Ralf Brushes Off 'Critical Year' Suggestion

Ralf Schumacher shrugged off suggestions on Friday that he faces a critical season in Formula One as teammate Juan Pablo Montoya piles on the pressure.

The German, younger brother of Ferrari's four times champion Michael, won three races for Williams last year but suffered a drop in form in the later stages when he was outperformed by the Colombian rookie.

"Will there be a psychological problem for Ralf, a battle for him?", asked team principal Frank Williams, echoing a question about Schumacher's apparent dip in form at the launch of the new Williams FW24.

"Yes, he will have to deal with life if Juan is always better. (But) I don't think it is going to be like that and that is a straightforward honest answer. I think Ralf will assert himself very strongly in a critical year."

Schumacher, who maintains a professional relationship with Montoya but barely talks to him otherwise, professed surprise at the comments.

"I hadn't thought about that actually," he said. "Why should it be a more critical year? At the moment I am simply concentrating on... getting the car prepared to be good in Melbourne. That is what I worry about the most at the moment. Whatever develops for the season I obviously have to adapt to that. But I don't see it as specifically critical.

"It's a very important season for the team in general because people do expect a lot of us, maybe a bit too much. But we'll find out."

Main Rival

Michael Schumacher has already singled his brother out as his main rival - a comment that Montoya brushed aside as fraternal loyalty - but Ralf was cautious about the heightened expectations.

"We are trying to be better than last season, that's obvious. But to beat Ferrari already this year is I think a pretty high goal. First of all there is still McLaren, we shouldn't forget about that. It's going to be a very tough year to improve our position."

Some commentators expect Montoya to get the upper hand over Ralf this season, something that would put the German under considerable pressure. Williams was asked about team orders, something Ralf suggested last season would be beneficial, and replied that there was an agreed protocol between the team and drivers which would become apparent when necessary.

The difference between the drivers was marked from the moment they appeared on the rostrum for the formal unveiling of the new car. While Montoya was introduced in gushing terms as the driver Michael Schumacher must fear, the first question directed at new father Ralf was "how is the family?"

The German later talked about his family, how he changed the nappies of baby son David and how leaving home to attend test sessions was a wrench. But he dismissed any suggestion fatherhood would slow him down.

"If anything I have to go quicker, now I have one more person to finance," he smiled. "It doesn't affect me at all. If I go to a test it is more difficult to leave home but for me they are two separate things."