I can overtake, insists Ralf

Schumacher Jr first attracted criticism when he followed his brother's Ferrari to the chequered flag at a respectable distance in Brazil. The rumblings grew after the last Grand Prix in Canada, when he found himself stuck behind Kimi Raikkonen and Jarno Trulli for extended periods, despite the use of an engine that is widely held to be among the most potent in F1.

Speaking before his home Grand Prix at Nurburgring, Ralf said: "First of all, many people have had problems overtaking Michael this year, not just me.

"In Brazil, there was never a chance and as long as I'm the one in the car, I'm the one to decide when to overtake and when not to. If there's not a chance, I'm not going to make a stupid move and lose points. I was never ever close enough in Brazil and in Canada, when I had the chance, Kimi and I ran over the kerb.

"After that I didn't have the chance and that was the way it was. We weren't good enough out of the corners. Traction-wise I lost out slightly and we weren't quick enough on the straight to close up and overtake. It's simple. I can overtake and whenever there is a chance I will do it. But when there isn't, I can't."