From GMM
Two years after walking away from formula one, Columbian driver Juan Pablo Montoya - who now is famous in North America, competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup - still bristles with negativity about his nearly six seasons on the grid.
The Colombian, now 32, has recorded 8 top-ten results in 56 Sprint Cup starts since switching to NASCAR, but he has no thoughts about returning to grand prix racing.
"In formula one they want you to be a robot," Montoya, who won 7 grands prix in his 95 races for Williams and McLaren, is quoted as saying by Germany's Sport Bild.
"If you have a strong personality, you will have problems," he explained. "I don't regret anything about changing to NASCAR.
"Many people in F1 forget that it is a sport. McLaren for example take it much too seriously.
"With BMW-Williams I had the most fun, with Patrick Head mostly. Patrick always said what he thinks -- as I do.
"He always tried with every conversation to be polite but by the end he could never keep it up -- that was funny!"
Montoya has less fond memories about Ron Dennis, with whom he fell out prior to his departure from the sport mid-way through the 2006 season.
"With Ron, you have a nice dinner with him one evening and then when you say hi the next day, he is a totally different person," he said.
Montoya said he understands why Fernando Alonso also could not get along with McLaren before he left the team prematurely last year.
"He saw that the future of the team was Lewis Hamilton, not Fernando Alonso."
Montoya has little to say about Kimi Raikkonen, his last F1 teammate and the current world champion.
"With Kimi it is not about whether you get along with him or not, because he never says anything. And it's difficult to know someone who doesn't talk, right?" Montoya added.
He also has little time for F1's latest generation of drivers.
"They complain about everything. Like in Monaco, they complained about reflections in the rear-view mirrors when they go through the tunnel.
"Me, I think: just get on with it and drive!"
Two years after walking away from formula one, Columbian driver Juan Pablo Montoya - who now is famous in North America, competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup - still bristles with negativity about his nearly six seasons on the grid.
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| Ron Dennis (McLaren) and Juan Pablo Montoya. |
"In formula one they want you to be a robot," Montoya, who won 7 grands prix in his 95 races for Williams and McLaren, is quoted as saying by Germany's Sport Bild.
"If you have a strong personality, you will have problems," he explained. "I don't regret anything about changing to NASCAR.
"Many people in F1 forget that it is a sport. McLaren for example take it much too seriously.
"With BMW-Williams I had the most fun, with Patrick Head mostly. Patrick always said what he thinks -- as I do.
"He always tried with every conversation to be polite but by the end he could never keep it up -- that was funny!"
Montoya has less fond memories about Ron Dennis, with whom he fell out prior to his departure from the sport mid-way through the 2006 season.
"With Ron, you have a nice dinner with him one evening and then when you say hi the next day, he is a totally different person," he said.
Montoya said he understands why Fernando Alonso also could not get along with McLaren before he left the team prematurely last year.
"He saw that the future of the team was Lewis Hamilton, not Fernando Alonso."
Montoya has little to say about Kimi Raikkonen, his last F1 teammate and the current world champion.
"With Kimi it is not about whether you get along with him or not, because he never says anything. And it's difficult to know someone who doesn't talk, right?" Montoya added.
He also has little time for F1's latest generation of drivers.
"They complain about everything. Like in Monaco, they complained about reflections in the rear-view mirrors when they go through the tunnel.
"Me, I think: just get on with it and drive!"