Juan Pablo Montoya Demands Red Bull Block Max Verstappen’s GT Ventures Following Fatal Nurburgring Crash

Following a fatal Nurburgring crash, Juan Pablo Montoya warns Red Bull to protect Max Verstappen by banning him from risky GT3 racing activities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 8:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

A Tragic Wake-Up Call at the Nordschleife

The motorsport community was left reeling after a seven-car accident during the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) qualifiers earlier this month led to the death of driver Juha Miettinen. The incident occurred as Max Verstappen was preparing to step into his Mercedes-AMG GT3 for his final competitive preparations ahead of May’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring. While Verstappen was not involved in the collision, the proximity of the tragedy has sparked an intense debate regarding the safety and necessity of a top-tier Formula 1 driver participating in multi-class endurance racing. Juan Pablo Montoya has been the most vocal critic, stating that the inherent risks of the "Green Hell" are incompatible with Verstappen’s primary responsibilities at Red Bull.

The Financial Imperative for Driver Protection

Montoya’s argument centers on the cold reality of corporate investment rather than a lack of respect for Verstappen's extracurricular passions. Speaking on the MontoyAS podcast, the seven-time Grand Prix winner emphasized that the millions of dollars Red Bull has poured into Verstappen’s career should dictate a more conservative approach to his leisure activities. Montoya argued that a single fracture to a leg or arm sustained in a GT car could derail an entire championship campaign, potentially costing the team hundreds of millions in sponsorship and prize money. He noted that in any other professional sport, such high-value assets are rarely allowed to engage in high-risk activities that could compromise their availability.

Historical Precedents of Team Intervention

Reflecting on his own career spanning 2001 to 2006, Montoya revealed that his teams, including Williams and McLaren, maintained a strict iron-clad grip on his outside activities. Despite frequent invitations to test rally cars or compete in other disciplines, his employers consistently blocked these opportunities to safeguard their interests. Montoya suggested that Red Bull’s current reluctance to impose a ban stems from a fear of alienating their star driver, who has frequently hinted at an early retirement if he is not allowed the freedom to pursue other racing interests. This power dynamic, Montoya claims, has created a dangerous precedent where the driver’s personal desires outweigh the team’s organizational security.