Feature: Ralf and Juan, Best of Enemies

Ralf Schumacher's admission that he does not like Juan Pablo Montoya - and the Colombian's reply that they have nothing in common - hardly rates as a revelation.

It made a few colourful headlines last week but anyone vaguely conversant in body language was already well aware that the two Williams drivers are chalk and cheese, their personalities as far apart as Berlin and Bogota.

You only had to watch them in their public appearances together over the last year to get the message that with these two, friendly banter and bonhomie are about as likely as a Minardi victory.

The message is reinforced when the German and Colombian, both winners last season, gather with other Formula One drivers on the open trailer for the pre-race lap around the track to wave at the massed ranks of fans. Ralf, naturally enough, fraternises with World Champion and older brother Michael and frequently frowns at the camera, while Montoya generally hangs out with the Brazilians.

"Although we don't like each other privately, we are professional enough to work with each other," said Schumacher junior at the Williams FW24 launch. "As long as we exchange information and don't crash into each other, which we never have, it's perfect."

"We are just different personalities, we have nothing in common," declared Montoya with a typical shrug. "I'm a Latin, I'm a lot more open and relaxed."

No Cuddles

After a year together, both have become increasingly up-front about the state of play and acknowledge the rivalry in plain terms. Their comments are a sure sign that the stakes are higher now, with a title challenge being mounted, and recognition that Williams are not and never have been the sort of team to mollycoddle anyone.

"The only time you don't have tension between drivers in a team is when one is very clearly faster than the other and we've got a situation where we've got two very fast drivers," said technical director Patrick Head at the launch. "It's always a requirement for a driver to be able to beat his teammate. He's the only driver, in a way, that he can be directly compared with and that therefore is bound to be a sensitive area."

Genuine, full-blooded rivalry between two top class drivers is just what Williams want to see.

"We've always believed both drivers should be firing on all cylinders," said Frank Williams. "They're both capable of winning and that's how we want to leave it."

"We're not very good at cuddling people here," Head has said more than once and history has certainly proved him right on that score.

Great Feuds

Some of the great feuds of Formula One have involved Williams drivers, some of whom it has to be said disliked each other far more vehemently than the current pairing. Briton Nigel Mansell and Brazilian Nelson Piquet got on famously badly in 1986 and 1987.

"You never know what's going on in his head and often he doesn't seem to know himself," was one of several brickbats hurled at Piquet by the moustachioed Mansell. Australian Alan Jones and Argentine Carlos Reutemann also clashed with some notoriety in 1981, particularly when the latter won against team orders in Brazil ahead of the then World Champion.

"I don't and can't trust Carlos any more. The damage has been done," Jones fumed later. The situation evolved further over the season to the point where Reutemann, who lost out to Piquet in the title race by one point that year, suggested burying the hatchet.

"Yes, in your back, Carlos," Jones was said to have replied. Interestingly, Williams revealed last week that there is a 'protocol' between the team and drivers in the event of team orders being needed "when the time comes".

"You will see how it unfolds," he said. "If I remind myself of Brazil '81 with Jones and Reutemann, who knows. Let's wait and see."