Michael Schumacher has said that he is not fearful of a feud developing between himself and Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya after their collisions on the opening laps of the Malaysian and Brazilian Grands Prix.

The pair came together at the first corner of the Malaysian race in an incident that later saw Montoya given a pit lane drive-through penalty after he was judged to have caused an "avoidable incident". Some observers felt that Schumacher's understeer may have caused the accident.

The two then tangled at the next race, in Brazil, after Montoya touched the rear of Schumacher's Ferrari at Turn 4 as the drivers fought for the lead. This resulted in Montoya losing his front wing and having to pit for a replacement.

It has been claimed by some F1™ journalists that Montoya is Schumacher's closest rival this season, and that this could lead to further clashes as they fight for supremacy. The four times world champion, however, does not agree and stated that he believed both drivers were sensible enough to prevemt this happening.

"Even if everyone thinks that its about to explode between us, I don't believe that," Ananova quoted him as telling German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

"I don't have the least fear something terrible will happen. I believe we will be more reasonable than hotheaded. After all we both want to drive the race to the end."

Schumacher leads the Drivers' FIA Formula One World Championship™ by eight points. Ralf Schumacher is second and Montoya is third, ten points behind his Ferrari rival.