Montoya urges Verstappen to sacrifice salary now if he wants to leave Red Bull and keep fighting for world championships elsewhere.
Juan Pablo Montoya has some bold advice for Max Verstappen: if you want to keep winning, be ready to earn less and leave Red Bull.
With the Formula 1 driver market heating up for 2026, Verstappen’s team has reportedly been exploring new options in the paddock. Mercedes and Aston Martin are leading the list of potential destinations for the Dutchman, while other teams like McLaren and even Alpine haven’t been ruled out, according to insiders like Ralf Schumacher.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko recently confirmed that Verstappen has a release clause in his contract, which could allow him to walk away—possibly as soon as the summer break—if the team is no longer fighting at the front.
Montoya didn’t mince words when asked about Max’s situation:
“If I were Max, I’d be worried,” he said.
“Six months ago, he could’ve asked for any amount of money and teams would’ve lined up to pay it.”
But with Red Bull showing signs of vulnerability this season, the dynamic has changed.
“He could walk into Toto Wolff’s office and say, ‘Look, I’ll take less than I planned for 2024—just give me a car that can win,’” Montoya added.
“The question is—would he actually do that?”
Montoya believes this could be the beginning of the end for Verstappen at Red Bull.
“Max has been lucky to drive the best car for a few years. But this season is a bit of a reality check. He wants to win, and if Red Bull isn’t competitive, the whole conversation shifts.”
He also revealed that before Max re-signed with Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren were seriously interested—McLaren even asked about his price before extending Oscar Piastri’s contract.
“And let me tell you—the number was massive,” Montoya said.
So now, it comes down to a choice:
“Does Max want to keep chasing wins in the best car available? Or is he happy just making the big bucks where he is?”
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Montoya: Verstappen Must Take Pay Cut to Leave Red Bull Montoya: Verstappen Must Take Pay Cut to Leave Red Bull
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