Montoya: 'I don't feel any pressure'

The Colombian, who gets his first taste of Formula 1 machinery for more than two years today, says there is no pressure on him to perform and set quick lap times straightaway.

"I think you really only feel the pressure when the races come along, and now is the time to learn the car, learn everything about BMW and try to get the most out of the team," said Montoya. "I am not fighting to get a seat, so I don't need to go quick, and I can just focus on getting the car more comfortable to drive.

"I am excited to be here and I don't feel nervous at all. I know the track, I've driven a Williams Formula One car before and it is just a question of putting everything together. A lot of the faces here are familiar from when I tested with the team in 1998, so that all helps me."

Montoya also revealed that earlier this year he thought he would not be able to claim a seat at Williams in 2001 because of the great job that Button did during his debut season.

"I always dreamed about racing in Formula One and when the time came to come back here from ChampCar racing I was very pleased because, with Jenson doing so well, I thought my chances were slim. I am really looking forward to it."

David Coulthard got his campaign to win the 2001 world championship underway by running development parts for next year's McLaren yesterday. After completing about 30 laps, he took the opportunity to stake his dislike for the high-tech driver aids, including traction control, which are likely to be allowed back in the sport next year.

"On the face of it, these systems don't seem as pure," he said. "The sport is always about the best driver showing what he can do, while Formula 1 is also about the best technology, but I am a pure racer. I want to change my own gears and I don't want computers to stop wheelspin."