Juan Pablo Montoya expects Monaco Grand Prix to ease one of Max Verstappen’s 2026 F1 rules concerns

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Amid Max Verstappen’s ongoing frustration with F1’s current rulebook, Juan Pablo Montoya believes the Monaco Grand Prix will ease one of the four-time world champion’s biggest concerns with the regulations.

Due to the enforcement of F1’s new era of regulations at the start of the current campaign, the state of racing at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix is somewhat of an unknown.

It’s no secret that the race weekend at the Principality is often a procession, with Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session widely regarded as the most important session of the weekend.

What’s ONE idea you have to fix the Monaco Grand Prix? 💡

The race has been the subject of intense debate due to a lack of overtaking

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However, the 2026 cars do have a shorter footprint, which may potentially present some extra overtaking opportunities for drivers during the 78-lap race.

Don’t get your hopes up, though, as the race is still likely to be decided by one-lap pace on Saturday, as well as the sheer concentration of the drivers who lock out the front row.

Despite that, F1 pundit Juan Pablo Montoya is expecting one aspect of this year’s edition of the Monaco Grand Prix to ease a certain concern that has been raised countless times by Max Verstappen since the start of the new campaign.

• READ MORE: F1 fans have had enough of ‘sore loser’ Max Verstappen after latest retirement threat

Juan Pablo Montoya expects drivers to make a ‘big difference’ at the Monaco Grand Prix

Due to the swathe of technical innovations that have occurred over the years, several figures from within the F1 paddock have expressed their concern over the difference that a driver’s skillset can actually make from the cockpit.

Will F1’s 2026 regulations deliver more overtakes in Monaco, or is the circuit past saving?

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The increased reliance on electrical power has only compounded those concerns this year, with Verstappen being at the forefront of the grid to voice his frustrations.

Following Verstappen’s pre-season concerns, he once again highlighted his dismay with the current ruleset at the Miami Grand Prix, saying via The Guardian, “I hope for more and more [driver input].

“I think if we would have had that five, maybe even before, like five, six years ago, we probably wouldn’t have been in the state that we are in now.”

In the eyes of former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, he predicts drivers to be able to make more of a difference on the streets of Monaco due to the fact that cars aren’t as reliant on engine power at the 2.074-mile-long circuit.

“I think Ferrari are going to be very strong,” he began on the MontoyAS podcast. “Mercedes will definitely be strong. I’d say Ferrari will be stronger than McLaren this week. I think there’s going to be a mix of all the teams here.

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“It’s not going to be Mercedes, Ferrari or McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull. There’s going to be a mix here, and you’ll see.

“I think this year, the difference between the drivers and everything else is going to be very noticeable. Which is great because the drivers are going to be able to make a big difference.”