Ralf Plays Down Championship Chances

German Ralf Schumacher believes his chances of fighting for this year's drivers' title are almost over after today's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Schumacher finished in fourth position for the Williams team, fighting back impressively and overtaking more cars than anyone else after a first-lap spin sent him from the front row to 18th.

Both Williams were alarmingly slow off the grid and the result did little for Ralf's title hopes, Michael Schumacher's younger brother now 14 points off the lead.

"Theoretically it is still possible, but it's pretty distant. A lot would have to happen and I'd have to have a lot of luck. I'll try my hardest and we'll have to see what happens," Schumacher said. "I don't know what happened at the start, I didn't have any traction.

"After that I had a great chase. If you take that into account, you can imagine where I'd have been if I'd had no problems at the start."

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was third, despite a late spin, while five-times World Champion Michael Schumacher trailed home eighth to salvage just one point at the circuit where he celebrated his fourth title in 2001.

The result allowed the Williams driver to get to within one point of the lead of the Championship. Ferrari's Schumacher has 72 points, Montoya 71 and McLaren's Finn Kimi Raikkonen 70.