Schumacher praises team-mate

The Indycar world champion made a blistering start to leap to third but willingly moved over for his faster team-mate when Schumacher cruised up behind him in mid-race and the German went on to finish second for a German 1-2 behind Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

'I have to say thanks to my team-mate for letting me get by because, without his help I wouldn't be second today,' said Schumacher junior.

'His moving over gave me a good leg up and he did it without the team having to ask him.

'We have an agreement if one driver is quicker we won't block them, because we are driving for the same team.'

Schumacher was third at Monza last year and owes both finishes on the podium to Mika Hakkinen's troubles.

'I was lucky last year with Hakkinen's problem and a little bit lucky this year too but I must say our car has changed a lot in the last couple of races.

'It looked like a disaster in Hungary and everyone was angry so we went back to the drawing board and since Spa the car is much more driveable.

'The battle for places at the first corner was a bit tight. I did a little shortcut not to hit David Coulthard and then fought with Mika.

'I hope we have found the reason for our lack of performance and can carry that through to Nurburgring.'