F1 Explains: The route to F1 – with Juan Pablo Montoya
About this episode
Juan Pablo Montoya maps the route to F1 from karting wins to Europe’s junior single-seater ladder, explaining how drivers get noticed and why timing matters. He recalls his own break as a test driver for Williams, the role of mentorship and less-common junior academies in his era, and how adapting your driving style becomes crucial “right at the top of the ladder.” He also shares his pressure mindset, then compares his son Sebastian’s path in F2—highlighting qualifying as the hardest step.
Why do some drivers move across the world to pursue their racing dreams? How important is it to compete in different series on the motorsport ladder? And what mentality do you need to make it to Formula 1?
Seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya joins Christian Hewgill to talk about the route to F1 – a journey he completed successfully and one he’s reliving again through his son Sebastian, who’s currently competing in F2.
Juan talks about leaving Colombia at a young age, how Sir Jackie Stewart helped him in his early racing days, and what Sebastian needs to make that final step up to F1. Plus, Juan Pablo shares his advice for young kids hoping to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.
Picture: Clive Mason/ALLSPORT/Getty Images
Formula One (F1) grid
"Generally speaking, the drivers on the current F1 grid started by winning in karts and then graduated into cars."
In Formula 1, each race has a starting lineup. “The grid” means which drivers and cars are competing in that race (and “the current grid” means the drivers in the season).
The F1 grid is the starting lineup of cars for a Grand Prix, arranged by qualifying results. When people say “the current F1 grid,” they mean the set of drivers competing in that season’s races.
karts
"Generally speaking, the drivers on the current F1 grid started by winning in karts and then graduated into cars."
Karts are the basic, small race vehicles many drivers begin with. It’s a common first step because you learn how to race and drive competitively.
Karts are small, lightweight race cars used as a common entry point into motorsport. Many future F1 drivers start in karting because it teaches racecraft—like driving lines, braking points, and handling close competition.
junior categories
"They made their names by racing in Europe, driving single-seater, open-wheel cars in junior categories."
Junior categories are the stepping-stone racing series below F1. Drivers use them to build skills and prove they’re ready to move up.
Junior categories are the lower-tier racing series that develop drivers before they reach Formula 1. Drivers typically move up through these championships by improving results, gaining experience, and getting noticed by higher-level teams.
single-seater, open-wheel cars
"They made their names by racing in Europe, driving single-seater, open-wheel cars in junior categories."
These are race cars with one driver, and the wheels are not covered by a body. They’re common in the junior racing series that train drivers for bigger open-wheel categories.
Single-seater, open-wheel cars are race cars with one driver and exposed wheels. This layout is typical of junior “ladder” series that prepare drivers for higher-level open-wheel racing like Formula 1.
Monaco Grand Prix
"a few highlights, seven wins in F1 in the 2000s, including the Monaco Grand Prix, two Indy 500 wins, three Daytona 24-hour wins, one made it, and now"
The Monaco Grand Prix is a very famous F1 race in Monaco. The track is narrow and twisty, so it’s hard to pass and winning there is a big deal.
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of Formula 1’s most famous races, held on a tight street circuit in Monte Carlo. It’s known for low-speed corners, limited overtaking, and high difficulty—so winning it is a major career highlight.
Indy 500
"a few highlights, seven wins in F1 in the 2000s, including the Monaco Grand Prix, two Indy 500 wins, three Daytona 24-hour wins, one made it, and now"
The Indy 500 is a huge open-wheel race in the United States. It’s not Formula 1, but winning it is still a major accomplishment.
The Indy 500 (Indianapolis 500) is a premier American open-wheel race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s distinct from F1—different teams, cars, and race culture—so winning it is a notable achievement for any driver.
Daytona 24-hour
"a few highlights, seven wins in F1 in the 2000s, including the Monaco Grand Prix, two Indy 500 wins, three Daytona 24-hour wins, one made it, and now"
The Daytona 24-hour is a long endurance race that lasts a full day. It’s about staying fast and consistent for a long time, plus smart strategy.
