Williams Drivers Lament Team's Mistake

German Ralf Schumacher said that a personal apology from team boss Sir Frank Williams was not enough to make up for a mistake that cost him second place in the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Schumacher, who fought hard to finish just one second behind his race-winning brother Michael, was thrown out of the race four hours after the end of the race because his team had run illegal brake ducts. The mistake also cost his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya a fifth place finish.

"Frank rang me up to apologise but that was small comfort," said Ralf. "A breach of the rules is a breach of the rules and you get punished for that, so we must accept it even though it obviously hurts. It is a real shame because this spoils the positive overall impression I have from this race."

Williams have struggled this season and technical director Sam Michael had said the performance had displayed "a welcome return to form" after claiming just 36 points from the previous seven races.

But delight rapidly turned to disappointment when the sport's governing body, the FIA, threw Williams and rivals Toyota out for similar mistakes and Schumacher admitted he was immediately distraught.

"My cellphone rang and it was Sam Michael telling me that our cars were under investigation because of breaking the rules," said Schumacher. "I thought 'oh my God!' And when it became official and I said 'what have I done to deserve this?'

"But it is no use complaining and I am not killing myself over this. I will keep on working the same motivation and the up side of it is that in just one week's time we have the chance to easing this pain. The hotel were very nice, they had presented me with champagne for second place, but I think I will drink a couple of bottles with my friends to forget the disappointment."

Juan Pablo Montoya added: "Unfortunately there was an unintentional mistake from the team. It happens and there is nothing to do about it now. We will keep working and we hope to make up for this next week in Indy."