Despite Ralf's excellent performance in Canada, Michael reportedly said that his brother will be a force in the future and in turn, said that he would not mind losing the championship to his brother as it would mean victory for him as well.

He was quoted as saying, 'I have achieved a lot, everything which comes additionally is fine, what doesn't come is fine also. I can accept this very easily. You have to see the fact that I have been there when Ralf was doing Go-Kart. I have been his mechanic, I worked very close with him in these years, and I always wanted him to do well. Now he's doing so fantastically well, so to some degree you can see it like this - If he wins, I win.'

In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Ralf Schumacher said that he would only assess his performance against that of his brother at the end of his career: 'One can answer that question only after the end of my career. I have never aimed to be better than my brother. I want to fulfil my own desires. I have achieved everything I have wanted, so far, and hopefully the rest will come.'

He also said that his main motivation does not stem from wanting to win the world championship in 2001 and explained when he said, 'I am not the type for it. Each driver must have a certain self-assertion, but I believe that I do not express that self-assertion each day like some of my colleagues. I know what I can realistically do. I also know how good or bad my car is. Some races we will do well, others we will not. Therefore, I am careful.'

Jordan Grand Prix