AUSTRALIA: FORMULA ONE RALF SCHUMACHER AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA ANNOUNCE THEIR PLAN TO GET CLOSER TO FERRARI AND MCLAREN THIS SEASON

Record ID: 335945

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: FORMULA ONE RALF SCHUMACHER AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA ANNOUNCE THEIR PLAN TO GET CLOSER TO FERRARI AND MCLAREN THIS SEASON
  • Date: 28th February 2001
  • Summary: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (FEBRUARY 28, 2001)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE VIEW OF PRESSER 2. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (LEFT) AND RALF SCHUMACHER 3. SOUNDBITE (English) MONTOYA SAYING (SOUNDBITE) (English): "I think from my point of view the car is a step further, I didn't race last year's car, so it's very difficult to say how competitive we will
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Reuters ID: LVABL0SMA8Z40CS26FA4T7O2N4VC
  • Story Text: Williams Formula One team mates Ralf Schumacher of
    Germany and Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya are aiming to get
    closer to Ferrari and Mclaren this season, as they dismissed
    reports that they do not get on at a news conference in
    Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday (February 28).



    Montoya, who will make his Formula One debut at this
    weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, is one of four
    rookies at Albert Park this weekend but arrives with a huge
    reputation after winning the 1999 Champ Car series.

    "I think from my point of view the car is a step further,
    I didn't race last year's car, so it's very difficult to say
    how competitive we will be. I think Ralf is a better person to
    say that, it's still very early in the year to say how
    competitive the car will be, normally the first race of the
    year is a surprise or a nightmare to many people so we'll
    see," he said.

    Schumacher, who has been in Formula One for four years and
    finished third in last year's event behind older brother
    Michael and his Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello, said he
    would be happy to finish on the podium again in Australia.

    Williams finished third in last year's constructor's
    championships behind Ferrari and McLaren and their main aim
    this season was to narrow the gap.

    "We missed the comparison but it was between 7/10 and a
    second last year, I hope we reduce it to nearly half a second
    if not less, are target by mid season should be to be a lot
    closer to them if we are half a second away, that is what we
    expect from ourselves , I hope it's going to work out, it has
    to be our time because third is great but we have to move on,
    closer," Schumacher said.

    There have been rumours that the Williams pair don't get
    on but both drivers were keen to dismiss the issue as a media
    beat-up as they turned their attention to this weekend's
    season-opening race.

    Montoya spoke of their relationship and confirmed that it
    is improving.

    "It's getting alot better it's getting alot more relaxed
    and the fear, in the beginning it was quite tense but I didn't
    really mind," he confirmed.

    The event will begin with the qualifying session on
    Thursday (March 1).






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