 We have underperformed so far this season and I hope we can go on from here and participate a bit more Patrick Head
Williams technical director |
Juan Pablo Montoya had to take it easy while battling for victory in the Monaco Grand Prix because of a problem with his car, the Williams team have revealed. Colombian Montoya was challenged hard by the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages of the race - and both of them were being caught by Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.
Williams technical director Patrick Head told BBC Radio Five Live: "He did a fantastic job.
"We had one or two little warnings on the data about a possible problem so we turned the wick down a bit, and that made him have to work a bit harder."
Head was referring to an engine problem, which the team informed Montoya about with seven laps to go.
Montoya said that with three laps left he told the team that he had to speed up or he would be overtaken by Raikkonen - and the team spent the remaining time with their fingers crossed hoping the car would survive.
Head said he hoped the race, in which Montoya's team-mate Ralf Schumacher finished fourth after qualifying in pole position, would mark a fresh start for Williams.
"It is 20 years since our last win here with Keke Rosberg, which is a hell of a long time," said Head, who co-owns with Frank Williams the team that is one of the most successful in F1.
"We've led it many times since but never got the car home. I'm really pleased.
"But I'm most pleased for our season because we have underperformed so far this season and I hope we can go on from here and participate [in the lead battle] a bit more.
"It's up to us to make it go on from here. It's the first race in which we've had a win and a good points finish from both cars so we've got to take it on from here."
The team is really starting to understand the car - it was a matter of time before we won |
Montoya's win was the second of his career - the first being the Italian Grand Prix in September 2001.
The Colombian has been criticised for not making the most of what is regarded as one of the brightest natural talents in F1.
He pointed out that he had lost several chances of victory because of mechanical failure - most recently in the last race in Austria two weeks ago.
But he admitted that he felt the pressure after spinning away a lead in the Australian Grand Prix at the start of this season.
Montoya told BBC Radio Five Live: "It was a long wait for my second win. I had a lot of chances - two weeks ago was a good chance, Melbourne was a good chance.
He added: "Melbourne I threw away so the pressure was on.
"Monza was great but this was fantastic, I am so happy. The hardest pressure was getting Kimi before the first stop [which he did by passing the McLaren at the start].
"The car worked really well and I want to thank all the mechanics, they did a brilliant job. Everybody needed this - Ralf got pole yesterday and I got this.
"Every race there were new things have been coming on the car and the team is really starting to understand the car. Last race it was really good as well - I was leading when it broke down. It was a matter of time before it happened.
"If you look at the last race it was a fast track and we were competitive. We came here to Monaco where you need a lot of downforce and we won here.
"It shows the car has a lot of potential. We have a really good engine and going into Canada we have a good chance there."
MMIX
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