The Daytona 24-hour is an endurance race at Daytona International Speedway, run over a full day. Endurance racing emphasizes consistency, pit strategy, and managing wear over long stints—not just outright sprint speed.
F2
"and now he's guiding his son, Sebastian, who's racing in F2."
F2 is a racing series that helps drivers get ready for Formula 1. It’s a common next step for drivers who are trying to reach F1.
F2 (Formula 2) is the main feeder series to Formula 1, designed to develop drivers who are close to F1-level competition. Strong performances in F2 often attract F1 team interest and can lead to F1 opportunities.
motorsport ladder
"How did you find your feet in those really early days on the first part of the motorsport [289.2s] ladder?"
The “ladder” is the path drivers climb through racing. You start in smaller series, learn how to drive and race, and then move up toward Formula One.
The motorsport ladder is the progression system that takes drivers from junior categories up toward the top level, like Formula One. Each step typically teaches different skills—car control, racecraft, and adapting to new machinery—so early learning strongly affects later performance.
world championship
"So, for the world championship, we were lucky to get together with a guy named Boscolo. [297.4s] So he worked for Bidelart, and he used to build engines for them."
A “world championship” is a racing series where drivers compete across many races to win an overall title. It’s not just one event—it’s the whole season.
“World championship” here refers to a top-level racing series where drivers compete for an overall title across multiple events. In that context, the driver’s development and adaptation to different cars and tracks becomes crucial over the season.
Bidelart
"So, for the world championship, we were lucky to get together with a guy named Boscolo. [297.4s] So he worked for Bidelart, and he used to build engines for them."
They’re talking about a company that Boscolo worked for. Boscolo helped build engines, which matters because the engine and how it’s prepared affects how the car drives.
Bidelart is mentioned as the employer of Boscolo, who built engines for them. In motorsport, engine builders and engine-prep specialists can play a big role in how quickly a driver adapts to a new car and setup.
Williams
"Honestly, initially, I thought I was really lucky when I got the break to be a test driver [356.5s] for Williams. [357.8s] And I thought, and at the end of the year, I was really competitive."
Williams is a Formula 1 team. A test driver helps the team by driving the car to collect information so the engineers can improve it.
Williams is an F1 team, and being a test driver for Williams means you help develop the car before and during the season. Test drivers run track sessions to gather data, evaluate upgrades, and help engineers understand what the car is doing.
test driver
"Honestly, initially, I thought I was really lucky when I got the break to be a test driver [356.5s] for Williams."
A test driver is someone who drives the car to help the team learn how it behaves. The team uses that information to make the car better for races.
A test driver is a driver hired to evaluate a race car outside of (or alongside) race weekends. Their job is to provide feedback and help engineers validate changes, which can include setup direction, tire behavior, and how the car responds to inputs.
junior academies
"Now, junior academies, driver programs were much, much less common in those days."
Junior academies are training programs for young race drivers. They help drivers get experience and coaching, with the goal of moving up the ladder toward Formula 1.
Junior academies are structured development programs run by Formula 1 teams (or closely linked organizations) to find and train young drivers. They typically provide coaching, karting/single-seater opportunities, and a pathway toward higher-level junior categories and eventually F1.
road car
"You know, they took us on a road car for a day with all the six drivers."
A road car is a normal car you could drive on public streets. Using one for a day with drivers is a way to teach driving basics without being in a race car.
A road car is a vehicle built for public roads rather than purpose-built race machinery. When drivers are taken out in a road car, it’s often to teach fundamentals like car control and feedback in a more accessible, lower-stakes environment.
Audi
"Alan McNish is now back in the F1 product with Audi."
Audi is a car brand known for big technology and racing involvement. Here, it’s mentioned because Alan McNish is connected to Audi’s Formula 1 efforts.
Audi is a major automotive brand that has been involved in top-level motorsport, including Formula 1 through its engine and team partnerships. In this context, the host is linking Alan McNish’s return to the F1 paddock with Audi’s F1-related role.
driver academy with Jackie Stewart
"it sounds like you were good at soaking up and learning in things like a driver academy with Jackie Stewart. You mentioned in karting when you said I started bad, then ended up good."
