Montoya to butt out Button!?

[Rated R]

Frank Williams is reported to have asked if Montoya will be available to switch to Formula 1 for the 2001 season.

"We have a long-term option on Montoya's future whenever he comes to Formula One.I have a good relationship with Chip Ganassi and I've asked if he would be available earlier than at the end of 2001 and he's thinking about it. It may well be he'll come early, but he may not.
The first step is for Chip Ganassi to decide when he wants to release Juan Pablo - maybe at the end of this year. It's probably more likely that he'll want to get all three years out of him."

So is Montoya about to butt Button out of BMW Williams? I personally don't regard these comments very seriously. Marketwise, BMW will much rather prefer a British driver than a Colombian. Of course it will all ultimately depend on Button's performance but I think he's up to the challenge. As far as I can remember, Button lost two points (Australia and Spain) due to engine trouble-he would have had 5 points otherwise-impressive. Another interesting fact, I just looked at the fastest race laps for each driver at the Spanish GP and guess what, Button has the fourth fastest lap of the race-1:24:729, 0.259 seconds slower than Hakkinen and more than half a second faster than Ralf.

[Ed-f1]

If it were my decision I would stick with a driver who continues to prove himself by the race rather than risk another Andretti / Zanardi scenario. However Williams obviously like taking risks. They have given Hill, Coulthard, Villeneuve and now Button their break in f1

[Liz]

Some of it will depend on Button Spice's PR wagon and whether Sir Frank thinks he is concentrating on his racing enough - the hints about JPM may be to keep him focused rather than have any real basis - on the other hand, if Montoya continues with his (*&^% year in CART, it may be best to get him to F1 before he explodes and ruins a very promising career.

[KC]

There may be a battle of wills brewing. Berger is said to be cvery impressed with the level of maturity that Button has shown so quickly while Sir Frank has expressed his disdain at the media circus and extra-curricular business going on. He referred to it as "Spice Girl media circus". Sir Frank has always been keen on Montoya and seems very willing to allow their to be competition between Button and Montoya for the second seat at Williams. The media monster has never deterred Sir Frank in the past, he has fired/released a British WDC before.

[Minardi fan]

I can't believe the way in which Jim Rosenthal and co. insisted on harrassing Frank Williams into giving them an answer last weekend as to whether Button would retain his seat or not for next season.

Personally it would not surprise me one bit if Sir Frank dumps Button at the end of the season. He's done it to Damon, he'll do it to the twerp aswell.

What I don't get is the things these people forget. On the one hand they rabbit on about the superb Williams car. Then they go on about Jenson's driving skills. Surely a great amount of his success so far this season is, as always, down to the performance of the car?

Stick one of HHF, Alesi, Heidfeld, Gene, Fisi, Salo etc... in that car and I am certain they would do a better job than Button.

[Dannyboy]

Button seems okay and worth keeping though I agree that Ralf is soundly kicking his butt and the Williams is obviously a superior car. Montoya is not going to the next great thing in F1 especially if he spends another year in CART.

[Tristan]

Button to where then? Arrows? Jag?

PS You all maention Zanardi/Andretti as CART to F1 failures. Two words for you: Jacques Villeneuve

[@ngel]

I certainly think that Button's performance has impressed everyone, because compared to the HHF, Salos, Alesis,..., Button has demonstrated that even with no knoledge of the circuits and many years less racing experience than anyone in this circus, he has performed at the highest level.

I am more concern about Montoya's future, because, it is in William's hand, and the past experiences tell me that Frank has no respect for drivers, so he can turn this potential F1 WC into a BBTC driver or a Le Mans contender.

[Ed-f1]

Tristan, If you read the whole of my 3 line post I think you'll find I did mention Villeneuve. Anyway, What are you trying to prove? A good driver can win races in F1 and CART. So??? :confused:

[Minardi fan]

I concur, Elizabeth.

[Andy H]

Liz

There was an article in the UK press pasting him a few weeks back it had all these quotes from the start of the season. The flavour was I stuff like

I love my girlfriend I'd never leave her - 8 weeks later he did (didn't hear she was pregnant though?)

