"F1 Legend Demands Respect for the Sport, Urges Suspension for Max Verstappen Following 'Mario Kart' Criticism of New Rules"

FORMULA ONE icon Juan Pablo Montoya has sensationally called on Max Verstappen to be SUSPENDED for a race over his scathing criticism of the new regulations.

, 28, has been an outspoken critic of the generation of rules introduced at the start of the season, including a 50/50 split in electric power.

F1 icon Juan Pablo Montoya has called on Max Verstappen to be banned after his scathing criticism of the sport Credit: Alamy The four-time world champion cheekily compared F1 rules to Mario Kart Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

In pre-season the Dutchman likened it to “ on steroids”, while he later quipped he had swapped simulator practice with Mario Kart on the ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

F1 bosses and the FIA took steps to address concerns over the rules in the long gap between races before the Miami Grand Prix last weekend.

However, four-time world champion Verstappen remained critical, insisting issues with the energy management system meant trying to go faster without also going slower was “punishing”.

It was the final straw for former Williams and F1 star Montoya, who has now called on there to be “consequences” for the way he speaks about the sport.

The 50-year told the BBC Chequered Flag Podcast : “You’ve got to respect the sport.

“For me, what the drivers are doing, I’m okay with you not liking the regulations, but the way you were speaking about what you’re living off and your own sport, there should be consequences for that.”

Asked to clarify what he meant by his comments, Montoya said: “Park him.

“Add seven points to the licence, eight points to the licence.

“Whatever you do after, you’re going to be parked. I guarantee you all the messaging would be different.”

The Colombian racer did caveat drivers should be allowed to voice their opinion, but said it should remain constructive.

Montoya continued: “I’m not saying, ‘Don’t say that you don’t like the regulations’, because if you don’t like it, you have the complete right to an opinion.

“It’s okay to be outspoken. I’m not saying don’t be outspoken, but don’t come and call an F1 car a Mario Kart.”

Verstappen currently has three penalty points on his FIA super licence, with 12 needed before a one-race ban would be implemented.

Verstappen narrowly missed out on a record-equalling fifth title in a row last season – the final season of regulations which saw him dominate with Red Bull – to McLaren’s .

But so far this season, Verstappen has struggled to keep pace with early frontrunners , with and Kimi Antonelli winning the four races so far this season, the latter now winning three on the bounce.

Meanwhile, following a raft of upgrades brought by the outfit for Miami, Verstappen managed a season-best fifth-placed finish despite picking up a five-second time penalty.

Verstappen was slapped with the punishment after driving over the white line separating the track from the pit exit as he left pit lane following an early stop during the race.

He would have dropped from fifth to sixth in the standings, but ‘s was also – converted to 20 seconds – after a series of corners cuts while his car was damaged on the final lap.

That penalty dropped Leclerc, 28, down to eighth in the order behind team-mate .

With teen in front of a and the to name a few, it extended his championship lead to 20 points.

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