A driver academy is like a training program for future race drivers. It helps you learn how to drive faster and smarter by practicing the right skills and listening to coaching.
A driver academy is a structured development program that trains young drivers in the skills and habits needed for professional racing. In this context, Juan Pablo Montoya credits learning from Jackie Stewart’s academy-style coaching, which emphasizes technique, feedback, and adaptation to higher competition levels.
karting
"You mentioned in karting when you said I started bad, then ended up good. It sounds like you were good at soaking and listening and learning."
Karting is the early stage of racing where people compete in small go-karts. Many top drivers start here because it teaches them how to race and control the vehicle.
Karting is the grassroots form of motorsport where drivers race small, lightweight go-karts. It’s widely used as the entry point for future professional racers because it teaches car control, racecraft, and consistency at a young age.
human side
"You know, I think it was really important to be cutthroat, to do whatever you needed to be done to get the job done. Where nowadays the human side is an important side of it and they look at it like an important"
The “human side” means the mental and personal factors that influence how well you race. It’s about things like handling pressure and working well with your team, not just driving fast.
In modern racing, the “human side” refers to the psychological and interpersonal factors that affect performance—things like confidence, communication, and how teams manage pressure. The speaker contrasts this with an earlier, more purely cutthroat approach to getting results.
single-seater racing formula
"Now, most of the current grids starting karts, they go into a single-seater racing formula into Formula 3, Formula 2."
Single-seater racing is open-wheel racing where only one driver sits in the car. It’s like a step-by-step training ladder that many drivers use to work their way up.
A single-seater racing formula is a ladder of open-wheel race categories where drivers compete in cars built for one person. In this episode, Juan Pablo Montoya uses it to describe the typical path toward higher-level open-wheel racing like Formula 3 and Formula 2.
Formula 3
"Now, most of the current grids starting karts, they go into a single-seater racing formula into Formula 3, Formula 2."
Formula 3 is an early step in open-wheel racing. Drivers use it to learn how to race at a higher level before going to bigger series.
Formula 3 is a junior open-wheel racing category that sits in the development ladder between karting and higher formulas. It’s commonly used to teach racecraft—like managing tires, learning overtaking, and adapting driving style—before moving up.
Formula 2
"Now, most of the current grids starting karts, they go into a single-seater racing formula into Formula 3, Formula 2."
Formula 2 is a step above Formula 3 in open-wheel racing. It’s where drivers get more experience racing at a level that’s closer to the top.
Formula 2 is a higher-level open-wheel category that typically comes after Formula 3 in the driver development ladder. It’s closer to the performance and pressure of top-tier racing, so drivers refine race strategy and consistency.
race lines
"I think what you get out of Goldchurch is the feedback of what you need to get with the changes, race lines, basic driving, and the racing side of it, the overtaking..."
Race lines are the paths drivers choose through a circuit to maximize speed and control. In racing training, learning good race lines helps drivers carry momentum, set up corners, and create better opportunities for overtaking.
overtaking
"I think what you get out of Goldchurch is the feedback of what you need to get with the changes, race lines, basic driving, and the racing side of it, the overtaking..."
Overtaking is when you pass another car during a race. It’s not just about being faster—it’s about choosing the right moment and place.
Overtaking is the set of tactics used to pass another car on track, which often depends on braking points, corner exits, and traction. In driver development, practicing overtaking is about timing and positioning as much as raw speed.
aggression
"the understanding how you need to do the aggression, the crossover, all this is really important and you pick this really well in Goldchurch."
In racing context, aggression refers to how forcefully and consistently a driver attacks corners—braking later, turning in decisively, and managing grip at the limit. It’s closely tied to confidence and car feedback, and it can vary by track and by how the driver’s style matches the car.
crossover
"the understanding how you need to do the aggression, the crossover, all this is really important and you pick this really well in Goldchurch."
Crossover here means switching from one driving approach to another during a lap or passing attempt. It’s about adapting your technique as conditions change.
Crossover in racing usually describes a transition point where a driver changes approach—such as moving from one line or braking/turn-in strategy to another during a maneuver. It’s often discussed as part of how drivers adapt their technique to different situations on track.
