Max Verstappen‘s dominance at Red Bull Racing has become so entrenched that any potential move to another team would fundamentally alter his career trajectory, according to former Formula 1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya. The four-time world champion has enjoyed unquestioned status within the Austrian squad since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018, but that privileged position would not automatically transfer to a new environment.
Red Bull’s complete focus on Verstappen
The Dutchman has systematically outperformed every teammate placed alongside him over the past seven seasons, from Pierre Gasly to Sergio Pérez, establishing himself as the undisputed focal point of Red Bull’s entire operation. That supremacy has yielded four consecutive world championships and cemented Verstappen’s reputation as the grid’s benchmark driver. Yet Montoya believes the infrastructure built around the reigning champion at Milton Keynes would prove impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Speaking on the AS podcast, the Colombian highlighted the unique freedoms Verstappen currently enjoys. “If Max moves to a team that isn’t performing well at that moment, he will eventually succeed there. But the reality is he won’t automatically be number one and won’t have the same status he has at Red Bull, where he enjoys almost complete freedom,” Montoya explained. “That makes such a move complicated.”
Team structure favours the champion
The suggestion that Red Bull’s car development prioritises Verstappen’s preferences gained traction following comments from Pérez after his departure from the team. Montoya acknowledged the validity of those observations, noting that the entire technical programme revolves around maximising the Dutchman’s performance. This creates an environment where teammates face an impossible challenge, caught between two equally damaging outcomes.
“The reality is that what he said is pretty harsh,” Montoya noted when addressing Pérez’s recent statements. “If you’re faster than Max, that’s a problem. If you’re slower than Max, that’s also a problem. In both cases you lose face and get labelled. If you go faster than Max, everything gets adjusted so Max can be faster again. If you go slower, you get the blame and supposedly you’re doing it wrong. That’s just how it works.”
Championship implications of team structure
The former Williams and McLaren driver’s assessment raises questions about how Verstappen would adapt to a team where he arrives without pre-existing championship credentials with that organisation. At Red Bull, his four titles have earned him contractual and operational privileges that shape every aspect of the team’s approach. A move to Ferrari, Mercedes, or any other constructor would mean starting fresh within an established hierarchy, potentially alongside a teammate with their own political capital and technical relationships.
This dynamic becomes particularly relevant given persistent speculation about Verstappen’s future, especially should Red Bull’s competitive position deteriorate in 2025. While the driver has consistently stated his commitment to the Milton Keynes squad, performance clauses in his contract reportedly provide exit opportunities should the team fail to deliver championship-contending machinery.
What this means going forward
The paddock consensus remains that Verstappen would eventually impose his superiority wherever he lands, but Montoya’s analysis suggests the transition period could prove more turbulent than many assume. For a driver accustomed to having the entire operation aligned with his feedback and preferences, adjusting to a more balanced team structure represents a significant unknown. As the 2025 season approaches, Red Bull’s early form may prove decisive in determining whether Verstappen exercises any contractual options or remains committed to extending his remarkable partnership with the team that has delivered him four world championships.
