[Saba Sports News] In recent years, Max Verstappen has actively competed in GT events through his private racing team and is set to make his debut at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May. The race is renowned for its extreme difficulty and high safety risks. In a recent Nürburgring endurance series race, a multi-car collision claimed the life of a driver. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that despite continuous advancements in safety technology, motorsport still carries undeniable hazards.
Regarding this matter, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has publicly stated that Red Bull Racing should reassess the risks of Verstappen’s participation in GT competitions. Montoya holds a firm stance. He pointed out that from the team’s perspective, Red Bull has every reason to restrict Verstappen’s extra-curricular racing activities. In his opinion, any injury or fatal accident involving the Dutchman would result in unbearable losses for the team. He even added that if he were in management, he would directly order Verstappen to put an end to such side racing commitments.
Even so, Montoya admitted that such a strict policy would be difficult to implement in reality. He believes Red Bull may worry that excessive restrictions would strain its partnership with Verstappen and trigger uncertainty over his future at the team.
In my opinion, though Montoya’s proposal comes across as tough, it is fact-based and commercially rational amid frequent safety incidents and a rapidly shifting F1 competitive landscape. The core of his suggestion is not to restrict the driver’s personal freedom, but to stress that once a driver grows into a franchise core asset of a team, all off-track and extra-curricular activities must prioritize safeguarding his long-term career longevity. Whether Red Bull will adopt the advice will ultimately depend on the team’s overall trade-off between potential risks and tangible benefits.