Villeneuve slams Schumacher’s tactics

Villeneuve added to criticisms of Schumacher's driving, following warnings from David Coulthard that someone could get killed if the Ferrari driver carries on as he is. According to the Canadian, Schumacher's behaviour will not change until he is sanctioned by the governing body, the FIA.

"His tactics do bother me and there are not many people doing it," said Villeneuve. "It's the same person and he gets away with it so why should he stop? When drivers behind have to lift that's not fair. The issue has been raised before and it's not gone anywhere."

Coulthard is to broach Schumacher's behaviour in a driver's meeting this afternoon (Friday) at the A1 Ring. The Scot believes Schumacher's swerving across the track at the start of the race in France and moving over to defend his lead on lap 33 were against the rules.

While Villeneuve was indirectly critical of stewards who had not taken action, he admitted it was easy to make a decision from the cockpit but difficult to evaluate every manoeuvre from the trackside.

"It is very difficult for anyone outside a racing car to know what's going on. It is difficult from outside to judge what is right and wrong," said Villeneuve. "It's down to the drivers to push the point forward.

"We know we could do the same thing as Schumacher and get away with it but we don't do it. It's a question of personal ethics. It depends on the way you are in every day life and you bring those ethics into the cockpit.

"Drivers don't have any power so it doesn't matter what we say or think. We just get a licence and drive the car. The trouble is the drivers don't all agree either."

While Coulthard lifted off the accelerator to avoid Villeneuve in Magny Cours, the 1997 world champion intimated he would not do so in the same situation.

"David is fighting for the championship so he cannot afford to bang wheels and throw points away, but it wouldn't matter to me."

For full results of practice session 2 click here.