Ralf unhappy with contract negotiations

While one F1 saga, that of Jordan's drivers for 2004, was recently resolved, the wrangles between Ralf Schumacher and Williams in regard to the German's contract continue. Team boss Frank Williams said the negotiations have stalled due to money ...

While one F1 saga, that of Jordan's drivers for 2004, was recently resolved, the wrangles between Ralf Schumacher and Williams in regard to the German's contract continue. Team boss Frank Williams said the negotiations have stalled due to money disputes but Schumacher claims he was willing to sign a deal at the end of last season, only to have Williams retract the offer.

Ralf Schumacher.

Photo by Sutton Motorsport Images.

Now Schumacher thinks the situation could lead to him leaving the team after this season: "Even if me and my manager Willi Weber would find it hard to leave behind our friends at BMW, there's a chance it could happen," he said, according to Bild am Sonntag.

"It would be sad, but I can't allow myself to be treated like that by Williams. I'm not frustrated but I find it hard to understand certain things that have happened these past few months."

"Frank Williams says I'm nothing but a money-grabber. I can only laugh at that. I wanted to sign. We scheduled a meeting for the final race of the season in Japan, but Frank Williams wasn't there and then he suddenly pulled the offer. On a human level I'm very disappointed with him."

Since the publication of the story, Schumacher has said on his personal website that his comments were not intended as a threat to leave the team, or break his current contract, but to counter reports that he was only interested in money.

The team will reportedly recommence negotiations around mid-season but for the moment Frank Williams is not willing to give any information. "I never make any comment about contractual matters about our drivers," he told The Guardian. "I'm not about to be drawn into any sort of a discussion about Ralf's deal."