Montoya extends contract

[macdaddy]

http://sports.yahoo.com/m/sm/news/re...ngmontoya.html

Juan Pablo Montoya will continue racing for the Williams-BMW team until the end of 2004, the team has said.

The deal means both Montoya and German team-mate Ralf Schumacher will remain at the Grove-based outfit for a further two years, giving them crucial long-term stability.

"I have no doubt that both Williams and BMW are completely determined and have the will to win a championship title," said Montoya. "That is why I am delighted to be racing for them."

[SL]

Originally posted by macdaddy
http://sports.yahoo.com/m/sm/news/re...ngmontoya.html

"I have no doubt that both Williams and BMW are completely determined and have the will to win a championship title," That is why I am delighted to be racing for them."

Stated Montoya with tears in his eye, observers were quoted as seeing a tightly griped hand between the legs of the driver at the time.

Meanwhile reports of R Schumaker seen being removed battered, bruised and barely alive from the wind tunnel at Williams HQ have been denied. However he reportally signed shortly after, in blood.

Both drivers have expressed that they will get on very well with each other next year now that Mr Williams has kindly shown us the alternates.

[Mr V]

very funny SL

[f1manoz]

Good one SL!

JPM signing on until 2004 is no surprise at all. However, how much is he getting paid? Frank is known for being tight, but seeing how Frank loves JPM, I'm sure he'd have given him a pay-rise to keep his services for a while yet.

[neilap]

So are who feels he will be in a Ferrari in 2005? Right now this is his best option so it should have been expected.

[facco]

ManOZ, rumours=USD$7.5Mill.

[Jukebox]

500,000 less than what Ralf is getting....anyway it's a good thing he continued with Williams aand i do hope they are able to produce a better chassis and aero package to go with the max rev of 20,000rpm power unit....simply wow!

The 5xWDC badly needs someone who's able to challenge him!

[Mania]

I think Williams have all the people in place to mount a title bid next season. Two good drivers (Ralf is obviously better ofcourse) - still Pablo is no Zanardi either - so they make a good team.

Pablo is obviously keen to go to Ferrari and he probably will in 2005 - I would personally like Ralf to stay with Williams even longer than the 6 years that he would have spent with them by the end of 2004...but we'll see.

Its also quite possible Ralf may also go to Ferrari in 2005 - Ferrari apparently made him an offer in 2001 which he refused and went on to extend his Williams contract..so 2005 should be interesting, regardless!

[facco]

Williams offered Montoya a place for the next 5 seasons, but Montoya just wanted to sign for 2...

[Mr V]

I don't think that this is indicative of JPM wanting to leave Williams, more a "keeping his options open", If (when more like) Williams up their game enough to rival Ferrari i'm sure that he will want to stay on! He's always maintained that he wants to win the WDC with Williams, not Ferrari!

[Raven]

You're right there mr v. remember there's also the uncertainty of BMW & Williams' relationship beyond 2004.

[f1manoz]

JPM basically hints all the time that all he wants to do is win races, and he doesn't care who he's with. However, he gets along with everyone at Williams fabulously, and his relationship with Frank is probably the best a driver has had at Williams since.......

I don't see JPM leaving Williams for a while yet, unless BMW or sponsors start making demands.

[z2252314]

his relationship with Frank is probably the best a driver has had at Williams since.......

That relationship wont continue if JPM continues his recent slide. I think Ralf is in Franks good books at the moment.

[Sato san]

I think Frank was very pleased to see Ralf qualify so well at Hungary . He certainly got the most out of the car he could .

[Mr V]

Originally posted by z2252314


That relationship wont continue if JPM continues his recent slide.

If Frank is too worried about JPM's recent slide, i don't think he'd have re signed him for 2 years, more likely would have been 1 year. Incidently, according to daily f1.com Williams wanted to sign JPM for 3 more years to stop him from joining Ferrari for 2005 if TGF retires, but it was JPM who wanted 2 years as opposed to 3. JPM has tailed off in the last 2 races, but i don't think that Frank is too worried!

[Damon]

yeah, he's tailed of and still managed to pick up 9 points!!! Better than Ralf at the end of 2000 and 2001. Anyone remember him falling of at Idy last year under no pressure at all, Mania? Z?

[Mania]

Yeah Damon - I also remember Pablo hitting the wall in Monaco 01 while trying to keep Ralf in sight - and ofcourse who can forget him going into the wall in Canada while his team mate when on to take a commanding win!

Lets stick to the topic - ie Pablo extends his contract!

[Damon]

JPM year one, Ralf year 5. Experiance pays, particuly at monaco, a year on JPM totally outclassed Ralf as he has everywhere but Germany and Hungary.

But on topic, JPM signing on for Williams is great news for the team and Montoya as the partnership should go on to be a very fruitful sooner rather than later.