Williams Suffer Embarrassment after Elation

Ralf Schumacher was left high and dry at Sunday's Belgian Formula One Grand Prix. The German driver sat helpless on the grid, in a Williams still raised on jacks and with no wheels on the ground, as rivals roared past for the formation lap of the re-started race.

It was one of the more bizarre sights in recent Formula One memory and, for embarrassment, rivalled Ferrari's Nurburgring fiasco of 1999 when Eddie Irvine received just three wheels at a pitstop. It certainly made Michael Schumacher, Ferrari's four times World Champion and Ralf's older brother, feel sorry for his sibling when he looked over.

"You feel disappointed for him, obviously," he said after winning the race and taking a record 52nd career victory. "I didn't really notice when we left the grid, then I saw his car in the mirrors jacked up. I was thinking 'what's wrong' and I went on the radio but I knew it was too late for him."

Williams technical director Patrick Head said mechanics had wanted to change the rear wing beam on Schumacher's car but ran out of time. The incident capped a nightmare day after Saturday's qualifying session left the team elated with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's pole position ahead of Ralf in second place.

After an aborted first start, Montoya stalled on the second attempt.

"The car fired up but as soon as I pressed the clutch, it stalled," he said. Montoya had to go to the back of the grid, leaving Ralf with a clear run to the first corner. But he was unable to stave off the assault of his older brother Michael, Ferrari's four times World Champion, and conceded the lead on the first lap.

The race was then stopped after five laps when Brazilian Luciano Burti crashed and the re-start nightmare put paid to Ralf's hopes.