Williams Praises Ralf after Difficult Day

Team boss Frank Williams praised the performance of his driver Ralf Schumacher after he and his brother Michael rushed to their mother's hospital bedside after dominating qualifying for Sunday's San Marino Formula One Grand Prix.

With mother Elisabeth in a coma and fighting for her life in a Cologne hospital, the sibling racers did their best to blank out their personal anguish until after final qualifying at Ferrari's home track.

Then, with five-times World Champion Michael securing pole position and Williams driver Ralf a close second, they were driven away with wives Corinna and Cora in a black Maserati through a seething throng of photographers.

"His mother would appear to be terminally ill and he's gone off with his brother now maybe for the last time to see his mum, that's how I understand it," said Frank Williams of Ralf, who had crashed in morning practice.

"He obviously had a lot on his mind today and he made a good recovery from his accident this morning. He was really flying, the car was dancing."

A source close to the family confirmed the brothers were returning to Germany but would return for the fourth race of the season on Sunday. Under the new race format, there is no longer a Sunday morning warm-up.

"Michael and Ralf wanted to fly back because their mother is ill," said the source, who did not want to be identified. "She's been ill for some time but it's been very bad since last week. "They have been continually on the phone. Even this morning, Corinna and Cora were on the phone to the father and the doctor."

Asked at a post-qualifying news conference about his mother and how he had managed to stay focused, the older Schumacher wrestled with his emotions as he replied simply: "Please, don't expect an answer."

It was the last question asked and a later news release from Ferrari did not directly mention the family drama.

The Schumachers' parents are divorced and, while father Rolf occasionally comes to Grands Prix, Elisabeth has rarely been sighted at the racetrack although she has followed her illustrious sons' progress closely.

Sunday's qualifying was the brothers' first appearance together on the front row since Germany last year, when they also both finished on the podium.