Montoya Determined to Beat Schumacher

Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya is determined to beat World Champion Michael Schumacher after the Ferrari driver got the best of the Williams star at the Australian Grand Prix.

Four-time champion Schumacher scored his first victory of the season at the opening event in Melbourne, finishing more than 18 seconds ahead of Montoya after an exciting battle between the two.

The Williams driver has reckoned that it's important to start finishing ahead of his rival in order to have a shot at the title, and Montoya thinks he is capable of doing it.

"I can beat Schumacher," said Montoya today in Malaysia on Thursday. "I want to beat him, his brother does, Rubens (Barrichello) does, everybody does. It's crucial for the World Championship to close the gap, because if Michael wins again it will open the gap and then it will be tough.

"It would be stupid to say I am going to win here, here or here. I just want to get points in every race and if I am in a position to win races then great. We all want to win races, but I need to make sure of the points."

Montoya, who made his Formula One debut last season with Williams, has been one of the few drivers capable of overtaking Schumacher during the past season, repeating the feat in Australia two weeks ago. However, the Colombian has played down his move, saying it depended on his tyres.

"It is good for TV," Montoya added, "and very good for the fans, But much of it is down to the tyres."