Unfair rulings ended my season: Montoya
Montoya was closely challenging Michael Schumacher for the title as they headed to the US Grand Prix and their battle was expected to go down to the wire in Suzuka this weekend.
But the Colombian was left seething after being handed what he claims was an “unfair” drive-through penalty at Indianapolis for a collision with Schumacher’s Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
He believes the sport needs permanent stewards to prevent a similar situation happening again.
“I still believe the decision was unfair,” he said last night. “It was a racing incident.
“The biggest problem we have got is that every race you have got different stewards. All you need is more consistency. The rules are there and you have got to know what is right and what is wrong.”
Montoya believes Schumacher’s tangle with Fernando Alonso at the British Grand Prix in July is proof that stewards’ decisions are inconsistent.
He claimed the Ferrari driver barged Renault driver Alonso off the track at at Silverstone and was lucky to escape any punishment.
“What Michael did to Alonso at Silverstone, if you really look, was a very unfair thing to do,” he said.
“He knew that he was going to pass and he knew the only way to stop him was pushing the other guy off.
“I think that deserves a much bigger penalty than what happened with Rubens. If you don’t have the same stewards every race you are always going to get that difference.”
Montoya’s penalty effectively ended his championship hopes as it combined with a fuel rig problem and a brief off-track excursion to leave him sixth and out of the title race.
Finn Kimi Raikkonen is now the closest challenger but his hopes of securing the title are slim as he needs to win with Schumacher finishing out of the points to steal the crown. Meanwhile, former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve’s Formula One career could be over after he dramatically pulled out of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
The Canadian opted out of Sunday’s season finale just days after being sacked by his BAR-Honda team.
Villeneuve’s place will go to Japanese reserve driver Takuma Sato, who on Tuesday was confirmed as his successor in 2004 as partner to Britain’s Jenson Button.
The 32-year-old was expected to compete on Sunday despite losing his drive, but informed the team yesterday morning that he did not want to race.
Villeneuve’s late decision means his 130-race career, which brought him the world title with Williams in 1997, could have come to an end.
The Monaco-based racer has not yet received any other offers of a drive in 2004 although his name is being linked to vacancies at Jaguar Racing and Jordan.
