Frank Praises Ralf's Courage

[Mania]

Williams full of praise for emotional Ralf
”There was never any question of him not racing.”


Frank Williams heaped praise on his under-fire driver Ralf Schumacher here on Sunday after the German overcame the death of his mother to finish fourth in the San Marino Grand Prix. Schumacher started the race alongside his Ferrari-driving older brother Michael in a family front row just hours after the tragic news was announced to them.

The pair did battle in the opening stages of the race in a show that would have delighted their proud mother Elisabeth, but tactics saw the younger sibling's race tail away in the latter stages. He missed out on a podium after finishing behind his winning brother, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, of Finland, and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari. But team chief Williams, who on Saturday quashed rumours that he would replace the German at the end of the season, had nothing but praise for the German.

"I thought Ralf was very, very good today. There was never any question of him not racing and the subject did not even come up."

The younger Schumacher has struggled to get to grips with Williams' new FW25 car and he has come under heavy criticism from the German press for his performances. He finished eighth, fourth and seventh in the opening three races of the season and he was also faced with unsettling rumours about his personal life and the current state of his relationship with wife Cora.

The deterioration of his mother's health was another blow in a difficult season but Ralf, who showed his emotions at the Italian Grand Prix in 2001 after the terrorist attacks on New York, impressed Williams with his strength of character this weekend.

"Ralf was the one who just came back and got on with it," said Williams. "We'd known about the condition of their mother for the last week or more and it was always touch and go. But you have to be 100 percent committed on what you are doing if you are going to race a Formula One car in a Grand Prix in these circumstances. He is a sensitive person. We saw that at the time of 9/11 but maybe then it was the shock of it - there was no shock this time. It was very difficult for the two boys and there were at least a couple of occasions when she had stopped breathing so they were completely prepared and they knew what was happening."

The Schumacher brothers both left the circuit as soon as they could to be with their mother in hospital in Cologne after the qualifying session Saturday and neither made any comment about her death here Sunday. Michael Schumacher made an emotional appearance on the podium to collect his winners' trophy but was allowed to miss the post-race press conference and was replaced by Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt.



I think it's very classy of Frank to come out and support Ralf in a time of need. Williams have been known to be hard with their drivers but its good to see them acknowledge a special effort such as this..

Frank also said that Ralf will be staying with Williams as his contract states till the end of 2004 which should shut some people up as well..


"We have a perfectly valid contract in both directions until the end of 2004 and we have every intention of supporting that. If you witnessed today's performance, only a fool would do otherwise. There is no doubt Ralf will be at the team next season."

[Schumacher]

About time Williams came out in support of him.This was long overdue.

[Peter Mallett]

Commiserations to both the Schumachers and their family and friends.

[Mark Webber]

Long Long overdue

[Hugh Jarce]

I agree with the comment about Frank supporting his driver. Nice to see.

Frank knows what genuine life and death issues are about, so I'm not surprised that he has given such a public statement - good on him!

[John Turner]

I, too, agree; it was about time Ralf got some open support. Drove well yesterday, didn't he; it would have been good to see him on the podium with Michael, under the circumstances.

[BootsOntheSide]

Frank's no mug when it comes to driver management, and he's quite right to praise Ralf's courage in participating. It wasn't his greatest drive by any means, but he's picked up useful points and showed well on the track.

[Adam43]

In an interview on ITV Frank said there was no truth in the rumours of other drivers replacing Ralf next year. It was just 'people on the internet with nothing better to do' (paraphrased).

Prety much sums it up really!

[DavidStHubbins]

Ralf can be a spoilt brat and a bit rude but I don't like to see people putting him down 24/7... It's pointless really. He is a normal guy in a really high pressure world and he doesn't always deal with it the best way but he CAN drive if he puts his head to it. I wish he would drive like he used to, then JPM would really be put to the test. But he dealt with ALL the pressure this weekend very well. Good on him.

[calais]

when a team boss comes out and says a "driver is not going to be replaced"............it usually means he is.

though i dont see a tight ar** like frank paying off halfie

[Mr V]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
In an interview on ITV Frank said there was no truth in the rumours of other drivers replacing Ralf next year. It was just 'people on the internet with nothing better to do' (paraphrased).

So Sir Frank does read this site after all

[Peter Mallett]

True enough Calais. And what's more I agree about Sir Frank's wallett. However it is also true that every driver he's bagged has been at the end of his contract. Hill in '96, Mansell in '92 etc.