Montoya unsure he wants to stay at McLaren

The Colombian is well aware that there is only one seat available at McLaren next year, after the team's capture of world champion Fernando Alonso, but he has made it clear that he will not hold on forever to find out if he is wanted.

When asked by autosport.com today whether the contract situation was a concern, Montoya said: "No. It is the same thing as always.

"I am looking around to see what I am going to do. It's not decided what is going to happen here (at McLaren), but I am open to offers.

"I've got to see what I'm going to do, but I can't wait to see whether Ron [Dennis] makes his mind up. So I am just doing the same that I did last year."

Montoya says he is not even certain that he wants to remain at McLaren next year - and has openly admitted that he is already looking around at what other teams can offer him.

He claims that he began looking around as soon as McLaren decided not to take up the option they had on him, which ran out on December 31st 2005.

"I am not waiting for anybody. I am doing my job and looking around. Whoever offers me what I want then I will leave...I am looking today.

"I've been looking since the day he (Dennis) said he wasn't going to take the option. Before he even announced Fernando, I was looking around on what I was going to do, because I need to find a drive if he doesn't want me."

Montoya added: "I am not thinking about whether I need to stay here. If they don't want me then for sure I will find somewhere where they want me. I am happy to say that I have done most of the development of the car last year and this year.

"When we started last year, we started with a quick car but it wasn't winning races. I put a lot of effort in, I put a lot of ideas forward and the car got quicker and we started wining races, so in my mind I know I have done a good enough job to deserve the job.

"But the question is really whether I want to stay here. There are so many things in the line that I cannot be bothered to talk about it. You've got to look at what is available and then make a decision."

Montoya has made it clear, however, that he will not hand McLaren or Dennis a deadline of when he wants them to make a decision about him.

"What happens if you put a deadline and then he says, you know I haven't made up my mind?" he said. "What are you going to do? Punch him. You don't gain anything by setting a deadline."

Speculation has already linked Montoya with Red Bull Racing, although Montoya has admitted that a renewal of his relationship with BMW could be on the cards following their years together at Williams.

"I think at the moment if you had an option from Ferrari or Renault or Williams like they used to be, or a long-term commitment from another team, then you would take it," he said.

"I worked with BMW. They made good, powerful engines, but the question is can they build a good chassis?"

And when asked about what his reaction was to the news of McLaren's signing of Alonso, Montoya said: "From what I heard, I took it better than Kimi...

"I think Ron was sceptical of calling me because he didn't know how I was going to react. When he told me I said, 'good for you' and he stayed quiet. What else is he going to do? 'What else do you want me to say? It is your team, it is your thing. You do whatever you want with it. What can I do?'

"I am doing the best I can and if for him the best I can do is not good enough, then he is going to find somebody else."