Button's Manager Slams Montoya

Jenson Button's manager David Robertson has slammed Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya saying the Colombian driver "keeps doing stupid things".

Montoya, making his Formula One debut this year after winning the CART series back in 1999 and the Indy 500 in 2000, replaced 21-year old Button at the Williams team this season, forcing the Briton to move to the Benetton team, where he is struggling to show the signs of a promising debut season last year and being regularly outperformed by his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.

Button has been eclipsed this year by Montoya, who was impressed so far leading three Grands Prix and finishing in the podium in two occasions, and the Brit's expected return to Williams in 2003 is in doubt following the Colombian's performances.

However, Robertson believes the hype around Montoya is not justified.

"Just because Montoya's at the front, in a car which should be up there with the best, everyone is saying 'Wow'." Robertson told the Sunday Mirror. "All this hysteria about Montoya is unbelievable. Let's face it, he's bent the bloody car enough times so I don't understand all this rubbish that's flying around about him.

"The guy keeps going off and people try and justify that by saying he is inexperienced. The guy is an experienced racer. He had considerable testing experience testing a Formula One car before he went to Indy in the States where, credit to the guy, he won the championship. He has also driven F3000 so he has a lot more experienced than Jenson, yet he keeps doing stupid things."

Montoya has scored fifteen points so far this season with Williams, while Button has been unable to finish higher than seventh with the Benetton.