Juan Pablo Montoya says McLaren star will collide with Max Verstappen and hand his teammate the title

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Max Verstappen’s title battle with the two McLaren drivers will go all the way to the final race in Abu Dhabi, Juan Pablo Montoya says. And he can see a crash deciding it.

Heading into this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri leads the standings, 14 points clear of teammate Lando Norris. Verstappen is a further 26 behind.

A 40-point gap is still a significant one for Verstappen to make up, with one poor race potentially fatal to his ambitions. But the Dutchman is peaking at the perfect time with four wins in his last five starts just as McLaren lose their grip on top spot in the pecking order.

With the form of the three drivers inversely proportional to their positions, they seem to be converging, potentially setting up a dramatic finale at Yas Marina.

Juan Pablo Montoya says Max Verstappen crash will decide the F1 title race

Speaking to AS Colombia, Juan Pablo Montoya shared a remarkably specific prediction for the title race. He says Verstappen will collide with one of the two McLaren drivers at round 24, paving the way for the other to seal the title.

Verstappen has more history with Norris, with the pair involved in high-profile incidents at the Austrian, United States and Mexico City GPs last year.

Many wondered if there would be a clash with Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 title-decider after an ill-tempered season. They raced each other aggressively on the first and final laps, but avoided sustaining damage.

It’s been 15 years since there were three or more drivers in title contention at the final race. Despite being P3 at the start of the weekend, Sebastian Vettel dramatically denied Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

“I haven’t said it yet, but the championship will end up being decided at the last race with Max crashing with one of the McLarens, and the other McLaren will become world champion,” said Montoya.

“When the three of them arrive fighting for the championship, they’re going to end up getting tangled up.”

Lewis Hamilton’s blunt warning to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

Piastri has been surprised by Verstappen’s recent results, noting that he was only able to challenge the McLarens occasionally in the first half of the season. The Woking outfit switched focus to their 2026 car, while Red Bull are still introducing upgrades.

A nervous McLaren, who have already sealed the constructors’ crown, are praying that their dominance earlier in the year makes Verstappen’s task too difficult. It feels at the moment as if they’re in survival mode.

Hamilton has told Piastri and Norris they must be ‘cut-throat’ if they don’t want Verstappen to take the title away from them. Up to this point, both drivers have almost always played the team game, even to their own detriment.