Ralf Schumacher has claimed he is one
top of the top three drivers in Formula 1 alongside Fernando Alonso
and Kimi Raikkonen.
The 31-year-old German starts his 11th F1 season in Melbourne next
week and has six grand prix wins to his name.
However despite not having won a race since the 2003 French Grand
Prix, the Toyota driver is convinced that he should be classed in
the same bracket as the sports recognised top two.
You always depend on your car as a driver, he told Germanys Bild
newspaper.
In a Minardi for example, my brother would not have won a world
title.
I definitely count myself among the strongest three drivers.
Clearly Alonso and Raikkonen are fast but I must hide behind
nobody.
If I was not convinced, I would not be in Formula 1 any
more.
Schumachers chances of returning to the winner's circle in the
early part of 2007 look slim, since Toyota has struggled for pace
alongside its rivals in pre-season group testing.
But the German, in his third year with the Cologne-based squad,
remains confident that the Japanese car giant is still on course to
achieve its F1 ambitions with a first win still not out of the
question for this season.
We must work to improve, he said.
I know that we are on the right path the investment will bear
fruit some time.
I hope still in 2007.
I intend to win the first race for Toyota.
Toyota is and remains the team of the future," he added.
"This company, all the workers have only one goal to lead Toyota
to the top.
The Formula 1 title is only a question of time."
Commendable self-belief...but 90% of ITV-F1 users don't agree with
him.
