Colombian F1 calamity

Fiery Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya proved yesterday, on the eve of the new Formula One season, that he is in no mood for messing around.

Montoya, who will serve out the remainder of his contract with Williams this season before linking up with British rivals McLaren, stormed out of a press conference after it was hijacked by two irreverent Australian comedians.

At one point the 28-year-old was physically restrained from leaving as officials tried to persuade him to return, but he drove away from the Sandown Raceway, on the outskirts of Melbourne, furious and without fulfilling his full range of sponsor commitments. Officials said afterwards Montoya did not appreciate being made a fool of and disagreed with comedians infiltrating a serious racing event.