Montoya aiming to put skids under Ferrari

FIERY Williams star Juan Pablo Montoya begins a season of reckoning this morning when practice for the Australian Grand Prix clicks into gear at Albert Park.

The Colombian was hailed as the man most likely to post a consistent challenge to Michael Schumacher after joining Formula One from CART in 2001.

But in 34 races, the 27-year-old has managed just one victory to date, and he failed to win at all throughout a disappointing campaign in 2002.

Despite seven podium finishes securing him third in the drivers’ championship, the Williams bosses were far from happy with his performance.

Montoya colourfully refuted claims he and team-mate Ralf Schumacher had been given a dressing down over their performances, but there is no pretending that last year’s failure to make a significant imprint on Ferrari was a major body blow to the team.

The one-two in Malaysia, which gave the younger Schumacher his fourth race win, was a rare bright moment for Williams as Ferrari stormed clear to land the constructors’ title by an incredible 129 points.

Despite the likes of team boss Frank Williams and head technician Patrick Head going public with their frustrations, Montoya, on edge as ever, insisted any comments had been blown out of proportion.

“If they were not happy they would tell me, they wouldn’t tell you,” he snapped during a press conference.

“And they haven’t told me anything. Get over it.

“They supposedly made harsh comments about Ralf and myself and we both went to talk to them and really they never said anything.”

Montoya conceded Ferrari were likely to retain the edge in the opening round of the season, but he was confident the Williams car would develop into a significant force capable of chipping away at that advantage.

“The weekend after we launched the car we were in Valencia and I broke the track record and then Ralf broke the lap record in Jerez, so the car has potential,” said Montoya.

“It’s better in a lot of areas. It’s generally a better car. It’s more reactive, it’s more alive.”

Montoya admitted Williams were not yet certain what their tactics would be in qualifying, following the introduction of new regulations.

The format has been altered to a one-off flying lap, while the car is to begin the race carrying the same amount of fuel with which it ended qualifying.

This has given the chance for smaller teams to make a pitch for pole and grab some limelight so crucial for their sponsors by claiming first place by employing a very light fuel strategy.