Juan Pablo Montoya confirmed 2003 / 2004

[JPMontoya]

British newspaper reports claim that Juan Montoya will remain a Williams driver until the end of 2004, giving the Grove team an unchanged line-up for next season.

Montoya has been in sterling form of late, highlighted by his recent string of four consecutive pole positions and a podium finish in Sunday's British Grand Prix, and The Guardian newspaper reports that an extension to his current contract has now been agreed with Williams. The story claims that the Colombian will receive £4.5million a year to remain as Ralf Schumacher's team-mate, despite overtures earlier this year from the all-conquering Ferrari squad.

The Montoya-Schumacher partnership began in 2001, and yielded four wins for Williams. This year has been less productive on race day, mainly thanks to Ferrari's dominance with both the F2001 and F2002 models, although Schumacher did win in Malaysia with the BMW-powered FW24.

Schumacher is also contracted to Williams until the end of 2004, and Montoya's signing effectively leaves Britain's Jenson Button with one less option should his contract with Renault not be extended into 2003. Button, however, believes that the wording of his contract is such that he can decide whether or not to return to the Grove team.

"I have the option to go back, not as a test driver but as one of the two race drivers," he said prior to Silverstone.

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