ITV Sport's F1 pit lane reporter Louise Goodman is always on the trail of the sport's stars to find out what makes them tick.

For her latest interview she tracked down a chirpy Ralf Schumacher.


Louise Goodman: You’ve recently announced that you’re not staying with Toyota next season – what are your aims for 2008?

Ralf Schumacher: Certainly to stay in Formula 1. We are talking to other teams – obviously I can’t say who at moment.

It will take a while but my first aim is to finish the last race of the season in a good position for the team and for myself, and then go in peace.

Louise: Tell us about the frustration that you’ve felt here this year.

RS: Well, I think the frustration was pretty clear for all the team members. Everybody really pushed hard and we all gave our best but the results weren’t there this year.

We came into the season with very high expectations but couldn’t deliver except at a few races where we’ve been really, really strong. But at the same time sometimes we’ve dropped out due to technical issues, so that was the main frustration this year.

Fuji clearly was another low of the season – we had very high expectations for that race, I had new parts for the car – and again we couldn’t show how good we are. In China at least qualifying went well.

Louise: Do you think it’s important to re-energise yourself every now and then with a fresh challenge?

RS: It is important that you and the team believe in each other and obviously we had very high targets when we started the working relationship.

Both sides didn’t fulfil those targets and if you ask yourself whether it moves in the right direction and it doesn’t then I think its only fair to take a decision and to walk away and give the position to somebody else.


And now for the trivia…

What’s your nickname?

I don’t have any…that I know of.

Which racing car, past or present, would you most like to drive?

Well this year it would clearly be a McLaren. I’m not so much into history – I’m more into the cars that are good at the moment rather than in the past.

Mansell or Piquet?

Both. I don’t know really. I only met once with Nigel when he was having a test for fun with Jordan and he was a very pleasant man and Nelson was too – I met him when his son tested for us later on at Williams with the BMW. So I can’t have any preference…sorry!

Which is your favourite race of all time and why?

That’s a good question. Nothing comes into my mind but I can say it’s not necessarily the one you win. Back in 1999 I had a very good race with Williams in Magny-Cours, coming from 18th and finishing fourth, and it was just a very impressive race – you could overtake. It’s things like that you remember I guess.

What’s your favourite item of clothing?

What would that be? Some jeans and sports shoes I guess – that’s about it. My wife gets mad at me because I always wear the same stuff.

What’s your least favourite food?

That would be lamb.

Who would you most like to get stuck in a lift with?

Only my wife – sorry. That might be the politically correct answer but it’s also the truth.

What was the last great party you went to?

Actually it was before I came out to Japan and China. A friend and I organised a party in Austria on the Saturday night before I flew to Japan. We had a St Tropez party.

In summertime we spent the holiday together in the south of France and we thought why not have a party in Austria called St Tropez so we did it. We had a DJ who flew up from there and we dressed in our holiday clothes. It was good fun.

What’s your favourite song?

It keeps changing. The problem with me is that I never remember the titles of them. I’m the kind of guy who goes into a CD shop and sings the melody of the song I like to the guy behind the counter.

What are you frightened of?

I don’t know. A situation I can’t handle myself maybe. I don’t like spiders either – and actually I hate snakes as well.

What’s your greatest achievement outside racing?

That has to be simply my family.