'Give us a faster car', says Montoya

The Williams drivers, Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, hit back at criticism from within their own team at the launch of their 2003 challenger here at the Circuit de Catalunya yesterday. They believe they will beat the defending champion Michael Schumacher when the team gives them a fast enough car.

The pair have been told by the team heads to match the standards set by Ferrari's five-time world champion – on and off the track, but after helping unveil the FW25 Montoya said: "You hear it every five minutes that you need to do the things the way Michael does it because Michael wins.

"Michael wins because he has got the car with which to win and we don't. Hopefully we have got the car this year that can win."

Montoya and Schumacher have both been told by Sam Michael, the Williams chief operations engineer, that they need to match the world champion's single-minded attitude.

"You hear stories of Michael phoning up Jean Todt [Ferrari's sporting director] at 10 o'clock at night to find out what springs Luca Badoer had on the car because he had been looking at the data back home," Williams said. "Our guys just do not do that, but it is so tight at the front now you have to do it. If a driver is informed enough to make his contribution like Michael Schumacher does, it makes a difference."

But Michael's comments received short shrift from Ralf Schumacher. "Michael is an outstanding driver but it took him five years to win the championship with Ferrari," he said. "That's the way it is. The car is simply great. There is always the need to work and push harder but it needs to make sense.

"I would be very surprised if Michael rings anyone up at 10 o'clock when he is at home. And if I try to ring Frank or Sam up at 10 o'clock they are usually in bed."