Irvine goes on attack over Schumacher tactics

The Ulsterman upped the ante in the row over the German's ruthless racing, saying it would take a serious accident before officials took action.

He said Schumacher should either take other drivers' opinions seriously or quit the drivers' commission on safety.

In the last two weeks Schumacher has been criticised as "a bully" and "lacking in ethics" by his fellow drivers. And the championship leader arrived to prepare for his home race in Germany this weekend to be greeted by another barrage of criticism. But Schumacher brushed off rumbling discontent, saying he had official clearance for his actions and he did not take criticisms from Irvine and Jacques Villeneuve seriously.

Drivers have complained he swerves across the grid at the start when he is on pole and zig-zags in front of rivals to protect his position.

"What he is doing is not safe and we are trying to improve safety in Formula 1," said Irvine. "Michael should take what we say seriously. That's very arrogant. I'm not saying these things to wind him up.

"I'm saying it's not safe and he is on the drivers' safety committee. He should take driver safety issues seriously and if he doesn't, he shouldn't be on the board of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association."

Drivers including David Coulthard have complained that Schumacher makes dangerous manoeuvres and leaves his rivals the choice on whether to lift or have an accident.

"I don't think he should be allowed to do what he does," added Irvine. "It's a very dangerous manoeuvre and at some stage someone isn't going to back off for him. The two cars are going to touch at the start and you are going to have two cars lying in the middle of the road when the rest of the grid comes charging along.

"His manoeuvre at the start of the race in Magny-Cours was not so bad. I would have let that one go, but he did change direction twice, so it was an illegal start.

"Imola was totally out of order. Basically he just stopped, turned and pushed three cars off the road. That's not safe.

"He says he's allowed one move and in Magny-Cours he made two. He can't have his cake and eat it."

Irvine admitted it was often hard for FIA safety delegate Charlie Whiting to make a fair decision.

"I have some sympathy for Charlie. It's a difficult call to make. It's not black and white. Eventually Michael is going to cause an accident and then something will be done."

A poll on Autosport.com reveals that 76.5% of the 1807 readers who voted say that Eddie Irvine is right to criticise Michael Schumacher's driving tactics.