Lauda backs Montoya for Championship

By Andrew Hooper
August 11 2003

 

 

  
Lauda backs Montoya
 
In the lead up to the next Grand Prix in Hungary the discussions amongst various quarters has been on the possibility of Juan Pablo Montoya winning this years Drivers Championship.

One person who sees Juan Pablo as been a strong challenge to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher is Niki Lauda. dominance of Formula One. With the Colombian just six points behind Michael, after a period which saw him secure six podium finishes, and with four races left to the season Juan Pablo has a very good chance of beating his rival.

But for Lauda Juan Pablo must carry this sort of form into these last four races. Even with the points structure making things difficult for Juan Pablo to overall Michael Lauda sees his chances of securing the title for his first time as been very good.

Lauda said: “Montoya can become world champion by himself. To do so he must win two points more than Michael Schumacher in each of the remaining four races.

“In Montoya’s current situation, this is not only possible, but even probable. If the BMW Williams team can maintain their form, Ferrari are hardly going to stand a chance.”

Joining Lauda was former champion Emerson Fittipaldi, one of only four former South American World Champions. Fittipaldi feels that Montoya can become the fifth. He said: "Juan Pablo has everything a Formula One World Champion requires. He is the type of racing driver who always knew of himself: 'You are the best so someday, when someone gives you a car to do the job, you're going to beat everybody'."
 
 
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