Sebastián Montoya has brought his Colombian roots to the forefront with a special race weekend look, combining a Maluma-inspired helmet with racewear celebrating Colombia’s football identity. The Formula 2 driver worked with the Colombian artist on a helmet linked to his new album Loco X Volver, while also incorporating references to his father Juan Pablo Montoya and messages that reflect their shared connection to Colombia.
Montoya combines Maluma collaboration with family history
Montoya has brought several elements of his Colombian identity together through a special helmet created in collaboration with Colombian musician Maluma. The design also carries a personal connection to his father, Juan Pablo Montoya, while supporting Maluma’s new album Loco X Volver.
“I’ve got the helmet with Maluma, who is launching his new album, Loco X Volver. It was a design that we’ve been wanting to do with them for the past year and a half, and we hadn’t been able to get the right opportunity to do something.”
Montoya incorporated inspiration from his father’s 2003 helmet into the design, combining that history with the red colours associated with Maluma’s album.
“The design in the back is like my dad’s 2003 helmet when he won, and then obviously the red for his album. I think it’s really nice because it shares a lot of special messages and represents a lot of where we come from in Colombia.”
Colombian identity at the heart of Montoya’s helmet
Beyond the overall design, Montoya included several details that connect the helmet directly to Colombia. Among them is +57, Colombia’s international calling code and the title of a song featuring several Colombian artists.
“On the left side, the +57, which is the area code for Colombia. It’s also the name of the song, and a bunch of artists came together to talk about Made in Colombia. Here at the top, you have the album image, and here at the front you have the logos as well.”
One of the most meaningful elements appears at the back of the helmet. The phrase con corazon y pa’lante connects Maluma’s experiences with a message Montoya has also heard throughout his own career from his father.
“We have my name at the top, his name at the bottom, Maluma, and then in the back, it’s a saying con corazon y pa’lante, which means with heart and moving forward. It’s a message he said to people because he struggled a lot with the fame and everything else at a certain point, and through those tough times, what got him through is just doing everything by heart.”
Montoya sees that philosophy as equally relevant to his journey through motorsport and the challenges that come with pursuing a career at the highest level.
“That’s the same message that my dad has always said to me. You have to love what you’re doing and just keep moving forward, just keep going through it, it’s going to get better. That’s the message that we want to portray to everyone.”
How the collaboration with Maluma came together
The link between Montoya and Maluma extends beyond their Colombian roots. Montoya’s interest in music and Maluma’s passion for cars provided a natural starting point for the collaboration, while both wanted to showcase Colombians representing their country internationally.
“I’m a really big fan of music, and Maluma really likes cars. He has a cool car collection in Medellin, and they’ve been wanting to do something with Colombians outside of Colombia, not only artists, but also athletes and different people that are showing the country to the rest of the world.”
The two sides had already explored the possibility of working together before finally finding the right opportunity.
“My team reached out to them last year, they were really interested but we never found the opportunity, and now finally having this opportunity and doing it together for me is awesome.”
For Montoya, the finished helmet represents more than a partnership between a racing driver and an artist. He sees it as an example of the support Colombians give one another across different industries and sports.
“It shows that we really support each other, it doesn’t matter if it’s in motorsports, or if it’s in music, whatever Colombians are doing around the world, we support each other and we want the best for each other, and I think that’s kind of the message that we’re portraying here.”
Bringing Colombia’s football colours to Formula 2
Montoya also extended the Colombian theme beyond his helmet. After previously working with the Colombian Soccer Federation on a special helmet, he wanted to mark the World Cup with another project.
“Last year I had the special helmet with the Colombian Soccer Federation for their 100th-year celebration, and this year we wanted to do something for the World Cup.”
This time, the Formula 2 driver incorporated details inspired by the national football team throughout his racewear, including his gloves and boots.
“So on the gloves, you can see the print of the shirt in the logo, the same with the fingertip, and with my boots, the three stripes on the side, I’ve changed it to be the Colombian colours, yellow, blue, and red, and I think they look awesome.”
The most visible element is Montoya’s yellow race suit. His name and racing number on the back imitate the look of a Colombian football shirt, completing the crossover between the two sports.
“It’s my favourite thing about the shoes, and then obviously the suit, the full yellow, and the Montoya on the back with the number 11, just as the players will have it when they’re on the pitch, the whole thing came together really nice.”
Football and motorsport come together for Montoya
Colombia’s national football team holds particular significance for Montoya, who looks back fondly on the country’s run at the 2014 World Cup. More recently, he has watched the national side rebuild and return to competing against some of the world’s strongest teams.
“It means a lot. I have a lot of special memories from the 2014 World Cup, that was awesome. We didn’t make it to Qatar but the past couple of years Colombia has gone through a reformation. We showed what we can do getting to the Copa America final, fighting against Messi’s Argentina that won the World Cup and then proceeded to win Copa America, but still making the final, for me it’s really special.”
Football remains Colombia’s biggest sport, but Montoya has also noticed motorsport gaining greater attention as he has progressed through the junior single-seater categories.
“In Colombia, football is the biggest sport, but in recent years as I’ve gone up the ladder, the love for motorsports has started to awaken again. So to see this crossover between both sports is awesome. A lot of people who grew watching my dad are now watching me and supporting me in where I want to get to in Formula 1. So it’s awesome to share that with them and it’s awesome to see these collaborations come to life.”
Montoya hopes to inspire Colombians to pursue their ambitions
Several partners helped Montoya bring the different elements of the project together. He believes their support allows him to send a wider message to people in Colombia about pursuing their ambitions and working towards their goals.
“Thank you to Adidas, to Maluma as well for the helmet, the Colombian Soccer Federation for making this happen, and Aguila. Thanks to them because they make it possible to show not only myself but also the Colombian people that whatever you want to do, you can make it. You just need a dream, to work hard and everything will come together.”
Following Juan Pablo Montoya’s example on the international stage
Representing Colombia internationally carries another layer of significance for Montoya because of his father’s career. Juan Pablo Montoya became one of the country’s most recognisable sporting figures through his achievements at the highest levels of international motorsport, giving his son an example to follow.
“It’s really special because the first person to really do it internationally at such a high level was my dad. Seeing my dad, what he did and his journey for me is something beautiful.”
