rpm.espn.com: Ralf Schumacher

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Monday, February 3

Ralf Schumacher
By Dan Knutson
ESPN.com

Team: Williams
Nationality: German

Ralf Schumacher
Schumacher

STATS

Year
Rank
Wins
Poles
Podium
Best finish

2002 4 1 0 5 1st, Maylaysia

Career 4 1 16 1st, 4 times

2002 Recap
The Good: Ralf Schumacher was one of only two non-Ferrari drivers to win in 2002. Teammate Juan Pablo Montoya scored a few more points than Schumacher, but at the end of the day they were pretty closely matched in race performances.

Season Highlight: Winning the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Bad: The Williams-BMW FW24 couldn't match the speed or the reliability of the Ferrari F2002. Schumacher had more bad luck and reliability woes than Montoya. While there was little to choose between the Williams duo in race trim, in qualifying Schumacher got no poles while Montoya earned seven.

Season Lowlight: Colliding with Montoya in the opening laps of the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher's victory in Malaysia was one of just two times Ferrari didn't win in 2002.

Key Stat: One win and no poles.

2003 Outlook
What needs to be done: The bosses at Williams have told Schumacher and Montoya to up their game to the benchmark that is Michael Schumacher. The same could be said to the Williams engineers who need to create a chassis to match Ferrari's.

Prediction: Schumacher will win at least one race in 2003. He will be involved in a fierce battle for second in the championship standings (behind his brother Michael) that will be fought between Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, McLaren's duo of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen and the Williams drivers.

Your Take
Share your thoughts on Schumacher and his prospects for 2003.

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