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Ralf's got our vote - Williams
07/07/2003 11:57 - (SA)
Magny Cours - Frank Williams handed Ralf Schumacher a huge vote of confidence after the German driver's French Grand Prix win gave his team a second successive one-two finish in the Formula One world championship.
Ralf led from start to finish to take victory just seven days after he had won the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring and, for the second week in succession, teammate Juan Pablo Montoya made it a double celebration.
"It was a one hundred percent winning performance by Ralf," said team-owner Williams, who hit back at accusations levelled at his driver earlier in the season that he lacked aggression on the track.
The 28-year-old struggled in the first six races of the season, never making the podium.
He also came under fire for surrendering the advantage of pole position in Canada and failing to push his brother to the line.
He took pole in Monaco before finishing fourth.
But they are distant memories now after two successive wins.
"I have always had absolute confidence in him. He has become very consistent," said Williams.
Silverstone is a stumbling block
"Juan was not quite on the pace today of Ralf, but he still did a super job and don't forget that Ralf has got many more years' experience in testing and racing than Juan."
Sunday's performances here have kept Ralf in third place in the drivers championship with 53 points, just three behind McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, who was fourth at Magny Cours.
Montoya is fourth in the standings on 47 points, but Michael Schumacher, bidding for a sixth world crown, is still on top with 64 points with six rounds left.
However, Williams cautioned against getting carried away as the next race, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in two weeks' time, is expected to favour Ferrari.
"We are only three points behind them in the constructors' championship, but I never take anything for granted. When you start doing that, you start going backwards.
"All the top teams are developing their cars race by race and are building up their performances.
"I still think we are in the mode of closing the gap on Ferrari while we are a bit up and down with McLaren."
"Silverstone will be very difficult. Ferrari had the advantage in testing, but that was three weeks ago."
- AFP
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