Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya (born September 20, 1975) is a Colombian Formula One motor racing driver. He was born in Bogotá where his father, Pablo, worked as an architect — inspired by renowned Colombian architect Rafael Acosta — and raced karts in his free time. Montoya resides in the principality of Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Miami, Florida. He is married to Connie (née Freydell), a native of Medellín, Colombia, with whom he has a child, Sebastian.

Formula 1 career

Montoya made his Formula One debut for the BMW-powered Williams team on March 4, 2001 at the Australian Grand Prix. Less than a month later, he shocked Michael Schumacher — and the F1 world — in Brazil by overtaking the World Champion on a daring move. Montoya was on course to win the race when he collided with a backmarker. In his first season in F1 Montoya established himself as a favourite with fans and commentators as a natural racer. Although Williams struggled with reliability that year, Montoya nevertheless won three pole positions, stood on several podiums, and claimed his maiden F1 victory at the 2001 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Related Topics:
BMW - March 4 - 2001 - Australian Grand Prix - Month - Michael Schumacher - Brazil - World Champion - 2001 Italian Grand Prix - Monza

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In 2002, Montoya had the best year of any driver -- except, of course, for Ferrari teammates Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, who dominated the season by winning 15 of 17 races. But Montoya's star shone brighter than the rest of the pack, as he claimed third place in the drivers championship. More noticeably, he won a breathtaking seven pole positions that year, despite Ferrari's dominance. In 2002, qualifying was still conducted using the former 12-lap format, and Montoya would repeatedly stun the paddock by snatching pole from the scarlet team on his last flying lap, often with minutes or seconds to spare.

Related Topics:
2002 - Ferrari - Rubens Barrichello

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In 2003, he added the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix on the famed street circuit to his victory list, as well as the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring. Montoya was a championship contender in one of the most closely contested campaigns in years, eventually finishing third behind Schumacher and (future teammate) Kimi Räikkönen. His championship hopes remained alive until the penultimate round of the season at the 2003 USGP, where he collided with Barrichello and was penalized by the stewards and forced for a drive through penalty(no changing tyres or refuelling just drive in pit lane), dashing any remaining championship hope; he reportedly refused to speak to the media afterwards for several days.

Related Topics:
2003 - Monaco Grand Prix - Famed street circuit - German Grand Prix - Hockenheimring - Kimi Räikkönen - 2003 USGP - Media

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2004 was a disappointing year for Montoya, as he struggled with a radically new front nose assembly and senior staff of the Williams team, not too keen on working with a driver that had already signed to drive with the competition for 2005. After early season promise faded, the Colombian was frequently left struggling to score points, but everything came together for him at the very last race for Williams when he won the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix, his fourth career victory in Formula One. Because the race at Interlagos marked Montoya's last race with Williams, he went out on a high note with the team.

Related Topics:
2004 - 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix - Interlagos - Williams

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He started driving for the McLaren team in 2005, but after only the first two Grand Prix, he injured his shoulder while in Spain, taking himself out of contention for the Grand Prix of Bahrain and Imola. The official reason given for the shoulder injury was that he had injured himself whilst playing tennis; it has been rumored by some that the cause may have actually been something else, possibly a motorcycle accident. David Coulthard who Montoya had replaced at McLaren, suggested the driver's fitness was not up to standard. In practice for the Monaco Grand Prix Montoya was penalised by race stewards for causing an avoidable accident. At the Canadian Grand Prix Montoya was on course for a win when the safety car was deployed. As race leader at the time the safety car was deployed Montoya could have pitted and rejoined the race in the lead. The team failed to call him into the pits first and after refuelling Montoya was sent out under a red light in the pit lane exit leading to disqualification. After a non-start at the US Grand Prix Montoya was on track for a possible win at Magny-Cours when his suspension failed. At the British GP on July 10, 2005, Montoya achieved his first win for McLaren at Silverstone. Despite spinning in qualifying, he came from 20th on the grid to finish second in the German GP, then retired with a broken drive shaft whilst in the lead of the Hungarian GP. For the first ever Turkish GP, he was set for the second position and his first one-two result of the season right next to his teammate, but a flat-spotted tire forced him off the track on the penultimate lap, ruining his chances, and he finished third behind Alonso. However, recovered well during the Italian GP to take his second win with McLaren and also his second victory at the same circuit. He continued his well form and took his "first proper" pole for McLaren at the Belgian GP, however Antonio Pizzonia misread Montoya's driving line and ran into the back of his car with few laps left in the race. This ruined McLaren's chance at its first one-two finish of the season.

Related Topics:
McLaren - Bahrain - Imola - David Coulthard - Monaco Grand Prix - Canadian Grand Prix - US Grand Prix - British GP - July 10 - 2005 - Silverstone - German GP - Hungarian GP - Turkish GP - Italian GP

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