Juan Pablo Montoya has called for the FIA to hand Max Verstappen penalty points that could lead to a race ban, over the Red Bull driver’s repeated criticism of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations. At the same time, Lewis Hamilton has promised to change his approach at Ferrari following a disappointing Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen has been one of the most vocal critics of the new 2026 chassis and power unit rules. The four-time champion has described the current generation of cars as “Formula E on steroids” and even hinted at walking away from the sport, comments Dutch media claim are serious. While his tone was more measured in Miami, he still pushed for bigger changes next season, saying it “takes more than a few adjustments to get back to full-speed racing.”
Montoya isn’t having it. Speaking on BBC Sport’s F1 Chequered Flag Podcast, the former Williams driver said Verstappen needs to show more respect for the sport he’s benefiting from. “I’m okay with you not liking the regulations,” Montoya said. “But the way you’re speaking about what you’re living off and your own sport, there should be consequences for that.”
When asked what kind of consequence, Montoya didn’t hold back: “Park him. Add seven points to the license… eight points to the license so that whatever you do after, you’re going to be parked.”
Under the current FIA system, drivers receive a one-race ban once they accumulate 12 penalty points within 12 months. Verstappen already has several points on his license from on-track incidents, so eight more would put him at immediate risk of suspension. Montoya argued that if Verstappen knew he could be sidelined for speaking out, his messaging would change. He also took issue with Verstappen likening F1 cars to “Mario Kart,” questioning whether the old DRS boost was any less artificial.
The suggestion has divided opinion. Some believe drivers in Verstappen’s position should be more careful with their public statements given F1’s global reach and commercial interests. Others argue that outspoken drivers are part of what makes the sport engaging and that fans value honesty over PR-sanitized answers.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is also making headlines after a frustrating weekend in Miami. The seven-time champion admitted he needs to reset his approach with Ferrari after struggling to find rhythm throughout the race.
“I’ll change my approach to a race weekend with immediate effect,” Hamilton said, without going into specifics. The move comes after a string of underwhelming results since his high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari at the start of 2026. Despite high expectations, Hamilton has yet to find consistent pace in the SF-26, and Miami exposed some of the same issues that have hampered him earlier in the season.
The 40-year-old stressed that the problem isn’t effort or motivation but finding the right process to get the most out of the car over a full race weekend. Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has backed Hamilton, saying the team is working closely with him to improve setup and strategy.
Hamilton’s comments show he’s taking ownership rather than blaming the car or team. With the championship battle intensifying and Ferrari needing points to stay in contention, a refreshed approach could be crucial in the coming races.
For Verstappen, the situation is different. His criticism hasn’t broken any FIA rule so far, and the penalty points system was designed for driving offenses, not verbal comments. Applying it to speech would be unprecedented and could spark a wider debate about freedom of expression in F1.
As the 2026 season progresses, both stories highlight the pressure at the top of the sport. Verstappen is dealing with scrutiny over his words, while Hamilton is under pressure to deliver results in Ferrari red. One thing is clear: in F1, the drama doesn’t stop when the chequered flag falls.
