Team pays tribute to Montoya pole

It was the first ace for Williams at Silverstone since 1997 and the Colombian's fourth successive pole position and fifth of the year.

Head refused to compare it with Nigel Mansell's stunning 1992 British GP pole, citing incomparably different eras, but did say: "It was undoubtedly a very special lap. His pole at Monte Carlo was special too, because ours is a long and big car and we haven't been that special at Monaco in the recent past.

"But this one was on a par and it was a surprise because Ralf had looked stronger on the earlier runs, when Juan Pablo said he had too much understeer. He and his engineer, Tony Ross, were changing the car quite a bit, altering the rear bar, front springs and the rear wing, then at the end there was that big gaggle and he went out a few seconds earlier than planned."

Berger put it down, simply, to "big balls."

"There has been quite a change in Juan Pablo in the last year and a half," he added. "Before, he would change two things at once, sometimes get a little lost and it didn't seem to happen for him. But now he slowly improves the car and then just does it. And he just has so much confidence now as well."