Michael Defends Ralf's Brazilian GP Performance

World Champion Michael Schumacher has defended his brother Ralf's performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

The Williams driver was criticised by some members of the media after being unable to overtake his brother at Interlagos despite running closely during most of the second part of the race.

Ralf admitted after the event that he felt his BMW-powered FW24 was faster than his brother's Ferrari, but said he did not want to risk crashing and settled for second place. The elder Schumacher, winner of the Grand Prix, said he would have probably done the same.

"The problem is that people outside Formula One, who don't really sit in a Formula One car, don't understand why it is not possible to simply get close and overtake," said Schumacher today at Imola.

"We have been talking about this for years and years that you get to a certain point close to a car in front then you are in the dirty air and that is about it.

"I would have been in exactly the same position, most likely, to Ralf, and I wouldn't have had any chance to overtake and there is basically only one chance and whatever driver is around we are all going to be in the same position.

"I saw Ralf's sector times and I analysed the race. He was giving it all. It just wasn't enough because we had a good car, we did a good job all of the weekend and that is it."

After the first three races of the year, Michael is eight points ahead of his brother in the Championship standings, having won two Grands Prix to Ralf's sole win in Malaysia.