McLaren's JPM talks began early

Much has been said and written about last year's French Grand Prix being the catalyst that drove Montoya into the clutches of Ron Dennis and McLaren for 2005. The crux of his dissatisfaction is said to have been that having elected to stop a lap early at the second and final pit stop (new tyres being worth more than light fuel at the French track) he was miffed that team mate Ralf Schumacher, whom he had been closing down for the lead, elected to do the same, thereby retaining the lead.

The inference is that the team was favouring Schumacher, who's relationship with chief operations engineer Sam Michael, goes back to Jordan days. The team, however, denies calling Ralf in and were sufficiently upset by the Colombian's behaviour to request a formal meeting and then issue a written warning.

What does not add up is why Montoya should have been so upset in Magny Cours. After all, Schumacher Jr had taken the pole and was leading the race and therefore logically entitled to do whatever necessary to protect his lead. So, what had upset the Colombian?

"There was a lot of things happening in that race and I'm not going to say no, it didn't happen, but I'm not going to say what happened either," he explained in Melbourne. "Yes, he (Ralf) did piss me off. I can tell you that, I'm honest. And I can tell you I was talking to Ron before that race."

Could it perhaps have been team orders, something which neither the team nor Montoya could not have admitted to as they are technically against the rules?

Montoya smiled: "Er, no, no, no. I don't remember...