14/06/2004
NEWS STORY
Having been stripped of his second position, his best result since last year's French GP, which he won, Ralf Schumacher was almost inconsolable.
"What have I done to deserve this?" he is reported as saying.
"It's small comfort that Frank Williams called me afterwards to tell me he's sorry. Breaking the rules is breaking the rules and this is what matters. I have to accept it even if it is obviously very difficult to accept.
The German, like his Colombian teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, and both Toyota drivers, was disqualified as a result of irregularities found with the cars' brake ducts. In one fell swoop the Grove outfit lost 12 championship points, and consequently fell back behind Renault and BAR, to fourth.
"In my hotel they were very nice and left a big bottle of champagne in my room," revealed Ralf, "but I think that I'm going to drink more with some friends just to forget."
WilliamsF1 opted not to appeal the decision, while Toyota missed the deadline.