Interview: Confident Montoya Ready for McLaren Debut

Juan Pablo Montoya knows he made the right move in leaving Williams for McLaren.

Fit and focused as never before, the Colombian hopes to make a winning debut with his new team in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix and maybe ultimately end Michael Schumacher's five year reign as Formula One champion.

He is less sure about the prospects for Williams and their new signing Mark Webber, Australia's biggest motor racing hope in decades.

"They don't look that strong but I think, typical Williams, that halfway through the season they will come up with the goods," Montoya told Reuters in an interview at the Phillip Island MotoGP circuit south of Melbourne on Wednesday.

"They always come up with the goods, but too late."

While Montoya and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen form one of the sport's strongest pairings, Williams have an all-new line-up with Webber and Germany's Nick Heidfeld.

Heidfeld has been on the podium just once, a third with Sauber in 2001, while Webber has yet to better the fifth place he achieved on his debut with Minardi in an accident-strewn Australian race in 2002.

Montoya said Webber was unlikely to fare any better on Sunday: "I think it's going to be very hard for him to beat it this year to be honest," he declared.

Heidfeld Challenge

"With the new rules and regulations, I think in the first race nobody is going to break down. So to really score points you've got to be competitive," explained Montoya.

"From what you've seen in testing you'd say there's two Renaults faster (than Williams), there's two McLarens faster, Ferrari could be faster, they (Williams) are about the same pace as BAR. That's eight cars already.

"Maybe they'll have a new aero package here and they'll be competitive. But you've got to say that based on what we've seen in testing they don't look that strong."

Montoya felt Heidfeld could also prove a match for Webber.

"Nick has been around for a while and he, I think, could do a really good job. There's a lot of expectation about what Webber can do, we'll see," he said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he (Heidfeld) beats him."

Montoya announced his move to McLaren in 2003, a year early, and some questioned his judgement when the Mercedes-powered team made an abject start to the 2004 season and limped to their worst Championship position since 1983.

Williams, with Montoya winning the season-ender in Brazil, finished fourth and a place above McLaren.

With Schumacher's Ferrari leaving their new car at home for at least the first two races, the Colombian can dream of a perfect start on Sunday.

"It would be nice," he said. "We finished last year for Williams on a really high note and it was really nice to close our relationship like that. To start one with a win would be awesome.

"I don't think it's going to be that easy but the potential is there...it's a very good car, very predictable to drive.

"Normally Ferrari's strongest point is always the beginning of the season. If we can keep up with them at the beginning of the season then we might be looking quite strong," he added when asked about the title prospects.

Montoya, driving owners of Mercedes AMG-tuned cars at speed around the Motorcycle grand prix circuit and then performing tyre-smoking circles for their entertainment, said he was fired up for the season ahead.

"I'm still the same...I'm always motivated. It's a new challenge and it's really exciting," he said. "I've been having a blast of a time."