Formula 1
Montoya doubts Michael's Brazil chances
While Michael Schumacher and Ferrari are confident heading into this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya doesn't think a Ferrari victory is likely. Schumacher won the race last year but the Williams driver believes Michelin's tyres ...
Edited: Apr 5, 2003, 1:00 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
While Michael Schumacher and Ferrari are confident heading into this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya doesn't think a Ferrari victory is likely. Schumacher won the race last year but the Williams driver believes Michelin's tyres are better than Bridgestone's and doesn't reckon the current champion's chances.
Juan Pablo Montoya.
Photo by Brousseau Photo.
"He has chances but I don't think the chances of him winning here in Brazil are very big," Montoya said of Schumacher. "From what we've seen in the first two races, the Michelin tyres are working much better than the Bridgestones and I think they can give us a bit of an advantage on this circuit. Michael won last year but Ralf and I were both much faster than him. So on that basis, I don't think they will be that fast."
Williams is optimistic after Australia and Malaysia, BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen recently saying he thought the team could win the title this year. Montoya agrees that the potential is there to mount a serious challenge.
"We have good hopes. With everything that we have done to the car, Ralf was very quick in the tests in Barcelona," the Colombian commented. "There is a lot of potential. This car and Williams are competitive enough to fight for the championship. It gives us something to fight for wins with."
However, Ferrari may have started off in less than its usual successful manner but once the F2003-GA hits the track, many are expecting a wake up call to the rest of the grid. The new car is expected to debut at Imola and Montoya is wary: "When they bring out their new car is when I see them being strong," he said.
As for Brazil, Juan Pablo is not predicting a success of his own: "It is very hard to say I am going to win this race. I have got a chance but it is not a big chance."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Barrichello not fazed by Massa
Next article McLaren sign de la Rosa as test driver
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Ferrari
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
8 h
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Latest news
Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
3 h
Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
3 h
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
3 h
Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
FIA F2
F2 FIA F2 4 h
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe