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
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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."
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