Williams can hit back at Ferrari, says Montoya
( 2002-04-26 11:31 ) (7 )

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher may have won three of the four races in Formula One this season, but Juan Pablo Montoya says the world champion had better watch out for a Williams fightback.

"At the moment you have to say Ferrari have got the best car and with a good driver that's a big advantage," the Colombian said at the Spanish Grand Prix on Thursday.

"We have to try and produce a better car with a better engine and better tyres and try and beat Michael. He is just another guy on the grid."

Montoya believes the BMW-powered Williams is still slightly ahead of the Ferrari on engine power, despite the Italian team introducing the new F2002 after starting the first two races of the year with the old car.

"I think they (Ferrari) had the upper hand but not by much -- three or four tenths difference," he told reporters, discussing Ferrari's early season dominance and one-two triumph at Imola two weeks ago.

"But I still think we have got a great chance of fighting back.

"From now on it's a matter of who develops quicker. Everybody is going to come up with new wings and new pieces and it is a matter of who is going to develop the car quicker throughout the year."

Montoya and his team mate Ralf Schumacher, Michael's younger brother, have been Ferrari's main rivals this season but Ralf is 14 points adrift of the leader in second place while Montoya is third overall.

NOT OVER YET

The Colombian and Michael are the only two drivers to complete every lap so far this season, and their rivalry on the track has been a major talking point after they collided in Malaysia and Brazil.

"You cannot really share that view," Montoya said when asked if the outcome of the season was a foregone conclusion, with Schumacher heading for a record-equalling fifth title.

"You never know what we are going to come out with or what Ferrari are going to come out with.

"If he goes out and breaks down in this race and Ralf or I win it then we are back in it again," he said.

"Imola was not a great track for us and it was a bit of a struggle for me during the race," he said. "But we got to the end, we got some points, which at the end of the day could be quite important."

Ferrari are favourites to win again on Sunday, but Montoya, whose tyre suppliers Michelin have tested extensively at the Spanish track, remained confident.

"It is going to be a hard weekend for us," he said. "They will be quicker than us but hopefully we can win it, you never know.

"We have got to try and keep on scoring points and take advantage when we can.

"Our car has the potential to get back. Last year we were quicker than them in the last few races so I don't see why we can't do it this year. We are a lot more competitive now than we were last year."