Montoya hungry for victory

Juan Pablo Montoya is in search of more Grands Prix wins after a season without a victory last year. Montoya's only F1 win was at Monza in 2001; despite a string of pole positions and the fastest ever qualifying lap in the sport's history, the ...

Juan Pablo Montoya is in search of more Grands Prix wins after a season without a victory last year. Montoya's only F1 win was at Monza in 2001; despite a string of pole positions and the fastest ever qualifying lap in the sport's history, the Colombian didn't reach the top step of the podium in 2002.

Interview for Juan Pablo Montoya.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Speaking at the launch of the Williams FW25 in Barcelona, Montoya said: "My last win goes back to September 2001. I'm hungry, I want to win some GPs and hope that I've got the technical possibilities to do that, I always want to be the best and I want to be world champion one day."

Perhaps he didn't maximise his chances last year and there were one or two on-track clashes with team mate Ralf Schumacher, but Montoya tries not to dwell on disappointments: "It's much easier for me to deal with if it's other people's mistakes," he said.

"In Formula One, so much depends on how well you work together with the team. I don't place myself above the team. If somebody makes a mistake we have to analyse it, learn from it and move on. However, with some mistakes, I really take myself to task. Once or twice at most have I said to myself "you've done a really good job there", but normally my reaction is always that it could have been better -- even if I've earned a pole position."

Like many, Montoya is looking forward to what the new qualifying system will bring: "Having just one timed lap favours mentally strong drivers who can unleash all the necessary forces at the decisive moment. I think I can do it," he said, "The luck factor, in terms of the weather and so on, isn't worth losing any sleep over."

The Colombian is greeted by near-hysterical fans when he returns to his home country and at circuits around the world the Colombian flag is a familiar sight. Montoya is proud of his status and wants to give something back to his fans.

"I am an ambassador for my country," he explained, "I love it when I see the Colombian flags flying on the terraces. I think I can give something to my country. I'm giving the people there a reason to be happy. When I'm racing, it's as if they're paralysed. Everything really does come to a standstill over there. Now I want to win for them."