Formula one: Montoya ready to face Schumacher

Juan Pablo Montoya admits he will be under pressure in Italy this weekend after the dream move he pulled on world champion Michael Schumacher.

The Colombian stunned Schumacher into submission at the last race in Brazil when he swept past him only to be denied victory when he was later hit into retirement by Jos Verstappen.

Montoya is confident he can repeat the feat if the opportunity presents itself in Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix, when title pacesetter Schumacher will be bidding for a third consecutive victory in front of Ferrari’s fanatical fans.

‘‘I think passing Michael was a good move but I think there have always been better moves than this that maybe people have never seen on television,’’ said the Williams BMW driver.

‘‘The pressure on me now is big because I passed Michael and what he is for the people is huge.

He knows what he is doing and has a lot of experience.

‘‘But I think what my move shows is that there can be some drivers capable of winning as well as beating Michael.’’

Montoya is hopeful he can claim his maiden win this weekend in his fourth grand prix that would be the same time it took Jacques Villeneuve to win for Williams following his switch from Champ Cars in 1997.

‘‘If the car is capable of doing the job then why can’t I win,’’ said Montoya, who emulated Villeneuve by winning the Champ Car title in 1999.

‘‘I always push, push really hard and I am not keen on giving anything away.

If I have a chance of winning I am going to take it really.

‘‘I can say that in Brazil I should have won the race, but I didn’t because something went wrong and that’s it.

‘‘But I can’t go and say, ’I led Brazil, all right next race in the pocket, I got it!’ I can’t say that. You have got to be realistic.

‘‘I think the first thing for me would be finishing a race in the points, that would be the first step.’’

Montoya, who has been out qualified by team-mate Ralf Schumacher, brother of Michael, in the opening three races, knows he can still improve.

‘‘The speed is there but I need to learn to maximise,’’ added the 25-year-old, who slid out when set to challenge for pole in Brazil.

‘‘I think one of the things I need to learn is to qualify using the four runs. The first two races I didn’t try hard enough and the third one I tried a little too hard.’’

Montoya, who raced at Imola when he won the F3000 title in 1998, added: ‘‘At this point, where I am I can be quick but I can make mistakes quite easily as well.

‘‘This is a new car for me an everywhere I am going is a bit of a new track.

‘‘Even when, like now, I am going to race on European tracks, some circuits are going to be still a bit new to me.

‘‘In Imola I had two qualifying sessions of 25 minutes and about five laps in the race. I know where the circuit goes but nothing more than this.’’