Ralf Schumacher hopes to be back in Hungary

Ralf is still recovering from his injuries, a fractured spinal column, sustained in an accident during the running of the United States Grand Prix. Ralf has been cautioned about returning too early to driving. During his absence Ralf's place in the team has been taken by both WilliamsF1 test drivers Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia.

Ralf said: "If it was my decision I would be back here (at Hockenheim), but it's not possible. I hope to be back in Hungary. I'd love to be back as soon as possible.

"Generally I feel okay, just some aches and pains depending on what I do, if I walk around too much. We will find out in two weeks, we'll have a 'shakedown' and see how the bone has developed."

Ralf still has a desire to get back and help the WilliamsF1 team continue to turn their season around.

Ralf added: "The team needs me and I would like to come back and help them. I would like to be back with the improved car as soon as possible because I think we can win some races this year."

Ralf also spoke of who he felt would be his replacement in 2005 when he leaves to join Toyota. He felt that Giancarlo Fisichella, a driver that recent speculation has linked with the WilliamsF1 team, would not join the team as he was not a driver that WilliamsF1 was seriously looking at.

Ralf said: "Giancarlo, he won't come here, but I know he is trying to change teams and come to a top team.

"He really deserves a chance in a top team, he is a very good driver and he has a lot of experience, so if he is in a strong car we will see a lot of strong races from him."

Ralf also discussed the two drivers who have been his replacement while he has been recovering.

Ralf said: "I think Antonio we have to wait but Marc did a good job. It is a bit unfair. He is used to testing and racing is something totally different.

"He is a very nice person, he tried his best, obviously didn't really succeed in qualifying for whatever reason and to really push in that one lap is not so easy, he is not used to that.

"If he had been in better positions after qualifying I am sure we would have seen much stronger races from him. I don't know how big his chance is for next year now.

"You have to say team owners will have watched him and seen him drive not so good so it is going to be difficult, but he is a very good driver, no doubt.

"And for Antonio, he has always been blindingly quick in testing and I expected him to do a really good job at Jaguar. But he had some problems and we will find out this weekend how good he is because I reckon this is the first time that he has had a similar package to his teammate.

"I doubt that when he was at Jaguar they were able to supply two similar cars, but he is going to be sure he has a similar package here so we will see."