Montoya Takes a Leaf out of Schumacher's Book

Juan Pablo Montoya learned a lot about Formula One last season and one key lesson to help him challenge for the title came from Michael Schumacher.

"There is one area where he has greatly improved and continues to do so," said team principal Frank Williams, discussing the Colombian's first season at the launch of the new FW24 car on Friday.

"He understands that when Michael leaves the circuit, his mental application doesn't diminish at all. He's always thinking about how to make himself, his car and his team better. Juan is gradually spending more and more time doing a similar thing."

The 26-year-old, who won rave reviews for three memorable overtaking manoeuvres on Ferrari's four times World Champion, stood out in the second half of the season with a first victory at Monza in September. The most exciting South American driver since the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna starts the season in Australia in March capable of matching Schumacher in and out of the car as Williams set their sights on the Championship.

"If the car works and we work together then there's a possibility we could do it," said Montoya of Williams's chances of winning the Constructors' crown. Montoya also maintained it was the team boss who had first taken him aside and suggested he adopt a more focused approach: "He's the one who came and told me 'you know, you've got to really think about it and do this and do that.'"

New Engineer

Schumacher, with a contract until 2004 at Ferrari, is a clear number one with the benefits of a team built around him and committed to his efforts. Montoya, recently linked to Ferrari as a possible replacement for Schumacher when the German retires, admitted he might earn more money at another team but declared himself satisfied with his current deal.

He added that he could see himself staying at Williams long-term, possibly building up a similar environment to that enjoyed by Schumacher at the Italian team.

"I wouldn't mind. I think Williams and BMW have got a good relationship and a few years to go together still," he said.

Montoya has a new race engineer for 2002 in Tony Ross and the Colombian was full of enthusiasm for the new partnership. He said Ross called him even when he was not testing the car to keep him abreast of developments.

"The relationship with him is evolving really quick, and I think that is helping out a lot," he said. "It is going to be his first season as the main engineer, so it is going to be a tough job for him, but he wants to do it well so badly that he is pushing it really hard and it is really paying off."

Professional Relationship

Montoya was less positive about his relationship with teammate Ralf Schumacher, Michael's younger brother, who had earlier described their partnership as one of the best of his career.

"We have a very good and professional relationship, even though we don't like each other," said the German, who is expected to be one of Montoya and Michael's main title rivals this year. The Colombian agreed that they would work closely together despite otherwise being poles apart and enjoying no social relationship.

"I don't have anything in common with him," Montoya said, adding that the pair had not eaten a meal together in a year at Williams. "But we work together, it's like when you go to the office. If you don't like somebody and that guy is your boss or a guy that you have to work with, then you've got to work with him," Montoya said.

"If we don't work together, we are going to hurt ourselves as well when we get to the track."