Ralf still aiming for title

With half the season over, the German lies fourth in the championship standings, having managed to score points in every race so far this year. Although Schumacher is pleased with his consistency, he admits to being disappointed that he hasn't scored more than 33 points.

Speaking about his current position in the championship Schumacher said: "Since we had a weak start to the season, fourth place is alright. However, if you score points in eight GPs, it is true that there should be more than 33 points on my account. But the more I get into statistics, the greater the chances that my streak will come to an end.

"My goal for the second half of the season is clear: I want to win races again. And as long as there is still a chance for me to win the World Championship, I'll go for the title."

Williams was the only one of the top three teams to start this season with a brand-new car, a trend that more teams look set to adopt next year. Alongside Ferrari and McLaren, BAR recently confirmed it would start 2004 with an old car, whilst this week's AUTOSPORT magazine reveals Sauber is also considering this option.

However, Schumacher has revealed that Williams has no such plans. "Only this year, we've implemented a totally new concept," he said. "The new car will definitely be a further development. In contract to our competition, I can promise that our new contender will be ready by the beginning of next season."