Formula two
"We've talked a lot about your rise through the ranks. We should talk about your son, Sebastian, racing in Formula two with Prima."
Formula Two is a stepping-stone series right before Formula 1. It’s where drivers prove they’re ready for the top level by racing in fast, competitive cars.
Formula Two (F2) is the main feeder series to Formula 1, designed to develop drivers with more powerful cars and closer-to-F1 racing standards. Drivers typically use F2 to prove they can handle racecraft, tire management, and pressure at a high level before getting an F1 seat.
Prima
"We should talk about your son, Sebastian, racing in Formula two with Prima. Just tell us briefly what his rise has been."
Prima is the team your son races for in Formula Two. Like in any motorsport, the team helps with the car and strategy so the driver can perform.
Prima refers to the racing team/organization that fields a driver in Formula Two. In F2, team support affects car setup, engineering, and how quickly a driver can adapt to the series.
simulator
"You know, I think he really wants to have an opportunity to drive an F1 car and show people what he can really do and, you know, get a test and getting a simulator."
A simulator is like a very advanced racing video game used for training. Drivers use it to practice circuits and improve how they drive before they get real track time.
A racing simulator is a high-fidelity training setup that lets drivers practice tracks, braking points, and car behavior without being on track. In modern motorsport, sim work is used to speed up learning and prepare drivers for race weekends and testing.
Carts
"And I'm guessing he started in Carts. Where did he go from there before getting into F2?"
Karting (often called “carts”) is the traditional entry point for many racing drivers. It teaches core skills like steering precision, race lines, and managing grip at low speeds—foundations that carry into higher formula series.
qualifying
"We need, honestly, the first thing for him is a bit of luck. [1082.2s] Like he needs, you know, things just need to line up a little bit. [1086.3s] I would say the hardest thing that he had to work on was qualifying."
In F1 and the feeder series, qualifying is the session that sets the starting grid for the race. It’s crucial because a strong grid position can make the race easier, while poor qualifying can force a driver to fight through traffic.
F4
"And we had him in the F4 when we started cars and he was way more prepared than us. [1106.7s] And he whipped us all year round. [1109.4s] He was really good in F4."
F4 is an early step on the path to Formula 1. It’s where young drivers learn how to race in single-seater cars and get used to things like tire behavior and race strategy.
In the F1 junior ladder, F4 is an entry-level single-seater series that teaches young drivers racecraft in standardized cars. It’s typically where drivers start building experience with race starts, tire management, and consistent lap times before moving up to higher categories.
F3
"He was really good in F4. [1110.9s] He was very good in F3 and everything. [1112.8s] He's always been the best out of the three teammates all the time."
F3 is a step up from F4 in the junior racing ladder. It’s where drivers prove they can handle tougher competition and more challenging cars as they move toward the top levels.
F3 is a higher rung of the junior single-seater ladder than F4, designed to bridge drivers toward more competitive, faster cars. Success in F3 often signals a driver’s ability to adapt to stronger competition and more demanding car setups.
testing
"And that's why I think a lot of it becomes, I think the team looks more for funding. [1153.2s] You know, it's like a lot of the people that end up going testing and things [1157.6s] is because they have sponsorship."
Testing is practice on the track where teams try out changes and learn how the car behaves. In junior racing, getting the chance to test often depends on sponsorship money.
In motorsport, “testing” refers to scheduled on-track sessions where teams and drivers gather data and refine setup. In junior categories, access to testing can be strongly influenced by sponsorship, because it’s a costly resource that helps a driver develop faster.
sponsorship
"is because they have sponsorship. [1159.2s] Of course, though, I'm imagining that sponsorship, you know, it is important, [1163.2s] but you've got to have the level of talents as well, right?"
Sponsorship is money from companies that helps pay for racing. In junior series, it can decide who gets the chance to race and develop, not just who is the most talented.
Sponsorship is the financial backing from companies that helps fund a driver’s season, equipment, and opportunities like testing. In the junior ladder, sponsorship can be as important as raw talent because it determines who gets the resources to keep progressing.
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