Montoya: Verstappen Strong Late, Not Best Overall in 2025 Season

Juan Pablo Montoya praised Max Verstappen's late-season charge but argued the Dutchman was not the best driver across the entire 2025 Formula 1 season. The former F1 driver believes the two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were the standout performers in the year's earlier phases.

Why it matters:

This perspective challenges the common narrative that focuses heavily on a championship's dramatic conclusion. Montoya's comments highlight the importance of evaluating performance over an entire season, not just the final races, especially in a year where the title was decided by just two points. It underscores the sustained excellence required from both driver and team to be considered the "best."

The details:

• Verstappen's title challenge ignited after the summer break, where he overturned a 104-point deficit after the Dutch Grand Prix to finish just two points behind champion Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi.
• In the first half of the season, Verstappen was hampered by a Red Bull RB21 that initially could not match the pace of the dominant McLaren MCL39.
• Montoya stated that at the start of the year, Oscar Piastri was the top driver, while Lando Norris took that mantle in the middle part of the season.
• The Colombian criticized "mouse-like memory" in F1, suggesting fans and pundits often forget earlier performances and focus only on recent results.

The big picture:

Montoya's view presents a counterpoint to other experts like Martin Brundle, who named Verstappen as the best driver of the year. Brundle cited Verstappen's season-leading tally of wins and podiums as evidence he remains the grid's top performer. This debate reflects the subjective nature of evaluating driver performance in a sport heavily influenced by machinery, with Verstappen's late surge demonstrating his relentless skill even when the championship slipped away.

What's next:

The discussion sets the stage for the 2026 season, where Verstappen will aim to prove his consistency across a full campaign and reclaim the title. For McLaren and Norris, the challenge shifts to defending their hard-earned crown against a motivated Red Bull and a driver many still consider the benchmark.