Even though his last season in the top category of motorsport was in 2006, Juan Pablo Montoya’s life remained connected to Formula 1, and he currently aims to have his son Sebastián follow in his footsteps on the tracks of the grand stage. And just as he has always been open to discussion, he didn’t shy away from a couple of topics that have been widely mentioned recently.
In statements to the news outlet Red+ Noticias, the former Formula 1 driver addressed the arrival of the ‘Team Montoya’, with which he aims to support young talents to grow and reach the same heights as he did. The team includes Sebastián Montoya (his son), Nicolás Baptiste, Maximiliano Restrepo, and Salim Hanna, in whom ‘JP’ places his trust.
With his own son, Juan Pablo Montoya’s objective is clear: “To try to pursue Formula 1.” He highlights that he has worked with the other young drivers since their karting days and he sees this process positively because he likes young drivers who “don’t have any tricks” so that he can prepare them with strong foundations for the future.
Is the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Barranquilla possible?
For a couple of years, there has been talk of the possibility of Formula 1 coming to Colombia and having a circuit in Barranquilla. This topic has sparked controversy in the country due to discussions about the high investment required and what might be left for the city and the country economically.
Juan Pablo Montoya, who doesn’t hide his opinions, dampened the idea for the near future, implying that things have changed in Colombia and this is no longer as easy to achieve: “In the short term, no. It was very feasible, but not at this moment.”
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In an interview with Semana magazine, he went further and provided more details on how the negotiation to bring Formula 1 to Barranquilla fell through. The former Ferrari rival revealed that he himself accompanied the representatives of the FIA on their visit to the capital of the Atlántico region.
“It was about 95% done. Someone messed up something, I’m not going to say who. But it was very advanced. I went with the FIA people. The layout was done, everything was planned, the only thing missing was the signature. And they were ready, but someone messed it up,” the driver disclosed.
“What I hear is that it might happen by 2028. What I heard is that they ended up giving the race to Madrid. What’s going to happen in Madrid was going to happen here,” Juan Pablo Montoya explained.
As early as July in Madrid, they were certain they would get FIA’s approval, even though the Federation denied everything. In any case, the only certainty is that it’s a semi-urban circuit in the northern area of Madrid. The new “Ifema-Valdebebas” circuit would be easily accessible by public transportation and would allow Formula 1 to offer more sought-after VIP experiences at higher prices compared to Colombia.
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