16 replies to this topic

[Jhope]

I just finished reading an interview with Juan Montoya from Autosport.com. This quote that I've posted strikes me as something odd, and interesting at the same time.

Q: Growing up you were a huge fan of Ayrton Senna, who drove for McLaren. Did that influence your decision to join the team?

"I was a big fan of Senna, who used to drive for McLaren, but that doesn't have anything to do with my going to McLaren. It's like driving a BMW or Mercedes on the road. They're both great cars, so it makes **** all difference, does it?

This is probably a sign of things we'll read and hear from him this coming season, unless BMW put a gagging order concerning all this Mercedes PR talk.

[baddog]

I did actually wonder about him explicitly referring to maclaren by name in the launch interviews, and also mentioning mercedes. You would think this was a definite contractual no no.

Shaun

[Williams]

You can bet some journos are sharpening their questions to try to get more responses like that from him.

[dan2k]

What is the difference? Williams.BMW > McLaren.Merc. Both teams are British, both use German engines, both are winning teams. Not much difference.

Shaun
Montoya doesnt give a **** what people think, he says what he likes.
The reason he has so many fans around the world is because he doesnt hold back, because some peice of paper says he shouldnt say this or that.

[dan2k]

And Montoya is very good with PR work.
Every report I've read, says he actually really enjoys it for what it is.
Unlike Ralf who brings his lemon face look to every PR event.

[baddog]

Originally posted by dan2k
What is the difference? Williams.BMW > McLaren.Merc. Both teams are British, both use German engines, both are winning teams. Not much difference.

Shaun
Montoya doesnt give a **** what people think, he says what he likes.
The reason he has so many fans around the world is because he doesnt hold back, because some peice of paper says he shouldnt say this or that.

Actually Montoya has great respect for his 'responsibilities' to sponsors and team..

"Juan Pablo, feisty CART champion of 1999, also rejects reports that he'll struggle to fit into Ron Dennis' overly-corporate F1 driver mould. He said: 'I don't believe that. I'm probably the best driver of that sort they've ever had here at Williams.'"


Maybe you wont like him any more now?

Shaun

[dan2k]

Originally posted by baddog


Actually Montoya has great respect for his 'responsibilities' to sponsors and team..

"Juan Pablo, feisty CART champion of 1999, also rejects reports that he'll struggle to fit into Ron Dennis' overly-corporate F1 driver mould. He said: 'I don't believe that. I'm probably the best driver of that sort they've ever had here at Williams.'"


Maybe you wont like him any more now?

Shaun

Bullshit! I will never stop being a fan of him.
I know exactly what he means when he says that.
He does his PR work like any driver these days, but he actually enjoys it and tries to have fun and not treat it like work. That is the difference, that is why he is so good at his PR work.

[nigel red5]

Jhope,

Was that interview made at the launch day of the FW26?

If so, then chances are Autosport were at the end of a long line of 20 identical questions on it. TBH of what i saw of him on Monday, i thought he was doing pretty well to hold his patience.
SFW said at one stage to some German tv crew that he was getting a buit sick of hearing the same "Montoya is going to Mclaren in 2005, will that affect how you approach this season as a team boss?" - although to be fair, Frank was getting it doubly, because the Germans were caning him on the lack (thus far) of a Ralf Schumacher contract extension.

[lukywill]

he should have said "what's the diference driving a traban or a renault on the road?"

but no, he insists on german cars. ms syndrome strikes again

[dan2k]

Originally posted by nigel red5
Jhope,

Was that interview made at the launch day of the FW26?

If so, then chances are Autosport were at the end of a long line of 20 identical questions on it. TBH of what i saw of him on Monday, i thought he was doing pretty well to hold his patience.
SFW said at one stage to some German tv crew that he was getting a buit sick of hearing the same "Montoya is going to Mclaren in 2005, will that affect how you approach this season as a team boss?" - although to be fair, Frank was getting it doubly, because the Germans were caning him on the lack (thus far) of a Ralf Schumacher contract extension.

I've read reports that Juan was the most relaxed person there that day. Smiling a lot and very laid back.

I think Juan is a bit sick of the same question being asked. How many different versions of the awsner can he come up with?

People say Montoya is in danger of not getting the same support as Ralf, but they forget Ralf doesnt have a contract for '05 either.
There is a big chance Ralf is moving on to another team, Juan is just confirmed.
So why should Williams.BMW reveal to Ralf everything and give him more support? He could tell another team secrets too.
Montoya pointed this out in 1 of his interviews.

[RJL]

Originally posted by dan2k


Bullshit! I will never stop being a fan of him.
I know exactly what he means when he says that.

Is that you Robert Deniro, reprising your signature role in "The Fan"?

[BuzzingHornet]

"They're both great cars, so it makes **** all difference, does it?"

It does if you're BMW and paying your wages

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally posted by dan2k
.
Unlike Ralf who brings his lemon face look to every PR event.

So true

[312B3]

Have you been to any PR events? I doubt it, children generally are not admitted.

[Teez]

Originally posted by dan2k

Montoya doesnt give a **** what people think, he says what he likes.
The reason he has so many fans around the world is because he doesnt hold back, because some peice of paper says he shouldnt say this or that.

Well, eventually even JPM will have to enter the grown-up world where no one -- not even Bill Gates or President Bush, for example -- can say whatever the Hell they want whenever they want. There are consequences to not "holding back" in the mouth department. Cf. Jacques Villeneuve.

[berlinetta]

Well this is a commercial world. JPM's answer is all well as expected; not a friggin' big deal, honestly.

[Tomecek]

Well, dan2k, you'd be surprised how much Montoya PR is I joined press conference with Montoya and I asked him two questions. The first one was somethink like "isn't it really frustrating when you feel you have ability to win the race/title but rain starts (e.g. in US) and you can do nothing with it?"

Montoya: "You know, Michelin improved so much its tyres... blahblahblah."

Of cours he is frustrated I know it from go-kart racing when my engine doesn't catch power of my competitor's engines, but I know I have better skills than them!!!