Preview: Williams Hopeful Despite Ralf Absence

Sunday's French Grand Prix could yet prove a turning point for misfiring Williams, despite the absence of injured Ralf Schumacher.

Schumacher, last year's race winner, faces up to three months out after medical tests showed that he suffered two spinal fractures when he crashed during the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis 10 days ago.

Spanish test driver Marc Gene, who stood in for Ralf at last year's Italian Grand Prix and finished fifth after the German was sidelined by another serious accident, will step into his shoes.

While Ralf's absence represents an obvious setback, there could still be improved performances from Williams and their even more troubled rivals McLaren at Magny-Cours after a difficult first half of the season.

It will be hard to prevent Ferrari's World Champion Michael Schumacher chalking up a ninth win in 10 races but his rivals should have better equipment to fight back with.

McLaren confirmed on Wednesday they will be giving their heavily revised MP4-19B car its race debut after tests in Spain last week made clear that it would be a step up from the previous offering. Even if the engine remains largely the same, the new car can only be an improvement on one that left McLaren licking their wounds after their worst start to a championship in decades.

Williams have, meanwhile, thoroughly overhauled the aerodynamics and rear end of the radical-looking 'tusked' FW26 that has so far failed to perform like the winner it was trumpeted as.

Double Disqualification

McLaren are fifth in the championship, 125 points adrift of Ferrari, while Williams are fourth after failing to score in the last two races and suffering successive disqualifications. Magny-Cours is a Williams and Michelin track, the BMW-powered team winning five of the 13 races held there with particularly strong performances in recent years.

"I am confident we can finally get it right at Magny-Cours and Silverstone," said Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, holder of the race lap record at the circuit, before Ralf's absence was confirmed.

BAR, with Briton Jenson Button now a podium regular, have given Ferrari more cause for concern than any other team this year and have also promised some significant developments.

"We're really looking forward to the next couple of races because we think we are on the up," said Button. "The Michelins should work extremely well in Magny-Cours and I am confident that our strong package should definitely enable us to fight for a podium finish."

Schumacher, his seventh world title looking little more than a formality, is certainly wary of them.

"In F1 anything can happen," he cautioned this week. "We still have nine races ahead and nothing is yet decided.

"I think that BAR-Honda will remain the main adversary as they do well on all types of circuit," added the German. "Saying this, I don't think that Renault or BMW-Williams should be underestimated as there will be races where they do very well. We also have to wait and see what McLaren-Mercedes do with their new car."

Magny-Cours is a home race for Renault, second in the championship and celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first Formula One win this weekend. They too have an updated package.