Ralf Schumacher faced a test of character this season, and though he ultimately came through, it was not without a wobble or two on the way.

The German headed into 2002 with the memory of being comprehensively blown away by his team-mate in the second half of the previous season fresh in his mind.

Not only that, but his bosses at the Williams team reminded him of the fact before the start of the new season and told him to buck up his ideas.

The record will show that Williams won only one race in 2002 and that Schumacher was the man who took it – but that does not alter the fact that their most impressive driver was again Montoya.

There is little doubt that the Colombian possesses more basic speed and talent than Schumacher – his tally of seven pole positions in 2002 to Ralf’s none proves that.

Nor is there any doubt that Ralf feels threatened by Montoya – his ill-judged passing attempt at the start in Monza and his spin while being passed by the Colombian at Indianapolis prove that.

Nevertheless, apart from a small blip in the middle part of the season when Montoya was in control, the two men were more evenly matched in 2002 than many had been expecting.

Wisely, Ralf refrained from trying to engage Montoya in clumsy psychological warfare, a tactic that failed so spectacularly in 2001.

And if Montoya is still expected to emerge as the superior talent, Ralf deserves credit for keeping him on his toes throughout the year.