JPM 'will stay motivated'

BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen believes that Juan Pablo Montoya will remain committed to winning the world championship for Williams next season, despite the announcement that the Colombian will race for McLaren Mercedes in 2005

Nov 17, 2003, 7:47 PM

Montoya will remain with the BMW-powered team for a fourth season next year and is widely expected to challenge for the championship, having finished third in the final standings this year. But Theissen doesn't believe Montoya's eventual departure from the team will hinder his title bid.

"You don't get the chance to win a World Championship title every day," said Theissen. "If the chance is there, you must take it. Juan knows that too. I'm convinced that he will be just as motivated in 2004 as he's been up to now."

Theissen said that he can understand why Montoya would choose to leave Williams. "At the end of 2004, Juan will have been driving for our team for four years," he said. "It's quite normal to think about switching teams after that period of time."

Theissen added that it was too early to talk about who might replace Montoya in the team. He said: "We'll talk about the quality of the new drivers' duo when the decision is final."