Ralf Schumacher

Since his crash at Indianapolis all kinds of rumours have been floating around concerning Schumacher. The most extreme version suggested that he would never race again, and that somebody would therefore be footing a hefty insurance bill to cover not only his Williams earnings, but also that huge Toyota salary he recently signed up for. In public he created a very different impression, and seemed to be relaxed and in a good mood.

He went out of his way to insist that he could be back as early as possible. A genuine desire to race the FW26, or a front carefully designed to show the insurers that he's making every attempt to make himself available? It depends whether you're a conspiracy theorist or not...

The last thing Antonio Pizzonia needed was Ralf bouncing around the Williams motorhome and indicating that he wanted to be back in Hungary. The implication was that Hockenheim was the Brazilian's one and only chance, so the pressure to perform was even more intense.

"Certainly I miss it a lot, and especially in Hockenheim I would have loved to be back in the car," said Ralf. "Watching the last few races was really difficult for me, but that's the way it is. I can't change it, and I hope to be back soon.

"In some way I'm a help to the team, and talking to the people, they're missing me, so I would like to try as quick as possible to come back and win some races. I love what I do."

There have been suggestions that another impact could cause Ralf even greater problems, although Prof Sid Watkins says that it's not as great an issue as is being made out. Ralf seems unconcerned.

"That's a risk that you have to take, which we certainly have every race, basically. Honestly we'll come back when we think that it's relatively safe to come back, and that's why we'll take a decision a week before Hungary."

After his return from the USA Schumacher made point of criticising the medical attention he received in Indianapolis, and that hasn't gone down well in FIA circles. The Methodist Hospital is acknowledged as being a great authority on racing injuries and in particular impacts with concrete, and there's a widely held view that the criticism was completely unjustified. It's said that he was told that the extent of his injury probably wouldn't show up for a few days, and that happened to fit with his arrival home.

Ralf has no memories of the actual accident, and says he does not have any problem with the slow response from officials at the track.

"There is rule to not take me out of the car. With the problem I had with my back, it was the right thing to do. They tried their best, as usual. Sure there are ways to improve, but I'm sure Sid knows how to do this."

At least he had the good luck to step out of the picture just as the team goes through a dip, and his return could coincide with an improvement in form.

"The car is getting on. There's a lot of development happening back in the factory, there are some new parts coming. I think there's a fair chance in the last three races at least to be able to win again."

Ralf even expressed some sympathy for his stand-ins: "I think it's quite an unfair challenge for them. They test the whole year, but then all of a sudden they get thrown into the car. And it is something different, and I think Marc would agree pretty much, to be under the pressure to do qualifying. Both of them in testing are very close to us, they're really good racing drivers, but obviously they miss the experience of racing a bit. Marc did a good job, and I'm sad for him that he couldn't be in Hockenheim, but on the other hand it was fair to give Antonio a run, and see how good he is. He really is a very good driver, but he just had a tough time at Jaguar."

Ralf's move to Toyota has been the talk of the paddock for months, and many still wonder why the team has chosen the German, and paid so much to get him.

"Obviously it could be difficult there to start with, but I'm really looking forward to it. It's a complete new challenge, a young team, and a lot of room for improvement - even from myself, there's still a lot to learn to gain some experience. I think it's going to be a very successful relationship, I'm pretty sure about that.

"I'm sure it will take some time, no doubt. On the other hand if you want to go for the championship next year, which team would you go to - except Ferrari? It's a bit of a difficult question at the moment. There's only Ferrari, but I just certainly believe that it could be a great project together, and that's why I chose Toyota."

As the first multiple Grand Prix winning driver to join the team, it's inevitable that Ralf will try to use his position to mould things around him, a scenario not unlike what his brother has achieved at Ferrari. He denies that there's any inspiration to be drawn from Michael.

"It has nothing to do with trying to copy something. It's just after six years, I want to try something new. Obviously going to quite a young team is very interesting, to be able to join and be involved a lot more. I have a better chance of succeeding, I think."

Toyota isn't exactly shining at the moment, and in Hockenheim the new car was not the step forward that it was supposed to be. Ralf admits that he's already keeping a close eye on the situation.

"Well, obviously when I'm not so busy I can watch them, but at the end of the day for the next few races I will concentrate on Williams, because I'm still here. Once the season is finished, then I'll concentrate on the other project."

So what of the team's second driver? The likelihood is that Jarno Trulli will be announced soon, and Ralf says he would be very happy with that.

"It would be a very good decision. I hope he will come, but I don't know. He's the only good driver left on the market, so he would be the obvious choice."

But does he have any idea about who will drive the second Williams next year?

"I don't know. It's going to be very difficult for them to replace the two of us. I'll be surprised how they manage it..."