I'd never move to Monaco I love England - Jensen spotted househunting in Monaco and moaning about high taxes in England

I won't throw money around - Jenson buys Ferrari and gets *******ed by Williams for doing a photoshoot in it.

etc. etc.

[Roy]

I wonder why FW contracted out Montoya for 3 years? He must have had a lot of faith in Zanardi, or maybe Ganassi wouldn't agree to less.

Anyway, don't worry about Montoya. This is a guy that old Enzo would have signed up in a heartbeat, and he wouldn't have contracted him out for one race, never mind 3 years. FW doesn't have the power to wreck Montoya's career, no more that he could hurt Senna by testing but not signing him.

Let FW sign Button. He'll probably be a winner for him. When Montoya has dominated in CART for the third consecutive year, in a manner that Villenueve never came near approaching, even the ultra conservatives that make the driver decisions in F1 will see it plain. This is the greatest talent since Ayrton Senna. He can't miss.

[Liz]

I have heard that Button Spice kicked out his pregnant girlfriend to fend for herself - guess he's too important now to take responsibility for where he parked his car.

If that's what he's doing at 20, how worthless will he be at 25?

I don't care how great he thinks he is - which he has yet to prove, as far as I can see - if he's so completely focused on reading his own press releases as that, perhaps a good kick down the grid would focus his mind for him.

[Liz]

Yep, told her to do whatever she liked about getting an abortion, I heard.

Geez, with that sort of moral fibre, he ought to run for President of the United States.

[Rated R]

President of the United States!?...He's too innocent for that

I'd say everyone changes. Why wouldn't he buy a Ferrari and move to Monaco--heck, I'd do it--it's the rational thing to do. Why did he say all these things then? Well, young people are full of ideals, the more one lives, the more one becomes a realist. Now, for kicking out his pregnant girlfriend I can't agree...but actually it matters little what he does with his life (its his after all) as long as he performs well on the track. And if he continues in the same manner I can't see FW convincing Berger to put Montoya in his car. You see, he may be a jerk but he's (politically) suitable and (unlike Zanardi) gets the job done.

[Liz]

He will be a meteor, not a star.

[Ed-f1]

Give him a break. He's 20 and he's a formula 1 driver. I'm already impressed. I'm 21 and I still don't know what the hell I'm going to do with my life. Of course he said things at the start of the season which he's then gone back on. It must have been difficult to imagine the reality of actually becoming a formula 1 driver. At the start of the season I'm sure he believed he wouldn't be moving to Monaco then he sees the figures going out of his bank account and thinks 'what a waste'. Not throwing money around? Well, what's the use of money if you don't spend it? And buying a ferrari isn't really the same as popping down to the casino is it? Throwing out his pregnant girlfriend? Ok, you've got me on that one. All I can say is he wouldn't exactly be the first and as Rated R said it's his life.

When you think of some of the pre-season predictions he is doing pretty well. According to Mika Salo's predictions he probably should have killed half the grid by now because he's such a dangerous driver. And how many points have you scored Mika? Other's predicted he would have one of the worst seasons in f1 history but as it's turned out he's looked good for points in 4 of his 5 races but for car problems. As for his mistakes I think a couple of crashes in practise is about it. No mistakes in the races that I can recall. What is there left to criticise him for? Well, the hype but is that his fault? It's just because the media like writing about him and the public like reading about him.

[Liz]

I don't think he's that great. He's just in a good car. But it's too soon to tell about that.

Anybody who knows his every word and move is going to be quoted in the press ought to think about what he says and does before the fact, not after it. The best thing he could do for the rest of the year is shut up and race.

And as far as "it's his life" goes, no it is not his life in that case - it's his child's life too. Of course, if she was stupid enough to believe he was as honest as he said he was, the more fool her - and she's not the first. But letting him off with "it's his life" is ridiculous. It's not as if we're talking about his wrecking his car.

[Ed-f1]

I just meant that really it's nothing to do with us.

[Kenny W.]

I reckon if (as rumoured) Villeneuve goes to McLaren, Button will go to BAR. They would snap up the media attention and it would fit their image perfectly.