Juan Pablo Montoya proved he has the bottle to mount a world championship challenge by battling to victory in the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Colombian, who drives for the Grove-based BMW Williams team, answered his critics by winning for the first time since Italy in September 2001.

It proved a good day for the Oxfordshire teams. Teammate Ralf Schumacher was fourth with Enstone-based Renault's Fernando Alonso fifth and teammate Trulli sixth.

But Brackley-based BAR team decided not to risk Jenson Button following his 180mph crash in qualifying.

Montoya refused to buckle as championship leader Kimi Raikkonen mounted a ferocious assault in the final laps of a gruelling 78-lap race.

The result also ended Michael Schumacher's hopes of a record-equalling sixth victory at Monaco, giving Williams their first Monaco win for 20 years.

Montoya's victory was the first for Williams since Ralf Schumacher's success in Malaysia last year.

Williams F1 technical director Patrick Head said: "Wins always help, but one victory is not a situation-turning event.

"The drivers need a fantastic degree of mental control and Juan Pablo drove a superb race, he didn't put a foot wrong."