Montoya Predicts First Lap Mayhem

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya says he fears a dramatic first lap accident at the start of today's European Grand Prix, claiming at least four cars will be forced out of the race at the first corner.

Montoya, who has clashed twice with Ferrari rival Michael Schumacher on the opening lap of a race this season, warned that cars could be sent flying as the field heads into the new tight first corner hairpin.

"It is pretty crazy to put a hairpin into the first corner," he told the media in the Nurburgring paddock. "It will be tricky at the start. I would be surprised if at least four cars don't go out of the race at the first corner.

"Right before you are going to brake it is quite bumpy and the thing is, if you are committed to brake at 100 (metres) and the guy in front brakes at 110 (metres), you're done, you are going to be doing some aerobatics there."

Montoya believes that the long straight before the hairpin will cause havoc because it will allow cars to accelerate up into fifth or sixth gear from the standing start, so they will be travelling at great speeds into what is a first gear corner.

In the last two races, the Colombian has had the advantage off the line after starting from pole and he insisted he will not take a cautious approach in the race into the first corner, wherever he ends up on the grid.

In Canada, at the last Grand Prix, he made a dramatic chopping move at the start to cut off Schumacher, who started alongside him on the front row, and he insisted he would do it again because he has given up trying to be polite.

"I have been polite before and I have been shafted for being polite," said Montoya, who was criticised for not making aggressive moves at the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix before his clash with Schumacher in the fourth corner. "I learned you don't want to be polite on a race weekend and it has worked out quite well that way."