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Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has said that a majority of the European drivers that he has faced in his career are "mentally weak".
The Colombian spoke to F1's official Youtube channel about his career in F1, which spanned from 2001-2006, winning seven Grands Prix. He has raced against the likes of Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and even Michael’s brother Ralf.
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"I learned a lot from Ralf [Schumacher], he was really quick, but European drivers are very weak mentally. You can get in their head really easy, I think that plays in what you’re seeing today and what you always see in F1.
“When things go your way, you’re really strong, I mean when Lewis [Hamilton] is winning, he’s unstoppable, but when something goes wrong, the spiral down is huge. If the cars were closer together, I think you would see different people winning.”
When asked if he thought seven time world champion Michael Schumacher was mentally weak, he said: “You could get in his head, but he was really strong.
“Ralf on the other hand, was a guy that to beat him was nearly impossible, but if you could beat him on his A-day, you could get in his head. It was tough, we all have a weakness, you just got to figure out which one it is.”
The 41 year old was asked about who he thinks is the most complete driver on the grid today.
“I would say, probably [Sebastian] Vettel, he is one of the most complete guys and I think Fernando [Alonso], I ran with Fernando in my career. I think those are the two are overall the best drivers, I think Lewis does a really good job, but they’re in the best cars.
“It’s very easy to think a guy in the best car is the best driver, but the question is, if they’re not in the best car, how would they handle things, I think Fernando and Sebastian have endured that and I think they’re the best.”
Fergal Walsh
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Errrrr, is this the same Jùan Pablo Montoya who Schumi ministered at Tosa and then spent the next 30 laps sulking 2 seconds off the pace before pulling himself together? And as pointed out elsewhere, an accident with a camera provoked a complete primal Donna tantrum.
Fact is for all his machism... [Read more]