Montoya on enjoying his rookie year, progress and why the best is yet to come in 2025

It has been a year that has built and built for Sebastián Montoya. The Colombian started out in the points in Melbourne, but a lean spell followed until the European heart of the campaign.

Since then, the PREMA Racing driver has gone on an impressive run, earning a maiden Formula 2 podium in the Monte Carlo Feature Race before going on to add another two P2 finishes since then.

In the past seven races, he’s finished in the top five on six occasions. So now that things are beginning to click, what does the Colombian make of his rookie campaign in F2 so far?

“One thing I will say is that some people will say it's not the season I wanted,” the 20-year-old’s honest assessment began with. “Obviously, the results - I'm not gonna lie about that, because we've been mega quick, and we haven't really gotten the points and results that we wanted. But everything else has been super positive.

“I'm gonna be honest, Formula 2 is super challenging. The level of the drivers is super high. All the rookies that went up to F1, they're performing at a very high level. So obviously F2 prepares you for the future in the best way possible.

“Although we've had a few issues here and there, and a few mistakes as well from my side, I've really had a great time this year.”

MAKING CHANGES AND ENJOYING DRIVING

The impressive season has come about after a change in his preparations and processes both at and away from the track.

Along with PREMA’s uncharacteristically slow start to the season, it has meant that Montoya has only hit his best form in recent months. But he says that the level of satisfaction as a result of having to be patient has been worth the wait.

He added that those changes have also brought a lot of enjoyment back, and that is also having a major impact on results in a positive light.

“Last year, I made a change in myself and it was a difficult change... I found a lot of consistency in myself"

“At the end of last year, I was coming on quite strong in F3 and that was down to the mentality that I had, to learn throughout the year.

“Last year, I made a change in myself and the mentality that I wanted to have, and it was a difficult change. I obviously had to go through difficulties and ups and the downs, and at the end of the year, found a lot of consistency in myself.

“I think the work outside the track, the work at the track, and the work at home, the mentality, the maturity, the growth in myself, has really developed a lot. I would say, from last year, November to right now, I've changed a lot, not only as a driver, but as a person, and I've absolutely loved it.

“And then I had to translate that and adapt to F2 which was which was pretty difficult, because F2, as I said before, you have to perform at a very high level continuously, and errors make a big difference.

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“I've learned that the hard way as well. But it’s coming down to what works for me best, adapting and having the courage to try different things and be honest with yourself and tell yourself what's actually important, what actually benefits you, and what you need to focus on.

“From December to now, a lot of changes have happened in my life, and I am so happy. It's really nice because I've started to enjoy driving a lot more. And it’s not that I didn't before, but right now, it's just another step, and it's just so much fun.

“I'm having a lot of fun. I love what I do, and I love to perform at a very high level. And I feel like I'm doing that, and I'm getting better at it, and as the season goes on, my goal is just to keep on working and bring the results that I know that will come.”

HARD WORK PAYING OFF

Montoya’s recent results have only fuelled his motivation to go on and achieve more. The Colombia says that he is still looking to find another level and, of course, that first victory in the Championship.

That could come easier now that things are working out as planned, though it doesn’t mean he won’t continue pushing for more and more, both from himself and his team.

As a rookie, he says he is continuing to learn about what he needs to do to maximise the car, himself and the team around him, and in light of that, his ceiling still hasn’t been reached in 2025.

“When you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's a lot easier to spend six hours in the gym"

“When you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's a lot easier to spend six hours in the gym, three hours on the sim, looking at videos, looking at data.

“It also brings a little bit more joy, because you start to see the hard work that you're putting in, the effort that you're putting in, and how hard you're working for it - you see the positive side of that.

“There’s been signs here and there. I think what we have to change is realise that we're no longer where we were, and it's really important to still be critical about things, and to focus on different areas that I need to improve.

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“Maybe sometimes it's better to control yourself, because F2 is a super competitive Championship, and you have to score points, you have to finish the races, and you have to be able to maximise every weekend.

“I feel like even at the end of last year I was learning massively. So this year I feel like I'm still learning, and the more you learn about the car, the more possibilities and different ways of exploring these different opportunities leads to different roads.

“I've always tried to keep my mind open this year to see the different possibilities of everything and the different ways of doing everything to make sure I maximise what I need to maximise to do a good job.”