Michaels view on Montoya's move

[z2252314]

World Champion Michael Schumacher said no one was to blame after he collided with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya at the European Grand Prix on Sunday, with Germany's Formula One leader skidding into the gravel.

Schumacher had been running second behind his brother Ralf in Sunday's ninth round of the season, with McLaren's title contender Kimi Raikkonen already out, when Montoya tried to go past into turn seven on lap 43 of 60. As the Williams driver turned in for the corner, the cars touched and the Ferrari spun off.

"We were going head to head and he was making it difficult for me," said Schumacher. "The corner got tight and we came together. It was a normal racing accident in my view. But there was no blame to assess."

Bogged down but with the engine still running, Schumacher waved for help and four marshals pushed his Ferrari back on to the circuit. He rejoined in sixth place, more than a minute behind Ralf.

"With his speed he was going to pass me sooner or later, it was only a question of time," Schumacher added.

"He was making his move on me at a time when my tyres weren't in the best condition. He was going exactly as fast as I was and if he didn't try it then I think he would have attempted it at another corner. It just happened.

"No-one is guilty - that's racing," said Schumacher. "He was making life for me quite difficult, not givng me any air to breath. I would have done the exact same thing in his position."

Ferrari's technical director Ross Brawn had criticised Montoya earlier for the move.

I thought Id save the 5 pages of Michael bashing that would have occurred after Ross's statement. Michael admits that the move was fine. In hindsight it was a mistake, he would have been better off conceding and getting those extra 2 points. I think even Michael knows his ego lost him two points today..... Nobody, let alone Michael, likes giving up position... It's just natural racing instinct to fight. Michael made the wrong judgement today, end of story. Sometimes its better to walk away from a fight.

[f1manoz]

Nice to see TGF not give blame to JPM and just say it's one of those things. Good to hear!

Still a great move too!

[Thorstone]

Is MS is getting old and soft? or just wiser?

[Damon]

Just makes Ross's comments look even more spiteful and pathetic. Good on you though Michael, are you getting a little more liberal in your old age .

[BootsOntheSide]

Completly right Michael, it was a great scrap, you could argue that Michelins rather than Montoya was the decisive factor, but, still, the nature of the move and its sheer bravery and audacity will give Michael something to think about. No question, Monty is Innocent.

[avsfan733]

good to see someone being diplomatic. Doesn't change how i saw the incident though. May I ask when the comments were made? had MS seen a tape of the incident yet?

[R]

Very good comments from TGF. Racing incident, plain and simple.

[Damon]

There's no need for him to see the tapes, he had a better view than any of us.

[MrSal]

I must admit I have loathed TGF for his arrogance and some very dubious driving tactics in the mid to late 90's. However, he has regained some respect for these comments. F1 needs racing and manoevres like this, and it needs the driver who comes off worst to accept that this is 'racing'
Respect to both MS and JPM.

[Chui]

Very nice to Mike acknowledge it for what it was. Had he conceded he'd have had Kimi by, what, nine points? Ah, TGF's a human being, albeit a very fine driver, and neither his car setup or himself was up to snuff today. Oh well, there's always another Saturday and Sunday to attempt to make up the points.

As for Ross...

[Dani Filth]

and it really was an racing incident ...

[Hammerwerfer]

Well, he said it wasn't anybody's fault. In actuality if he had accepted the blame it would have been even better...

[Peter Mallett]

It was just a racing incident. Good move by JPM. Difficult defence by MS.

[Stephenw]

why should he 'accept the blame'...puhlease...

Montoya squeezed him as usual...a good racing move but still aggresive, no need for the 'squeezee' to accept the blame for ending up in the sand...

insult to injury is what you want...

not cool.

[Mr V]

Well done Michael, fair play to you, i couldn't believe that ITV were saying that the incident was being investigated a racing incident. As for Ross what a

[Aysedasi]

Originally posted by Stephenw
why should he 'accept the blame'...puhlease...

Montoya squeezed him as usual...a good racing move but still aggresive, no need for the 'squeezee' to accept the blame for ending up in the sand...

insult to injury is what you want...

not cool.

If it was a "good racing move" (nothing wrong with a dollop of aggression now and then), why shouldn't he accept the blame? Nothing new about "squeezing" - nice to see it after somuch processional and sterile "racing"....

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Stephenw
Montoya squeezed him as usual...a good racing move but still aggresive,

JPM and Michael are proberbly the 2 most aggresive drivers in F1, and it's nothing that Michael wouldn't have done to JPM had the roles been reserved.

[Damon]

I don't think he would have tried it round there.

[Kicking-back]

I'm not normally one to defend MS but well done to him for his response to this.

Pity about Ross Brawn, once again proving his status as the most arrogant man in F1.

[Inigo Montoya]

Originally posted by Kicking-back

Pity about Ross Brawn, once again proving his status as the most arrogant man in F1.

Ross and Ron are pretty close on that one...

[J.McClane]

Monty took Shu too racing school....and Shu was the pupil....he has a lot to learn.

[Stephenw]

LMAO.

yeah, that's it...

lol

[R]

Welcome to 10 Tenths, btw, Stephenw. You will get used to a lot of comments like that here...

[Sodemo]

Montoya Pulled one of the best moves ive ever seen...

[Adam43]

Originally posted by z2252314
I thought Id save the 5 pages of Michael bashing ...

You also (hopefully) will stop a bit of Montoya bashing too.

I like it. Case closed (really tight) on this one it seems.

Michael and Juan battling remains the main reason I watch F1 at the moment (although I am happy that you can also throw that young Finn in there too). A GP where a combination of those three have had a battle together is a good one in my view.