Schumacher plays second fiddle to Alonso again

By Elmar Dreher Jul 4, 2005, 11:57 GMT

Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Renault celebrates on the podium after winning the French Formula One Grand Prix at Magny-Cours racetrack in France, Sunday 03 July 2005. EPA/RAINER JENSEN

Alonso led from start to finish at Magny-Cours and, although Ferrari's Schumacher came home third, it was - as it has been all season - only McLaren-Mercedes' Kimi Raikkonen who looked like he could keep pace with the Spaniard, finishing second despite starting from 13th on the grid.

The Finn could certainly have made a real race of it had he not been penalised 10 places on the grid after an engine blowout in Friday's free practise, but seven-time Schumacher has no excuse, bar being unable to pass Toyota's Jarno Trulli for 18 laps, and must now look to Sunday's British GP at Silverstone.

"There simply wasn't anything more there," admitted Ferrari Director, Jean Todt but Schumacher, who claimed his 140th podium finish in France, isn't throwing in the towel just yet.

"Formula One is very fast-moving," said the German, who refuses to believe an eighth title is slipping from his grasp even though he now lies 29 points adrift of the 23-year-old with just nine races to go.

"Two years ago Alonso lapped me in Hungary and in the next race at Monza I won," said the 36-year-old.

"There's no reason to give up on the world title. There are still nine races to go and there's a mathematical chance."

Alonso certainly isn't writing off the man who has rewritten the F1 history books.

"Michael is still in the race. I've a big lead but we've still a long way to go," said Alonso. "A lot can still happen."

Schumacher admitted that things could have been worse if Raikkonen's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya didn't have to retire with technical problems while lying third and if Fisichella hadn't stalled in the pits.

"Without Fisichella and Montoya's problems, I might have only finished fifth," he confessed.

Schumacher also said he was impressed at Raikkonen's performance of finishing second after starting so far down the grid.

"To be honest, Kimi's performance was impressive," said Schumacher, who despite his erratic season, still only lies five points adrift of the Finn.