Juan Pablo Montoya reviewed his F1 career and talked about how his son makes his way into motorsport

Giovanni Paolo Montoyawinner of seven Formula 1 Grand Prix and two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, was declared as new Unicorn Hunters ambassador (unicorn hunters, according to its translation from English), a reality show that seeks to transform into major tech companies unicorns market and which has its own cryptocurrency: unicain.

It took place as part of the 19th anniversary of the “Ritossa Family Office Investment Summit”, a summit held from 27 to 29 June in Monte Carlo and which brought together the main owners of family businesses and private investors in the world.

In that same role was announced the eldest of his three sons, Sebastián, who at 17 appears as a rising racer who has already competed in several categories of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). “I am very grateful to be able to work with my father on an incredible project from which I will certainly learn a lot”commented.

In an interview exclusively for Clarinthe 46-year-old Colombian driver was enthusiastic about this new project that was presented to him: “My career has changed a lot in recent years since my son started running. We focus on investment research to obtain funds. What they (Unicorn Hunters) did caught my attention, so we had a meeting and I liked it even more. “

“It will help promote his career. It will bring his name to new people, in new places. Nowadays the image part is very important, almost as much as the lead part,” he added.

Just as he inherited his father’s passion for motorsports, Juan Pablo passes the baton to his son, who looks like a promise having already won two races in the FIA ​​Asian Regional Formula Championship.

A career without pending accounts

Closed twice in third place in the F1 World Championship, with Williams Racing in 2002 and 2003, today he dedicates all his efforts to collaboration for the career development of the young Montoya, but remembers those years that brought him on the covers of leading sports newspapers in the world.

“As a boy I didn’t think I was an F1 driver, but it was natural. My father raced on go-karts, he took me to the track and I would like him to ride me on my legs for a lap. Then they gave me one and I really enjoyed running. There was never any pressure on me. “began to tell Juan Pablo.

In 1990 and 1991, after having collected important successes at national level, he became two-time junior kart world champion. From there, he didn’t stop his growth and continued to reap great results in several categories.

When asked about his most important achievements, he chooses one that unites the sportsman with the personal, that of the 2015 Indianapolis 500, since “I had three children old enough to understand what I was doing. It was very special to win in front of my children. “.

He also highlighted the Monaco Grand Prix for the fanaticism he had for Ayrton Senna, who today holds the record of six wins, five of which in a row between 1989 and 1993. “Senna for me was the best in history because he died very young and still had a lot ahead of him to win.”expressed with total admiration.

Montoya also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021 in his category (World Endurance Championship). In this way he was crowned in the three most emblematic stages in the world: Monaco, Indianapolis and Le Mans. A clear example of his enormous adaptability and success in very different circumstances.

That season in which he triumphed in the Principality, in 2003, he also won the GP of Hockenheim, Germany, and climbed the final podium of the championship, behind Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen.

The German, who had been crowned the previous year and will do so the next, has placed him a step below the Brazilian, along with Juan Manuel Fangio, Lewis Hamilton and Jim Clark, a choice that he believes depends on a generational question.

A look at today’s F1

It is often said that today, unlike what happened in other times, the most important thing to highlight in F1 is the competitive ability of the single-seaters and the ability of the constructors’ team to adapt to new technologies, when 15 or 20 years ago the main thing was the hierarchy of pilots.

Juan Pablo Montoya expresses his point of view on the issue: “I think the car has always made a lot of difference. It hasn’t been talked about, but it has historically been so. If you are on the right team with the right people, the chances of winning are higher. There was a time when beating Ferrari was impossible. “

Then, after putting Hamilton and Verstappen above the rest of the current drivers, he went back in the same direction and argued that “In F1 there is not only the driver, but the team. We need the whole package”.

And he cited a very clear and strong example: “Lewis (Hamilton) has not forgotten how to drive, he probably does the same or better than in previous years, but now he is in the top five”.

Regarding this issue, the Colombian believes that technological advances are the key and that, along with the increased safety vehicles have today, they are the most important changes he sees compared to past times: “Cars, helmets and circuits are safer. You understand what the car will do in the event of a fall. And also in the technical part there is a lot of difference”he concluded.