Formula One drivers, Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher (C), Williams’ Juan Pablo Montoya (L) and Honda’s Jenson Button celebrate at the podium during the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, 21 March 2004. Michael Schumacher won with a time of 1hr 31:07.490, while Montoya finished 1hr 31:5.022 and Button 1hr 31:11.568. AFP PHOTO/EMMANUEL DUNAND(Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)ED102 (Image: AFP)
Formula One legend was never shy to push the boundaries on the track, a trait that often placed him in the crosshairs of his contemporaries.
Amongst them was Juan Pablo Montoya, whose tenure with Williams began in 2001 after triumphing at the Indianapolis 500 the previous year.
Achieving four victories before transitioning to for another three wins, Montoya made a name for himself during the era when Schumacher secured five consecutive drivers’ titles with from 2000-2004.
Montoya’s formidable presence and third-place finishes in successive seasons saw him challenge Schumacher without reservation, highlighted by a confrontation at the 2004 Imola race where he famously labelled Schumacher as either ‘blind or stupid’.
In a candid discussion on W Radio, Montoya recounted his battles with the F1 legend, expressing his fierce determination: “Schumacher was a God to everyone and nobody touched him, nobody messed with him. But my message to him was, ‘I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done, I’m going to beat you’.
“If you give me an opportunity and give me a prize, I take advantage of it. When someone gives you a prize, you take advantage of it.”
Montoya also revealed that he turned down an offer to join because he didn’t want to play ‘second fiddle’ to Schumacher. Despite winning several races against Schumacher, Montoya never managed to finish above him in the championship standings.
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Juan Pablo Montoya snubbed an offer from Ferrari (Image: AFP)
His best shot came in 2005 when Schumacher finished third, just two points ahead of Montoya in fourth place. The Colombian racer could have potentially outperformed Schumacher had he accepted an offer from Ross Brawn, then technical director at .
However, Montoya declined, stating: “Ross Brawn, one year, on a podium in Monza, came up to me and said, ‘We would love for you to be with us in red one day’. I turned around and said, ‘No, thank you.'”
He added: “Even if I wish I could have done it in the future, it was just a conversation. I closed that door because at that time I was at Williams and all I wanted to do was beat , I felt very much like a Williams driver and I never thought I would leave that team.”
Montoya eventually left Williams for in 2005 after a fallout over perceived favouritism towards his teammate, Ralf Schumacher. However, growing disillusioned with F1’s politics and emphasis on team success over individual glory, Montoya decided to return to American racing.