Formula 1: Montoya puts wind up Schumacher

Michael Schumacher should be a worried world champion following Juan Pablo Montoya's brilliant Brazilian Grand Prix performance, according to Williams technical director Patrick Head.

The Colombian aggressively barged past Schumacher before being robbed of a victory in only his third race.

The 25-year-old has quickly shown why he was billed as a future world champion before his debut last month.

"I understand Michael was not too impressed with Juan Pablo's overtaking manoeuvre, but I have seen Michael do worse," said Head.

"I think Michael must be a worried man because he has recognised there is someone out there who is equally as tough as him.

"People are saying this is now a new era in Formula One. I think that's nonsense.

"But certainly F1 has been joined by a new front-running driver, and that's good to see. Juan Pablo is certainly one of the best out there."

Schumacher - who in public said he had no problems with Montoya's early passing move - had warned just days before the race that the South American would need time to find his racing feet in F1.

Now it is not only Schumacher's position at the head of the championship which is under threat - his lead is down to six points - but also his ranking as the best driver on the grid.

Montoya showed the world of F1 that he is no respecter of tradition or status as he barged Schumacher out of the way on the third lap just after the safety car returned to the pits.

Had not Jos Verstappen's Arrows car suddenly jumped all over his back end and sent him sliding into retirement after he had protected his lead for 36 laps then he would surely have won the race.

Montoya earned his reputation as a track battler in Champ Cars when he emulated Britain's Nigel Mansell and took the title in his rookie year in 1999.

And he showed just why Frank Williams offloaded Jenson Button on a two-year loan deal to Benetton to bring his former test driver back from the United States.