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Ralf Schumacher says his BMW WilliamsF1 team can fight their way back into contention for race victories within the next two months. "Another two months and we should be up there" said the German who has finished every Grand Prix so far this season, but not scored as many points as he would have hoped. "It's nearly mid-season but it's still looking very promising. We've got the right people in the right places and there's still a lot to come" Ralf Schumacher joined Kimi Raikkonen on the streets of Stuttgart recently when the pair drove their Formula One cars on a temporary circuit set in the city's streets. 50,000 fans gathered at Stuttgart's Schlossplatz, many more were around the city to see the fun during the celebrations of the 100th birthday of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobilclub (ADAC). Ralf was at the wheel of an FW25, last year's Williams, while Raikkonen was driving the McLaren Mercedes MP4-17. Ralf and Kimi took turns to drive on the 800-metre make-shift circuit. "It was a lot of fun" Ralf said. "It was a really entertaining event and good practice for the race in Monaco next week! I couldn't go more than 180kph there, so we could just use the first and second gears" |
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| "My name is Schumacher" he said before his 1997 debut. "I just want to prove that I am me, that's all. I have no problem with Michael's status, that's for sure. He is the best Formula One driver in the world. I would say that even if he were not my brother. My aim is not particularly to beat him, nor to try and jump out of his shadow. I simply don't have a problem with all that. My results will make me my own man or not" ... "I'm not the nice brother and I'm not soft" he told reporters in 2002 after following Michael home one-two in Brazil. "I have to attack him and beat him. I can win the world title, so I'm not going to let him pass me" |
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Answering his critics on his lack of overtaking: "In six years of F1 racing, I've tried many manoeuvres and I can say from experience that while it always makes you look good from the outside if you go and pass someone with two or three locking wheels, it doesn't always work. Sometimes you lose a front wing and then you look like an idiot" Working with Niki Lauda: "I really would like to work with Niki some time in the future. This doesn't mean I'm ready to go to Jaguar at this point. I'm sorry Niki, but your car isn't good enough yet" The British media: "You, they, the British press are very anti-Schumacher - anti-Michael and anti-me. Okay, maybe not all of you - but most. Whatever team-mate I've had in my career - Giancarlo (Fisichella), Damon (Hill), Alex (Zanardi), Jenson (Button), Juan (Montoya) - you always say he's the one, better than me" Monaco: "Racing an F1 car around Monaco is just like flying a helicopter in your bedroom" Racing his brother: "In the past we agreed it wouldn't make any sense to ram each other off the track and risk injury. But that certainly doesn't mean I that I don't and won't always fight my brother for the titles" Arriving in Austria with a new hair colour: "It was simply an accident and the only way out... it's going to be changed soon. Simply the hair cutter - I don't want to use the word - made a mistake" |
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In what way is the Grand Prix on the A1-Ring special to you, having adopted Austria as your home? Ralf Schumacher: Well, since Heinz Pruller of Austrian television already refers to me as 'our Ralf', it has to mean something special, doesn't it? But joking aside, as I live here and have many, many friends in Austria, this race is naturally something of a home event for me. At any rate, it's the Grand Prix with the shortest journey time for me: I can get there in two hours by car. What is the essentially character of the A1-Ring? RS: Well, to be honest, technically speaking there are more demanding circuits than the A1-Ring. But overall it does pose its challenges - both for the car and for the team. This circuit should not be underestimated! But what I like so much about Spielberg is the atmosphere of the race - the mountains, the meadows, the cows next to the track. Where else do you get that? To what extent do you regret the Austrian Grand Prix being dropped from the Formula One calendar? RS: I'm a little sad that the race is being cut. If it were up to me, I'd like to continue racing in Austria, but unfortunately that's not for the drivers to decide. It seems that there are economic reasons behind it, and there's nothing we can do about that. |
How do you feel about your performance so far in 2003? RS: The short answer would be we've got off lightly. Naturally we were all hoping to do better, but I'm delighted with the way the team has put the bad start to the season behind it and is powering ahead to get the car where it should be - right at the front where the battles for victory are fought out. How does the season's objective look after five races? RS: That hasn't actually changed. We've just got five races less in which to achieve it. As before, we're aiming right for the top. We want to win races. There is speculation about a possible team change on your part. How do you envisage your own future? RS: If you pursued every rumour in Formula One, you'd hardly have time for anything else. The fact is that I've got a contract with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team until the end of 2004 and that the team will naturally be my number one negotiating partner for the following period. But beyond that, I don't give much more thought to the matter. It's normal to reflect on the future from time to time, but my priority at the moment is the ongoing development of the FW25 so that we can get back into a position to win. |
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| Michael Schumacher's kid brother Ralf has ordered him not to quit Formula One until they have BOTH won the world championship trophy. Ralf is desperate to lift the title which Ferrari great Michael has clinched five times. But the BMW Williams ace feels the milestone would be devalued if Big Bro had bowed out. Time is on Ralf's side because, at 27, he is seven years younger than Michael. But Schuey Jnr said: "I have to win it while Michael is still driving. Then I won't get it thrown at me that the only reason I won it was because Michael wasn't racing any more. The title would be worth more if I won it against my brother and not after he had retired" |
