Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has issued a stern warning to Red Bull Racing, demanding they immediately halt Max Verstappen’s participation in racing activities outside of Formula 1. Following a tragic, fatal accident during a qualifying session at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where Verstappen has been actively involved in GT3 racing, the Colombian driver believes the risks far outweigh any benefits. Montoya, known for his direct approach, claims Red Bull is behaving weakly by allowing their star driver to take unnecessary risks in a year where the team is already struggling on track.
The 2026 Formula 1 season has begun with significant turmoil for Red Bull, and as reported in April 2026, Max Verstappen is experiencing a rocky start, finding himself in an uncompetitive car while voicing profound disdain for the new technical regulations. This frustration has led the four-time world champion to explore GT3 racing as a “side-quest” to satisfy his racing appetite, but these activities have now been labeled a “physical catastrophe” waiting to happen by Montoya.
Speaking passionately on the MontoyASpodcast, the former Williams and McLaren driver insisted that Red Bull must “ground” their driver. “Do you think Red Bull would reconsider what permission they give Max to race those cars? No, because they are afraid of losing him,” Montoya said, highlighting a perceived fear in Milton Keynes.
Montoya has demanded that Red Bull “grow a backbone” and stop letting Verstappen compete in high-risk GT3 events. He emphasizes that the investment in the driver is too high to allow him to break a limb or worse in a side project, especially when his focus should be on helping the team resolve the mechanical, technical, and aero issues with the 2026 car.
The call to action follows the death of a GT3 veteran, Juha Miettinen, during a qualifying incident in the Nurburgring 24 Hours qualifiers in April 2026, which has brought safety issues at the Eifel circuit back into focus. Montoya is firm that such tragedy should be a wakeup call for team management regarding their star’s extracurricular activities.
Montoya also stated he would have acted immediately if he were in charge, saying, “Personally, I would have done it if I had been the boss of Red Bull. I would have called Max and said, ‘Sir, please, don’t get in the car anymore’”. He pointed to his own career, recalling that his former teams often prohibited him from driving rally cars or taking on other tests to protect their investment.
The situation is amplified by reports that Verstappen is deeply unhappy with the 2026 Formula 1 rules, which he has described as “anti-racing” and “Formula E on steroids,” according to reports. Having secured only 12 points in three races, his frustration is mounting, leading to speculation that he might walk away from Formula 1 entirely before his contract ends in 2028.
Montoya has suggested that Verstappen’s continued criticism and outside activities could, in fact, be a “political” move because his car is slow, notes reports. He believes that if Verstappen were winning, he would not be complaining or perhaps wouldn’t feel the need to pursue other racing adventures to find enjoyment.
While some fans and analysts believe Verstappen is simply a “true racer” who has earned the right to speak his mind and choose his path, others agree with Montoya that the risk to his F1 career is too great. Montoya insists that at a certain point, a team must protect its assets, and the “investment that Red Bull has made in him should be enough reason to say ‘this isn’t something we can allow to continue'”.
As of late April 2026, Red Bull has not officially commented on restricting Verstappen’s activities, but the pressure to focus on reversing their poor performance—with the team reportedly falling behind competitors like Alpine—has increased, making this debate over extracurricular racing a pivotal moment in the team’s season, according to the news reports.