Head praises Ralf after 2nd place finish in Japan

For BMW WilliamsF1 driver Ralf Schumacher the Japanese Grand Prix would see a welcome return to form after his lengthy period away from racing. He would finish the race in second which would see the team secure another podium finish. The last one was Juan Pablo Montoya's third place in the San Marino Grand Prix.

For WilliamsF1's Patrick Head such a result was worthy of praise, with the result extending the WilliamsF1 teams points advantage in the Constructors championship.

After the race Head said: "I'm certainly pleased to be on the podium and it's two cars in the points and we've pulled further ahead of McLaren.

"It was a fantastic drive from Ralf and he did just what he needed to do at the right time. He is a very fast driver and he is very good and deserves to get results. It is fantastic to see."

Head admitted that members of the WilliamsF1 team would have liked to have seen Ralf stay with the team. Ralf will leave the team at the end of the 2004 season to join Toyota.

Head added: "Everybody in the team says what a pleasure he is to work with and why have Frank and I not signed him up for next year."