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| Ralf Schumacher is confident his team can enjoy a stronger showing in next week's Austrian Grand Prix than they have had in recent races. "Our true potential was not mirrored in the final result we achieved in Barcelona. However, our performance during the first third of the race should give us some optimism for the remainder of the season and we need to build on that. We therefore continued our intensive testing schedule this week in Le Castellet and I‘m convinced we’ve made progress in all areas which we hope to be able to translate into a successful result in Austria. On a personal level, it would be great to be competitive as racing at the A1-Ring is almost a home Grand Prix for me" [Ralf lives in Salzburg] "The fans are fantastic and create an infectious atmosphere, spurring you on to the finish line. It‘s a shame that this race is being dropped from the calendar for the foreseeable future. Hopefully we’ll be able to say goodbye with a positive finish" |
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| The brothers' decision to race was commended by other drivers, who extended their sympathy. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella: “It is also a way to honour their mother. I think they are right. Anything can happen in the race but lining up together on the front row is the best choice”. Italian Jarno Trulli added: “I realise they made a tough decision. But I also think they are right to race. It is their job. I hope I never have to make the same decision” |
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| "My mother loved being at the karting track when we were racing karts in Kerpen and loved to see us racing. Both our parents have always supported us and they made it possible to do what we do now. She would have wanted that we raced today, I am sure" Michael wore a black arm-band as a sign of mourning, while brother Ralf sported a black stripe over his helmet. |
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| David Coulthard has praised Michael and Ralf Schumacher for their professionalism as both competed in the San Marino Grand Prix just hours after their mother, Elisabeth, had passed away in hospital. "You try to imagine being in that situation yourself and all you can say is that you imagine your parent would want you to go on and race because they've supported you in it from such an early age. It must have been heavy on their mind - a really uncomfortable situation to be in. I admire them for getting on and doing the job" |
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| Retiring BMW Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger has empathised with the Schumacher brothers, and in particular Michael after the Ferrari driver stood sombrely on the top step of the podium having won the San Marino Grand Prix just hours after his mother had passed away. "I would like to express my sympathy to Ralf and Michael Schumacher in the loss of their mother. To compete in the race under these circumstances is extremely difficult. And if you then even manage to finish the race at the very top of the rostrum, as Michael Schumacher did on Easter Sunday in Imola, you experience a deep emotional moment" |
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| Ralf Schumacher may have seen his Brazilian Grand Prix result gain him an extra two points after the result was revised, but he is still not happy with the way his season has gone. "My disappointment about the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix was short-lived. I am now focused on what is ahead, because the job at Imola will be difficult. I remember last year that we did not have the smallest chance against Ferrari. This time circumstances are different and the most recent test at Le Castellet has taken us another step forward. Improvements in testing are important, as the aim is now not only to beat Ferrari, but also prevent McLaren from opening up a lead. All this said, Imola may not suit our car perfectly but it is always nice coming back to the location of my maiden F1 win. Perhaps this positive feeling might support me on the way to a good result" |
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Ralf Schumacher finished in 9th place in today's hectic Brazilian Grand Prix which was hampered by several safety car deployments and eventually was stopped prematurely for a bad accident that befell Fernando Alonso (RenaultF1) Shortly before the race was stopped the BMW WilliamsF1 Team driver was running third but pitted and unfortunately dropped to 9th position when the race was curtailed. Team mate Juan Pablo Montoya went off the track on lap 25 when holding fifth position sliding off on the very wet Curva do Sol which claimed five cars. Ralf Schumacher: The most important thing for me is that Fernando Alonso wasn't seriously injured. The timing of the red flag was really bad luck for me. If this accident hadn't happened I assume that I would have been on the podium as many cars in front of me still had to stop for fuel. All in all my car was reasonably good under these difficult conditions, even though I must admit it was really a hard job to keep it on the track. |
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Ralf Schumacher is well aware that he will have to improve his qualifying performance if he is to stand any chance of challenging for the title this year. Schumacher junior commented: "I was pleased of course about my recovery from my grid position finish fourth in Malaysia, even though the race showed that we still have a lot of areas to improve. However, Sao Paulo's circuit should suit our package better. The narrow infield should work well with the FW25 and I am therefore very confident" Of his qualifying, he added: "I know first of all I must improve in qualifying, because managing to get the best possible set up of my car in a very short time has always been one of my strengths. It is important to qualify well, as even if the new rules mean a lot can happen during the race (as in the first two GPs) I cannot always rely on the chance of coming up through the field in the race" |
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