The journey to Formula 1 is a very expensive one that requires more than just talent behind the wheel to make it to the highest level.
Multiple drivers, such as Callum Ilott and Theo Pourchaire, have succeeded as they ascended the ladder only to be overlooked by F1 teams.
Junior championships such as Formula 2 and FIA F3 are incredibly competitive as drivers push towards Formula 1 in equal cars.
In his second full campaign in the championship, Sebastian Montoya competed in Formula 3 racing for Campos this season.
The Colombian struggled in the opening stages but built confidence throughout the year and drove to second place in the Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps.
Montoya explained when speaking to the AS Colombia YouTube channel that his improvement towards the end of the year also made life slightly complicated as he looks to step up to Formula 2.
Sebastian Montoya feels the ‘timing’ of his improvement ‘complicated life’ for some F2 teams
Montoya is eager to move up to Formula 2 and continue progressing in his career as after two years in FIA F3, there is rarely much benefit in staying for a third season.
The 19-year-old was also rarely at the front in Formula 3, taking two podiums over a couple of seasons, with just the occasional moment of brilliance. Juan Pablo Montoya also believes it’s a difficult situation for his son over the winter, now.
Sebastian Montoya has now explained that he is working towards a drive in Formula 2 for next season, but a lot of teams already have drivers signed up.
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Montoya said: “Let’s see, so for me it was something because of what I thought. That when it was going well, the Formula 2 teams were going to say, let’s sign now, but my timing of going fast was so late in the year that many people were already signed.
“So, we complicated life for many teams in a personal way. They said like, ‘Oh my god’ we have a driver we already have the drivers but this man is going very fast so what are we going to do?
“Then it was a little stressful and the good thing is that it opened many doors for us outside of Europe in Formula 2. At the end of the day, F2 is the goal, there is nothing officially confirmed but I am working hard and trying to focus.”
Sebastian Montoya may need to look at options away from Europe
Montoya has proven has can compete in single-seaters as well as the IMSA SportsCar Championship, competing in three rounds in 2022.
Alongside racing in IMSA, the 19-year-old has also competed in European endurance racing. He drove in the full season of ELMS in 2023.
This experience in much longer events and a different style of driving may be an option for Montoya to explore, too, if there are limited or no opportunities to graduate to Formula 2 in 2025.