Schumacher comments on rivals

While there has been plenty of opinion on Michael Schumacher's performance so far this year, the German has voiced his own views on his competitors. He's impressed with Kimi Raikkonen but surprised that the Finn's McLaren team mate, David Coulthard, is bettering his young partner.

"He (Raikkonen) is a very good driver," Schumacher told the Italian press. "He has great potential. But I still do not know if he will be a rival for me or if it will be Coulthard, or maybe Williams BMW that in the last test at Barcelona has improved quite a lot." The champion added about Coulthard: "I am surprised. He is front of Raikkonen more than I expected him to be."

Williams may have impressed Schumacher in testing but he thinks Juan Pablo Montoya has not lived up to his promise: "A little bit disappointing," he commented on the Colombian. "He has not improved as I thought he would. He promised more."

However, Michael is defensive of younger brother Ralf: "He has had a hard start of the season. But I think is due to the car not being as they wished and this excuse is also good for Montoya."

Like many, Schumacher believes Renault's Fernando Alonso is living up to his potential: "Alonso has not surprised me. I was sure that he was going to be strong. He is a great driver and a very nice person!"

Jaguar's Mark Webber gets the champion's vote for an unexpectedly good performance: "Webber," he stated about the surprise of the season so far. "He has been consistent. I think he is undervalued."

A fair enough view of his competitors this year from Schumacher but perhaps one opinion he expressed many others would agree with; that Jacques Villeneuve should "drive more and talk less".

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