Juan Pablo Montoya is still in the running to retain his McLaren seat next year, according to McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh. In spite of raging speculation linking GP2 star Lewis Hamilton with the 2007 ride alongside Fernando Alonso, the Whitmarsh remarked: "Juan Pablo is absolutely not out of consideration." "He's doing a very good job for us and he's conducting himself very well in the face of considerable speculation over his future," Whitmarsh told British magazine Autosport. 30-year-old Montoya, however - after failing to truly shine in his first season for Woking-based McLaren last year - has not been a star of 2006 either. He did finish second at Monaco, but is not giving much away about his plans for the future. Montoya told ITV: "My next move is very important, so whoever I think is going to give me the best equipment, that's where I'll go, or stay, as the case may be." Montoya has two podium positions to his credit so far this year. E.A. Source GMM I wish they'd just make a damned decision already, this is why i hate early driver change announcements
I don't really care where he is going or not. The situation at Ferrari irks me a lot more. I wish they would come out with some definitive statements.
I meant in general, the whole Alonso thing coming out so early has screwed up what would have been a great silly season. Now all the top seats are all jumbled before midway point in the year. I think the situation at Ferrari is due to MS not being totally sure if he wants to retire yet.
I have a theory - it's all part of Ron's conspiracy - announcing Alonso early, and not announcing Kimi
It would make a lot of sense - Telefonica are going to want a spanish-speaking driver to replace Alonso. Webber might well get the other seat, as I don't think Giancarlo Trulli or Jarno Fisichella are going to get a seat with a decent team.
Honestly I would think he actually has made a decision just has not released it yet. Considering the way the car has performed thus far, I would hope he'd come back for at least one more year and give it a go. At the very least I hope he's made a decision one way or the other since it's not fair to the team to hold them up for so long. Mark
LOL For years I was making the Superman/Clark Kent joke about these two drivers: Fisichella just left, but here is Trulli. Isn't this the same guy in two different racing suits?
I didn't mean visually, but look at their careers: Similar origins. Both have been at it for about the same amount of time with similar insignificant results. Both seem to have something yet both lack something. To top it off they swapped seats at least a couple times. =>Giancarlo Trulli and Jarno Fisichella
I doubt Renault will pick up Montoya as Pat Symmonds has been critical about his many mistakes during races. Kimi and Michael are the two main pieces that need to be set down in the puzzle before the remaining vacant seats get filled. I really wanted Kimi to get into Ferrari because he could then get a more reliable, race-winning capable car. I was anticipating a good fight with Michael if he choose to stay on. But now, I am wondering if Kimi is more tempted by the Renaults winning virtually every race. In a way that would be good as we have the three best drivers driving for different teams all with number 1 status. Bottom line, I believe Kimi could have won two championships so far and he definitely deserves a car that would let him fight for the crown. He needs to leave McLaren. I believe Montoya will stay in McLaren next year. Maybe Lewis Hamilton will be taken on as a third driver and then launched into the driver seat in 2008.
I read somewhere that Hamilton will not settle for a test role. Sounds like his ego is getting a little ahead of himself.
Can't see Raikonen at Renault next year unless he takes a big pay cut. Renault don't pay its drivers astronomical sums of money, one of the reasons why Alonso is leaving. IMHO. Raikonen stays at McLaren or goes to Ferrari, MS retiring or not. If not Massa is loaned to Red Bull (Ferrari engine remember) where he replace Klien. Montoya stays at McLaren (don't think Briatore likes him much to recruit him for Renault). Speculations....
HOWEVER...Kimi is really looking at life in F1 from the other side of the fence vis-a-vis Alonso. He's made a boat-load of money with little to show for it. Hell, he even went and sat on that boat in Monaco! Maybe he did that to remind himself why he signed with McLaren in the first place?! Anyway, at this point he'd probably be willing to make "only" $9 million or so to drive the Renault. I'm sure every time his car craps out, the first thing that enters his head is "Doesn't that Renault EVER break down???" I hope he ends up at Ferrari, though. That, and for Montoya to get the seat at Renault. Imagine the battles we'd have!
