Montoya: I believe Verstappen blocked Sainz joining Red Bull

Formula 1 heads into the 2025 season with one of the most dramatic overhauls of its grid in recent memory, following a stagnant 2024 that saw no driver changes. Among the myriad of moves this year, Max Verstappen welcomed a new teammate in Liam Lawson to the Red Bull-pen, and Carlos Sainz made spare at Ferrari, now looking to make Williams great again.

From Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari to Kimi Antonelli stepping into a full-time Mercedes seat, the Australian Grand Prix promises to unveil a season of intrigue.

Former F1 veteran Juan Pablo Montoya shared his candid thoughts on the reshuffled grid, spotlighting the decisions that could shape the future of the sport.

Montoya suggested that Max Verstappen played a significant role in blocking Carlos Sainz from joining Red Bull, steering the Spaniard towards a seat at Williams instead.

The Columbian former F1 driver said: “I’m sure that Max Verstappen would have stopped Carlos Sainz coming to Red Bull so the competition within the team wasn’t difficult, although I can’t confirm personally.

"When they were teammates at Toro Rosso, their relationship was pretty bumpy. I am not sure Max would have wanted to deal with that again. He made Max Verstappen’s life pretty difficult. So when you can control who is in the car, as Max does, you wouldn’t want to shoot yourself, would you?” said Montoya.

He dismissed the notion that Verstappen acted out of fear, framing the decision as a strategic move: “It’s not about Max being scared; it’s about being smart. Why would you make your life unnecessarily difficult and create a tough environment?”

Reflecting on Sainz’s move to Williams, Montoya expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about the team’s potential: “It is disappointing that Carlos Sainz didn’t end up in a better place. But I think Williams are going to be another McLaren over the next few years. They have the financial backing they need and have everything in place to get the job done.”

Montoya highlighted the team’s trajectory, predicting a strong resurgence: “Williams two or three years from now can be where McLaren are now, having turned everything around. I think they can do amazing things down the road.”

With Kimi Antonelli stepping up to replace Hamilton at Mercedes, Montoya noted that the team has safeguarded its options by bringing Valtteri Bottas back as a reserve driver.

“Kimi Antonelli is on the other side of the coin, in the spotlight in one of the best teams out there with a teammate who is doing a mega job,” Montoya said, referring to George Russell’s status as team leader. “And you’re being sold as the next Max Verstappen. If he doesn’t deliver, that’s tough.”

F1 Stats show that Bottas won ten races with Mercedes in five years from 2017 until 2021 as Hamilton's teammate. Twice the Finn was runner-up in the F1 World Championship drivers standings.

Montoya added: “My reading is that with [Valtteri] Bottas, Mercedes would be covering their arse. He’s a safety net to have somebody in case it doesn’t work with Antonelli, and he knows that.”

Addressing Daniel Ricciardo’s prospects, Montoya hinted at a potential role outside of driving: “What’s next for Daniel Ricciardo? Holidays!”

“I don’t think he wants to do anything. If he does, if he was going to do anything with Cadillac, then he could work on the development side as an advisor and do simulator work—things like that," ventured JPM.

The 2025 Formula 1 season opens with significant changes on and off the track, from Red Bull’s promotion of Liam Lawson to Ferrari’s gamble on Hamilton. Montoya’s insights provide a glimpse into the high-stakes dynamics of a grid poised for one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent years.