Montoya back for Spain (confirmed)

[Yoong Montoya]

Or will he need a few races to recover like Michael Schumacher in 1999?

[Sodemo]

I was just about to post the exact same thread.

The fact that we haven't heard anything isn't a good sign, I think it might be Monaco before he makes it back tbh.

[mp356a]

Don't know either but PDLR has been flying in testing. Man, I wish he'd get another shot.
Mike

[Don K]

Originally Posted by mp356a

Don't know either but PDLR has been flying in testing. Man, I wish he'd get another shot.
Mike

On the other hand, Wurz manged to effectively win positions during the race (gained against Webber, Trulli and Sato, lost against Michael - net win 2 positions).
Pedro didn't (gained against Webber, lost against Raikkonen - net win zero).

[Kicking-back]

Montoya did a PR event today.

I think I still have to wait a little bit to make the decision. At the moment things are looking pretty good to be in Barcelona, but I'm going to spend a couple of days in the factory, doing some work there, to see if I can accommodate in the car comfortably to drive in the race.

"At the moment the plan is to be in the car in Barcelona, that's the idea. You know, the idea was to be there last race but I hadn't healed enough.

"With the fracture, of course there are some muscles that lose form and stuff and we're doing a lot of work everyday to be fit enough to drive the car in Barcelona. I think by the time of Barcelona I should be okay. If not, probably Alex [Wurz] will drive the car."

[chillibowl]

i guess that means he will be at the factory running in a simulator, but are there not any requirements set down by FIA concering an injured driver returning, like some time in the car?
i wonder if that would count as a test day? and does williams have any test days schedualed for next week?

[Kicking-back]

Given that Montoya drives for McLaren, I'm not sure what Williams testing schedule has to do with anything

[Born Racer]

Wurz should race again if not because he is their contracted sub.
As much as I believe De la Rosa did a commendable job in Bahrain.

[Pitstop]

Originally Posted by Yoong Montoya

Or will he need a few races to recover like Michael Schumacher in 1999?

My understanding is that Michael Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone in 1999, I was there and witnessed him doing so. A broken leg needs time to recover.

My understanding also is that JPM had some kind of shoulder injury, whilst playing a game of tennis or some other passtime. I wish him well with his recovery, but feel this is hardly comparable with MS suffering a broken leg, after running into a tyre wall, during a race, at considerable speed.

Then again, MS was not at the time, expeting his first child and his (MS's), 'injury' was very visible, unlike JPM's.

Paternity leave perhaps?

[JeremySmith]

This is not a driver bash on my part so please don't take it that way. Is JPM being missed at Mac? PDLR is flying, and Mr Wurtz is doing a great job also just a thought not meant to be negative.. Jeremy

[grandprixdiary]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

This is not a driver bash on my part so please don't take it that way. Is JPM being missed at Mac? PDLR is flying, and Mr Wurtz is doing a great job also just a thought not meant to be negative.. Jeremy

I totally agree. JPM is rather overated and either Wurz or PDLR would do as good a job, cost less, involve less hassle and fireworks, and both of those guys are infinately more pleasant to us peasants than JPM manages to be.

Rob
(cue sound of imploding JPM fans... )

[esorniloc]

Well Montoya is the lead driver for McLaren in the drivers championship, considering Kimi has done double the races and still behind him!

McLaren have managed to score points with 4 different drivers this year and after only 4 races!

[grandprixdiary]

Kimi has been well and truly nobbled by some poor engineering work. He was blisteringly quick at Imola before the car let him down, he wasn't due to stop for fuel until lap 26, what a finish to a race that would have been..

Rob

[Kicking-back]

Yes, what a finish - he'd have been miles ahead!

[Sodemo]

If he is back, ill be surprised.

He might do the Friday, then if he can't hack it, let Wurz do Sat and the race on Sun.

[f1atic]

NO.
I think he would have done some testing if he was able and if there was a plan for him to return in Spain. Get back into the feel of it before going racing.

[JohnSSC]

Geez! After all the miles he has driven this year in testing, plus the races everyone is acting like Ron Dennis is going to have to give him a refresher course!

"Now Juan, this is an F1 car. You sit here. The steering wheel will be in front of you there. When you want to go fast, push the pedal on the right real hard and when you want to stop, push the pedal to the left of it real hard..."

It is not like he has taken a year off or something!

[Born Racer]

Some days ago his website suggested he would most likely be back in Spain, but now in his news section there is no mention of it

http://www.jpmontoya.com/Templates/c...px?Page_ID=184

[thejester]

Originally Posted by grandprixdiary

I totally agree. JPM is rather overated and either Wurz or PDLR would do as good a job, cost less, involve less hassle and fireworks, and both of those guys are infinately more pleasant to us peasants than JPM manages to be.

Rob
(cue sound of imploding JPM fans... )

By no means am I a 'JPM fan' , as you preemptively label anyone who disagrees with you , although you can probably tell I support McLaren.
but the cost thing is rather the point, isn't it? They need him back in the car asap to start actually earning his keep. Also, I don't think either of the two drivers you mention would do as good a job as him, quite frankly. I think they are very talented drivers, but Juan Pablo is up there with the best racers around. IMHO.

[Sodemo]

People on that JPM site mentioning damaged nerves etc which doesn't sound good, im sure its all rumour though...

[foreversideways]

You dont recover from falling of a Motocross bike that quickly. If that is true the guy really is an idiot and i am sure RD is fuming. I think Ron would view this as not at all professional, he will have to be awsome on his return to make amends but somehow i dont see it. Kimi now has the upper hand. Could just be the start of a slide down the slope to the back door for Montoya at Mclaren.

[Adam43]

Of course Ron Dennis has stated that the cause is unimportant. http://www.sportinglife.com/formula1...n_Montoya.html

Originally Posted by Ron

There is an understandable view that the discipline we focus on our team extends to the drivers' private lives. It doesn't.
...
I don't care if he slipped in the bath and hit his head or he was jumping double-decker buses. He is free to do what he wants to do, we place no restriction on our drivers and we never have done.

[Kicking-back]

Indeed.

If you are over restrictive with your drivers it can cause resentment and prove counter-productive.

[mp356a]

Really. He's not the only driver to blow off steam on a motorbike. Just bad luck that's all.
Iwould still like to see Wurz and PDLR both get another shot though! So many good drivers, so few cars. We need another team out there.......
Mike

[foreversideways]

I think that was Ronspeak. Some years ago if i remember correctly Patrick Depallier suffered two accidents during racing seasons, one breaking his leg on a motorbike. The other in a hand gliding accident during the season prior to his premature death at Hockenheim in 1980.