20 years ago, Juan Pablo Montoya's last moment of brilliance in Monaco

There are riders whose statistics tell the story of a career, and then there's Juan Pablo Montoya, whose story far surpasses the numbers. The man who will be remembered as one of the most explosive talents of the early 2000s concluded his adventure in Formula 1 with a powerful symbol: his 30th and final podium finish, achieved in the streets of Monaco.

On May 28, 2006, while driving the McLaren-Mercedes Benz MP4-21, the Colombian finishes second in the Grand Prix behind Fernando AlonsoA final podium finish in the heart of the Principality, the scene of his most prestigious victory three years earlier, in 2003, when he had given Williams-BMW's first Monegasque success since 1983.

Arriving in Formula 1 in 2001 after already winning the CART championship and the Indianapolis 500, Montoya joined Williams with a reputation as a phenomenon. He quickly lived up to it: aggressive, spectacular, sometimes uncontrollable, but possessing rare raw speed. In his very first season, he won at Monza and secured several memorable pole positions.

Between 2001 and 2006, Montoya competed in 94 Grands Prix, winning seven races, securing 13 pole positions, and finishing on the podium 30 times. His best seasons were 2002 and 2003, culminating in a third-place finish in the World Championship with Williams-BMW.

The best and worst of Montoya

His uncompromising style left its mark on an entire generation. Capable of standing up to Michael Schumacher Wheel to wheel, Montoya embodied a more instinctive era of Formula 1. But his strong character and his sometimes complicated relationship with Ron Dennis at McLaren would eventually precipitate his departure from the championship during the 2006 season.

The rest of his career would reflect his personality: eclectic and brilliant. After F1, Montoya went on to NASCARwhere he won two Cup Series races, before returning to American single-seaters in IndyCarHe added a second Indianapolis 500 victory in 2015, fourteen years after his first win. He also distinguished himself in endurance racing with several victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Today, the Colombian regularly reappears in the paddocks alongside his son, Sebastian Montoya. The young driver is continuing the family tradition and currently competes in Formula 2 with the stated ambition of one day joining Formula 1.

And the wink is delightful: May 25, 2025, Sebastian Montoya secured his first F2 podium finish in Monaco, finishing third in the main race.Twenty years after his father's exploits in the Principality, and nineteen years after his last F1 podium on this same circuit, the Montoya dynasty continues to write its history in the streets of Monte Carlo.

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