Williams could scupper Hill's plans

The ex-champion is said to have been allowed to call a halt to his career early if Jordan tie up third place in the constructors' championship before the last race.

That was likely to happen in the next few races as Jordan forged ahead as best of the rest behind McLaren and Ferrari, as Heinz-Harald Frentzen has not been out of the top four since he won the French Grand Prix six races ago in June.

But Williams' ace racer Ralf Schumacher is becoming a permanent resident in the top five too, and the team said in Monza the car is the most competitiveb it has ever been.

Schumacher headed today's second practice session at Monza and trouble-plagued Alex Zanardi was third - another signal of the improving form of the Supertec-powered
ex-champions.

By comparison Frentzen was 13th after an early spin and Hill 10th.

Jordan are 23 points ahead of Williams and that appears to be a massive advantage but could be wiped away by a single 1-2 result - which Jordan achieved last year in Belgium.

'This is all just speculation - it's becoming somewhat tedious, I'm getting bored with it,' said team boss Eddie Jordan in Monza.

'We discuss the position of the team with Damon on a race by race basis,

'We are happy to be in the top three of the championship. Third place is by no means tied up.

'Williams could easily pick up a massive helping of points just as we did last year at Spa.

'There are still four races left.'