Exclusive – Montagny’s thoughts before the qualifying session

After the very complicated season of last year, the situation is still disrupted this year, but we find F1 back in France, at the Paul-Ricard circuit and it is an event that many French fans are eagerly awaiting.

The 2021 championship is tight, full of twists and turns. A big fight between Hamilton and Verstappen, but also between Mercedes and Red Bull.

Do you think this battle will last throughout the season? We know Hamilton is very strong psychologically, but Verstappen has also improved. And on the teams’ side, will Red Bull with Honda keep up the pace?

It’s a great start to the championship. I love seeing these two drivers who are in two different teams battling it out at every Grand Prix. One time, one wins, the next time it’s the other. Sometimes there’s a change in the situation. One retires, the other does too. In short, the scenario is great, it’s just perfect.

I don’t think it can last like this all season. Not with so much suspense in every race.

But there will be ups, downs. In any case, we see that both are ready to fight to the end.

On the mental side, I think Mercedes lost Bottas this year. So this year they only have Hamilton. Which means that if he messes up, if he makes a mistake, if he’s not comfortable in the car, the whole team goes down.

In the constructors’ championship, they have already been given a small carrot, it’s less close than in the drivers’ championship. Therefore, Mercedes is forced to attack if they don’t want to fall even further behind.

On the contrary, if Red Bull manages to place Verstappen and Checo in the top positions, they will gain in serenity. And this serenity, they will transmit it to Verstappen. The latter is not at the level of a mentally Hamilton, he does not yet have the serenity of the Englishman. But this serenity will help him and will make a big difference throughout the championship. Having two drivers playing upfront will help Red Bull, but above all it will boost Verstappen’s performances. When you’re alone against two, it’s not the same as when you play one on one.

Do you think that Sergio Perez has understood how Red Bull works and that the second driver will finally be an asset throughout the season?

« Absolutely. He won. [in Baku]. I think a Perez is better than an Albon. He has evolved, he has more experience. The team needs a good second driver so badly that they will do everything to keep things going well. They arrive in France in the best disposition, Verstappen is the leader, Perez is 3rd. It would take a big bear-like move to lose this serenity. »

Do you think Red Bull AND Honda will be able to maintain significant development throughout the season?

« This is a completely personal reflection, but I think that this year Red Bull will not compromise 2021 to focus entirely on 2022 right away. If I were in Red Bull’s shoes, I would think that I have an opportunity, it’s my chance, I can become world champion again. We could make Verstappen world champion. And for that, we should not stop the current development. Maybe we should skip 2022? I don’t know? But honestly, we cannot play 2021 and 2022.

Esteban Ocon is extended for three years. A great news for him, for French fans. A strong message from Alpine confirming their long-term commitment. What do you think? Is this a signal sent to Fernando Alonso?

« Yes, Alpine will commit in the long term, that’s for sure. For Esteban, the news is very surprising. It’s not done. You sign a world champion for such a long time to get his feedback. But a young driver, who on paper has everything to prove and is not requested by another team, you sign him for a year, you can renew him for one more year, but not three years! It’s a great opportunity he has. It’s magnificent.

He will be able to do what he wants, prepare himself well. Work as he sees fit. Make mistakes but progress. I wish him nothing but the best!

Fernando must prove himself, clearly he must redo his proof. Right now he is slower. In a team, you’re either ahead or behind. Ocon signed for three years, and that’s good. For Alonso, either he matches Ocon, or he will leave. It’s not complicated, he does it this year and next year. If by the end of next year, he doesn’t deliver more… What is the point for a team to keep a driver like that?

Ocon will be mature by then. Unless you have business to do in Spain, it is better to place a young driver whom you can train as you wish.

There are indeed drivers knocking at the door.

« Yes. Especially the young Theo (Editor’s note: Pourchaire). »

After all the enthusiasm it has generated after that famous Monaco Grand Prix. Do you think it would be wise for him to have a seat in F1 next year? Alfa Romeo is being mentioned a lot.

« Very sincerely, I see him at Alfa next year. What’s the point of letting him languish in F2? He is a pure talent. He performs in F2, he knows how to do it in F2. He has already won races. He will win the championship. The kid, he comes from F4, and he wins! He enters F3, he almost wins the championship. He enters F2, does a few races and no testing, and he wins Monaco! You take him straight to F1 and give him time to learn F1. But it will work in F1, that’s for sure. All those who have worked like this in F2 have succeeded in F1. For example, we put Leclerc at Alfa, and he immediately exploded.

And it will work well because he is in his cocoon with Fred Vasseur. In F3 he was with Fred, in F2 he is with Fred so he has this family cocoon and at Alfa it will be the same cocoon. It’s important to always have your landmarks.

Find the full interview where we discuss the future of F1, the role of the driver, the evolution of this sport over the years in an article to be published soon.