Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Montoya Positive Rule Changes Will Work

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya believes the rule changes imposed by Formula One's ruling body for the upcoming season will allow talented drivers to shine more often.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya believes the rule changes imposed by Formula One's ruling body for the upcoming season will allow talented drivers to shine more often.

The FIA announced the banning of some of the so called driving aids starting at this year's British Grand Prix in July, when traction control and automatic gearboxes will no longer be allowed as part of the measures to bring back the excitement and reduce the costs.

Montoya believes the changes will be positive for the sport and will give drivers from lesser teams the chance to outshine their rivals.

"I don't think the races are boring, it's just that there's too much strategy," the Colombian said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on Sunday. "Everything is very well studied. That's why we have to wait and see if the rule changes give positive results.

"I think they will work. I think when they remove the driving aids a lot of people will get a chance to shine."

Williams driver Montoya finished in third place in last season's Championship, a year completely dominated by German Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari team. Montoya, who is tipped by many as the man to take over Schumacher's reign, says the German can be beaten, although he refuses to admit he is the man destined to end Ferrari's supremacy.

"It's too early to say that I'm going to change Formula One," Montoya, 26, added. "He (Schumacher) is not invincible. No one is. My greatest idol was Ayrton Senna, and he wasn't invincible either. There is no driver you can't beat. When a team and a driver do things the right way, the wins come."

Despite Schumacher's dominance of Formula One in recent years, however, Montoya believes the five-time champion can't be compared to Senna.

"I'd choose Senna every time," the Colombian replied when asked to compare the late Brazilian and Schumacher. "He was ten times better."

Previous article FIA Send Condolences as Thousands Mourn Agnelli
Next article Austria to Lose GP after 2003, Says Ecclestone

Top Comments