Errant duo testing Williams' patience

Those who know Sir Frank Williams and his technical director and partner Patrick Head well know that neither likes losing. While the world was congratulating them on the second and third places Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya had scored in the Canadian Grand Prix here on Sunday, they were inwardly fuming that their drivers had turned front-row qualifying performances and a one-two at the start into a second-rate finish.

Montoya made an elementary error and spun exiting the first corner on the opening lap, consigning himself to a catch-up drive for the rest of the race.

Ralf led until his first refuelling stop on the 20th lap, and thereafter gave less than a convincing chase to his big brother, who dictated the pace of the race despite brake problems and Bridgestone tyres that most believed were not a match for the Williams' Michelins.

This is not the first time the Schumacher-Montoya driver pairing has disappointed. Over the winter the chief operating engineer Sam Michael said, while comparing them with the world champion and his general approach to racing: "I think the main thing comes from concentration and getting the best out of people around you, and it's amazing how much difference the driver can make to the team's motivation - whether that's the engineers and mechanics, designers, all the way through the factory. That's the difference between our two drivers and the baseline, which is Michael Schumacher.

"You hear stories of Michael phoning up Ferrari's Jean Todt at 10 o'clock at night to find out what springs Luca Badoer had on the car during testing at Fiorano, because he's been looking at the data back at home. Well, our blokes just don't do that.

"Okay, you can say that so long as you've got a car with five per cent more downforce and 30 horsepower more than anyone else you don't need to do that, well the game's too tight not to do it now. If the driver is informed enough to make his contribution like Michael does, it makes a big difference.

"So that's what we are referring to. We are upping our game and they have to step up to the mark as well. They have improved over the last couple of years, they have got better and better, but they need to make a quantum leap. You can't just sit back and say that it's all down to the designers to get the fastest out of the car."

Few doubt Montoya has the talent to challenge Michael Schumacher, but he has been accused of relying too much on that to the detriment of others areas of a driver's make-up.

While second place looked good for Schumacher Jnr on paper, his drive lacked the fire you would expect of a man paid $15m (£8.9m) annually. Had the late Ayrton Senna or Nigel Mansell been aboard Williams No 4 in Montreal, Michael Schumacher would never have had a moment's peace. And you'd better believe that Williams and Head think that, too.

In 1983 Williams told the French driver Jacques Laffite that he could stay for 1984, but that he would have to take a pay cut. You wouldn't bet on Ralf, whose remuneration will rise to $18m, being told the same thing unless he raises his game and starts to perform with more fire. Formula One is a hard game, played for high stakes.