Montoya Tells Pizzonia to Forget about Webber

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya has advised Jaguar driver Antonio Pizzonia to forget about teammate Mark Webber in order to be able to prove his talent.

Montoya has helped Pizzonia this year, driving him around the Malaysian circuit in March to help him learn the unfamiliar layout - a gesture that rebounded when the Brazilian shunted the Colombian's car on the opening lap of the race.

"I saw him today in the paddock and said 'Look, you've got to forget about Webber and concentrate on making your car go quicker," said Montoya at the Barcelona circuit. "If your car goes quicker, you're going to be fine. But I don't think Jaguar have the right people to guide him...I think he needs quite a bit of support.

"He's done four races, he hasn't even begun to understand how everything works and they are already trying to sack him. It's sad to say, but its very typical Jaguar. It's not the first time they've done it, is it?"

Ford-owned Jaguar replaced Brazilian Luciano Burti after four races in 2001 and have been through a succession of staff changes, including five team principals, in three seasons in Formula One. Pizzonia, 21 and one of four rookies this season, was Williams test driver last year and Montoya and others within that team said he had been very quick.

The Brazilian has struggled to match the qualifying pace of Australian team mate Mark Webber, who has been third and fifth on the grid in his last two races compared to Pizzonia's unimpressive 15th and 17th. The signs emanating from Jaguar, who would not confirm on Thursday that Pizzonia would be racing for them after the weekend, are that Pizzonia is on borrowed time.

Jaguar have approached McLaren about hiring test driver and experienced racer Alexander Wurz, who could be in the driving seat for the sixth round of the championship in his native Austria on May 18.