a former driver believes that McLaren will surely regret a choice made too late

As the final Grands Prix of the 2024 Formula 1 season approach, the McLaren team may regret not having granted number one driver status to Lando Norris sooner, according to Juan Pablo Montoya. The former Colombian driver, who raced for the Woking team in 2005 and 2006, spoke about the issues surrounding the fight for world and manufacturers’ titles, as reported by Motorsport. “Did McLaren make a mistake in not making Lando their number one sooner?” Montoya asks in an interview with Gambling Zone. “What is difficult for McLaren is that Max continues to get on the podium. But McLaren had the opportunity to close the gap and put more pressure on him, and maybe it’s too late now.” warned Montoya before continuing “McLaren should have decided earlier who was going to be their number one. It’s a good lesson for all the teams. They should tell themselves that halfway through the season, whoever is in the lead becomes number one. […] I hope that McLaren will not arrive in Abu Dhabi thinking that these four points here and six points there are not enough to be world champion.” declares the Colombian pilot.

Montoya waits to see on the Circuit of the Americas

“The question is whether the constructors’ championship is more important for them. I know for Lando the drivers’ title is the priority, but for McLaren winning the constructors’ title would be something huge. Maybe they have analyzed this and thought that the chances of winning the drivers’ title were too low, and they decided to concentrate on the constructors’ championship. asks the former Woking pilot before continuing “McLaren’s speed isn’t mind-blowing, but it’s their consistency and the way they manage the tires that counts,” he said. Montoya also discusses the key role of Sergio Pérez in the duel for the constructors’ championship. “I think Red Bull has started to solve its problems with its car,” advance Juan Pablo Montoya. “I believe there is a package of developments coming for the United States Grand Prix. If suddenly they have sorted out the problems, may Pérez start beating Oscar [Piastri] and Max starts winning races again, the constructors’ championship can change again”, believes Montoya, who sees next weekend’s United States Grand Prix as a tipping point for both championships.

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