Michael defends Ralf

Michael simply stated that it was a case of those criticising Ralf as people "who talk without knowing what is going on."

Even WilliamsF1 Technical Director passed comments regarding Ralf's performance in the race but at least he stated that he wasn't driving Ralf's car so it was hard to judge what Ralf had to contend with. As for Michael he stated: "I think it's very simple. There are a lot of people who talk without knowing what is going on. And that's a problem. You get criticised for something that people shouldn't even make comment about.

"If I hear things like this I obviously don't feel very happy...it wasn't only him behind me. There was (Juan Pablo) Montoya behind Ralf and there was (Fernando) Alonso behind Montoya. And none of the four could pass anyone.

Michael added: "And I was behind Ralf before and I couldn't pass him either. It's all about a nice story, how to create a story, how to make people look a little bit stupid and that's what I obviously dislike."

In the same interview Ralf responded to this criticism by saying that he will always try to overtake if an opportunity presents itself.

Ralf said: "There has been talk over the last year and a half to two years and I think it all started here at the Nürburgring. I personally don't understand it but it might be due to the fact that people, as Michael said, do comment where they shouldn't.

"Whenever there was a possibility in the past to overtake I took it and it will be the same in the future. There (in Canada) there wasn't one."

Michael Schumacher was backed up by Ralf's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya who believed that Ralf had performed well.

Montoya said: "For me, it is very hard to say he didn't try hard enough. I am not in Ralf's mind. The end result was he didn't try and some people feel he should have tried but he did a good job for the team he came in second."