Schu one-two

THE Schumacher boys became the first brothers to stand together at the top of a formula one podium, after finishing first and second at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

But it was little brother Ralf who grabbed the glory this time when he took the chequered flag over 20 seconds ahead of Michael to record his second win of the season.

"It was a great race today and my car was just brilliant," Ralf said.

"The whole time the two of us were together I was waiting for him (Michael) to make a mistake, but he didn't." "I tried it (to pass) a couple of times at the end of the straight but it was difficult and I didn't want to risk too much, so I waited for the pit strategy. I thought that we would go longer anyway and it worked out that way." In only his third grand prix finish of the season, the young German collected maximum points and is now challenging Rubens Barrichello for third place in the drivers' championship, after the Ferrari driver failed to finish.

The victory also enabled the Williams team's engine supplier, BMW, to celebrate the 19th anniversary of its first F1 win, also at the Canadian GP.

After starting eighth on the grid, Mika Hakkinen climbed onto the podium for the first time this season, finishing third and ending his dismal run so far this year. The result doubled the Finn's points tally and he is now equal fifth in the championship with Nick Heidfeld, although still a long way behind the leaders.

"I'm relieved to finally have made it to the podium," Hakkinen said.

"The pitstop strategy helped to achieve this although I was not 100 per cent happy with the car because I lost time entering corners." Rookie Kimi Raikkonen picked up fourth place for the Sauber Petronas team to lift the team above Jordan and into fourth spot in the manufacturers' championship with 15 points. However, the young Finn was lucky not to go off when substitute Jordan driver Ricardo Zonta ran into the back of his car on the main straight.

Jean Alesi was the only other driver on the lead lap, taking fifth place just over two seconds behind Raikkonen and adding another two points to the one he scored in Monaco. The Frenchman celebrated his second points finish in a row by hugging team members and climbing the pit wall.

Spaniard Pedro De La Rosa finished sixth to score his first point for Jaguar Racing, after Arrows driver Jos Verstappen spun into the wall and out of the race in the final stages. It was also the British team's second points finish in succession, following Eddie Irvine's third at Monaco two weeks ago.

Michael Schumacher's main rival David Coulthard failed to finish for the first time this year, after his Mercedes engine let go in a cloud of smoke just 14 laps from home. Coulthard had been the only driver to score points in every race, but struggled right from the start in Montreal with suspension problems.

The Scot was seen to throw something onto the track while waiting for the lights to go out on the grid and it was later revealed to have been a loose nut he found between his legs. The nut came from his front suspension and upset the balance on the car, although he was able to continue and was in fourth place when the engine died.

Schumacher senior has once again pulled away from Coulthard in the drivers' championship with 58 points to the Scot's 40. Barrichello remains in third on 24 points, but now just two points ahead of Schumacher junior.

Ferrari has extended its lead over McLaren in the manufacturers' championship by two points while Williams has moved clear of Sauber, Jordan and BAR. Prost has jumped ahead of Arrows and Benetton courtesy of Alesi's two points from fifth place.

RACE RESULTS
1 Ralf Schumacher (Williams) 1hr34:31.522
2 M Schumacher (Ferrari) +20.235
3 M Hakkinen (McLaren) +40.672
4 K Raikkonen (Sauber) +1:08.115
5 J Alesi (Prost) +1:10.435
6 P De La Rosa (Jaguar) +1 lap
7 R Zonta (Jordan) +1 lap
8 Luciano Burti (Prost) +1 lap
9 Tarso Marques (Minardi) +3 laps
10 J Verstappen (Arrows) +4 laps DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
1 M Schumacher (GER) 58
2 Coulthard (SCO) 40
3 Barrichello (BRA) 24
4 R Schumacher (GER) 22
=5 Heidfeld (UK) 8
=5 Hakkinen (FIN) 8
=7 J Trulli (ITA) 7
=7 J Villeneuve (CAN) 7
=7 Raikkonen (FIN) 7
=10 H-H Frentzen (GER) 6
=10 J-P Montoya (COL) 6 MANUFACTURERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Ferrari 82
2 McLaren 48
3 Williams 28
4 Sauber 15
5 Jordan 13
6 BAR 12
7 Jaguar 5
8 Prost 3
9 Benetton 1
10 Arrows 1 Next round: Grand Prix of Europe, Nurburgring, June 24