastic guy, and he wants to race fair, but with someone like Max, who pushes the limits of fair racing, that respect can actually be a disadvantage. For us as fans, it’s incredible to watch. It’s amazing TV, but if Lando wants to win, he’s got to get a lot tougher.”
Montoya’s comments come on the heels of Verstappen’s two penalties during the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he was hit with 10-second penalties for incidents involving Norris. Montoya believes Norris must go on the offensive if he wants to have a real shot at the championship.
“When Carlos [Sainz] dive-bombed Max, he didn’t give him any room to fight back. Lando needs to take a similar stance if he wants to stop being bullied on the track,” Montoya explained. “It’s a brutal sport; you’re either pushing back or getting pushed around.”
With four races remaining, including two Sprint Race weekends with bonus points up for grabs, the stakes are sky-high, and Montoya predicts that Sao Paulo will be yet another showdown between the two.
“We’ll definitely see fireworks in Brazil,” Montoya said with certainty. “At some point, Lando needs to look at Max and think, ‘I can crash into you too if that’s what it takes.’ It’s clear Max isn’t going to change his approach; he’s showing the stewards and the FIA that he doesn’t care. Sooner or later, though, that attitude is going to come back and bite him.”
In a surprising twist, Montoya also expressed admiration for Verstappen’s “push-the-limits” approach, saying that he appreciates Verstappen’s willingness to toe the line as far as possible. But he called out the FIA for inconsistent penalty enforcement, with Verstappen receiving a 10-second penalty in Mexico compared to Norris’s five-second penalty in Austin for a similar incident.
“For me, the issue is why Max gets ten seconds when Lando only got five in Austin. That’s inconsistent. Max should have rejoined the track and let Lando by, but he didn’t,” Montoya continued. “The FIA needs to stick to a standard, or it’s just confusing and undermines the rules.”
As the season charges toward the finish line, Montoya’s advice for Norris is clear: drop the deference, stand your ground, and don’t hesitate to get aggressive if necessary. Whether Norris will heed this advice remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: F1 fans can expect a no-holds-barred battle in Brazil.
