jpm

Whichever way you look at it, he is undoubtably hugely talented. Moments of greatness last year really stood out - Brazil, Austria, Italy, Hockenheim to name but a few. Whichever way you look at it he clearly has a great future ahead of him in f1.

However, despite this it's difficult not to think that perhaps the press have been just a little over-enthusiastic on heaping praise on him over the winter break. Yes he did well. Yes he won a race in his first season and overtook Michael Schumacher a few times. Admittedly towards the end of the season he was outqualifing Ralf and getting the better of him in the races.

But don't forget that racing performance is judged on the number of points you score over the whole season, Ralf won three times, outqualified Montoya 11-6, and scored eighteen more points. Usually when this happens you would take it to mean that Montoya was soundly beaten.

Admittedly though on several occasions throughout the season Montoya was plagued by unreliabilty and engine failure. He retired from a massive eleven races - the most out of anyone on the grid. Of these seven were mechanical, three were driver error and one was an accident. Were it not for these retirements he would have won at Hockenheim and probably at Brazil. However to quote Ron Dennis, "to finish first, first you have to finish." Even without the retirements, it's doubtful he'd have beaten Ralf over the course of the season.

Next year could well be different, if the Williams comes back more reliable, we could easily see either of them challenging for the title, and it is difficult to choose between them. Perhaps Montoya has the edge, he did well for a first season and Ralf does fade psychologically when the going gets tough. With reliablity and experience maybe 2002 will be Montoya's year.

But don't forget the opposition, beating Ralf is one thing, beating Schumi No1, will be an altogether more difficult problem.

We think he'll come second, but Ralf won't be far behind.