BMW wants effort put behind Montoya

According to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, the chief of BMW Motorsport, Mario Theissen, is behind the call for team strategy that favours Montoya to be considered for the remaining races.

"I think we have to sit down now and see what the situation is," he said. "We have a chance in both championships, and certainly Frank [Williams] has got to think about it. It's going to be harder running two cars at the front."

Montoya's victory in the German Grand Prix on Sunday, coupled with Schumacher's first corner exit and Hungarian GP grid penalty looming over his head, has effectively turned the fight for the 2003 drivers' title into a three-way fight. Thiessen wants to ensure that Montoya has suitable back-up, similar to that likely to be enjoyed by Michael Schumacher of Ferrari and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

But Williams' chief operations engineer Sam Michael said: "We will go into Hungary the same way we came to Germany. When we come out of the other side we'll see what happens. There won't be any instructions for the drivers. They are free to race to the end of the season."