We are all aware of how rigorous Red Bull taskmaster Helmut Marko has been throughout the course of his career, whether it’s because a driver didn’t take their driving lessons seriously or because, in Helmut Marko’s opinion, the motorist may have missed a race victory. The roots of Marko’s long-standing misconception in which he claimed the F1 icon threw away his championship were discussed by this former F1 driver in question.

Juan Montoya started competing in Formula 3000 in 1997. There, he worked alongside Helmut Marko’s RMS. Throughout the season, Pablo only managed to win three of the season’s 10 races, but he also finished at podiums on three other occasions. By the end of the season, Montoya had placed second, just two and a half points behind Ricardo Zonta. Montoya revealed to Motorsports.com that Marko has not totally forgiven him since that incident.

While talking to motorsports.com Juan Montoya, said, “He is angry with me to this day. He thinks I deliberately let the championship run in the penultimate round in Mugello. We simply had the top gear set incorrectly. Every time I went to top gear, the engine started to stutter, because the gear was made too long. Jason Watt sat in front of me. I always rode towards him with playful ease, after which I seemed to pass him. But once in top gear, he drove away from me again. And so it went throughout the race. That was so frustrating. But Marko still thinks I gave away the championship.”

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A year later Pablo join Super Nova racing where he won the championship. However, his relationship with Marko didn’t go well after then. Nevertheless, the F1 icon still feels that Marko’s persona has contributed to his improvement as a driver.

Juan Pablo Montoya discusses how Helmut Marko helped him grow as a person

According to Montoya, the collaboration was by no means simple. Marko was a difficult team manager who showed no compassion for his driver. But, in Montoya’s opinion, it did improve his driving and made him a better individual. The Colombian believes that Marko acted ethically throughout the entire situation.

“It was tough at the time, but in the end, he made me a better driver,” In addition, Montoyo expressed his views regarding Marko serving as the team principal. He said, “He always said I had a lot of problems and that I was crazy and everything. But he did so with the right intentions. He was pushing me all the time to be a better person.”

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Ultimately, Montoya was tempted to Williams after his Formula 3000 stint and later jumped to McLaren, which ended up being the darkest moment of his Formula One career as he departed the team in the middle of the season. And as of now, Sebastian, his son, will attempt to carry on his father’s heritage by making a name for himself in high-speed racing, with the help of the accomplished Helmut Marko.