Montoya outlines two routes for Hadjar to close Verstappen gap

Juan Pablo Montoya has outlined two routes for Isack Hadjar to close the gap to Max Verstappen: adapt to a development direction that Montoya says reflects Verstappen’s preferences, or take a risk by exploring the car differently.

Montoya gave the advice while discussing Hadjar’s difficult Friday at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Verstappen finished second and third in the two sessions, while Hadjar was 14th and then ninth; his deficit narrowed from 1.654 seconds to 0.931 seconds. Hadjar called the day a “disaster”, the car “undriveable” and said he was “completely killed in the high-speed corners”.

Montoya said the development and simulation work was based on what Verstappen wanted. He argued this could leave Hadjar with a less familiar car outside his own operating window. In Montoya’s view, the team was unlikely to change direction while that approach was working and it was winning races.

A different approach carried its own risk, Montoya said: if Hadjar failed to perform, his choice could prompt questions and calls to return to the previous direction. Montoya also hoped a technical issue might help explain the gap, while praising Hadjar’s talent and speed.