Q&A: Jonathan Legard

In the aftermath of Ralf Schumacher's first ever Grand Prix win, BBC motor racing correpondent Jonathan Legard answered your questions.

real 14k Click here to hear Jonathan Legard's answers

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Ralf Schumacher has finally justified the hype surrounding the Williams team this season with a superb victory in the San Marino Grand Prix.

The win was Williams' first since 1997, and Schumacher junior's first ever.

Despite finishing second, David Coulthard will not be too disappointed as he is now joint top of the Drivers Championship with Michael Schumacher, who was forced to retire on lap 25.

After an impressive start to the season, is the Scot a serious contender for the drivers' crown?

And with a Grand Prix won by a team other than Ferrari or McLaren, are we witnessing the start of a Williams renaissance?

Or was this simply a one-off for a team that last tasted victory in 1997?

You posed your questions and comments on the race to Jonathan and now you can tune in to our forum with the man himself.

real 14k Click here to hear Jonathan Legard's answers

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John in New Zealand

Q: The San Marino Grand Prix confirms that this is going to be the closest, keenest-fought Championship in many years.

Any one of eight drivers stand a realistic chance of winning each race. At this early stage one would have to say that the consistency of Coulthard is impressive but there's a long and intriguing season ahead. Do you agree?

A: I agree with regard to David Coulthard and and I also agree that it's going to be the closest Championship battle for years.

David Coulthard is in the best form he's been for some time. He's getting all the luck and reliability that, if he'd only had a few years ago, he may have been World Champion.

He's the only driver apart from Jean Alesi who has finished every race so far. But more than that, he's finished every race on the podium.

The concern for him might be the return to form of Williams because in at San Marino that were not quite a class apart, but they were very impressive. Ralf Schumacher had the race of his life.

Although Coulthard is up there on level points with Schumacher, Williams have announced themselves back with a bang and they know the next track, Spain, particularly well.

If they were to notch back-to-back victories, I wonder how much wind would be taken out of Coulthard's sails. Overall it's great for Formula One - three different winners in four races, that's just what you want.

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Dean in Australia

Q: With the re-introduction of electronic gizmos, including the controversial traction control system coming into effect at the Spanish Grand Prix, do you think the rule changes will alter the status quo among the top three teams?

Can the new regulations assist the likes of BAR, Jordan and Sauber to emerge as worthy Grand Prix contenders?

A: Let me throw one fact at you: 1993, European Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest starts and probably the greatest opening lap ever. All that was all achieved with traction control.

He passed about five cars and went from fifth or sixth to first on the grid. They may not like it but I still think however good you are, traction control will help, but the cream will still rise to the top and the best drivers should be at the front of the grid.

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John Kovaliski in Australia

Q: Great to see Williams and more importantly BMW back in the winner's circle. Was this a flash in the pan win or have they found a package to rival Ferrari and McLaren?

Not since the mid-eighties have we had a close season in which more than three teams had rightful claims to the drivers' championship. Let's hope five drivers from three teams all have a chance to win the championship with, say, two races left. Can you see this happening?

A: I think it could well do. How many times has it gone down to the last race? At the moment, the prospects are a very close title race and yet if you look back to the first two races, Michael Schumacher ran away with them in both Australia and Malaysia.

It left everyone thinking it was going to be a formality. Then Coulthard comes back, Schumacher has no response and then his brother takes the podium with Williams. McLaren, Ferrari and Williams are the three class teams at the moment.

With regard to champions, I think Michael Schumacher, Coutlhard, maybe even Ralf Schumacher and who knows about Juan Pablo Montoya if he gets the luck and the reliability he deserves.

The question mark is over Mika Hakkinen who we didn't see anything of at all. You wonder whether the rumours about him retiring will gather pace and whether McLaren will look to David Coulthard to lead the battle against Ferrari.

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Donna in UK

Q: Will Ralf ever be able to compete with brother Michael of do you think he will always be in his shadow?

A: San Marino was certainly a step in the right direction but that's one win compared with Michael's 46. I know there's about seven years difference in age but it remains to be seen.

He's now got the machinery to win and the confidence, let's see if he can build on it. He will be a contender for the future but only time will tell as to whether he will be as good as his brother.

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Ed Freshwater in Scotland

Q: Pretty poor showing from Hakkinen, don't you think? Has he lost his motivation, or is it just a bad patch again?

A: I think 12 months ago he was frustrated that the car was unable to finish races even starting in pole position. I wonder if the motivation is still there.

This is the man who wants to win another championship but at San Marino there was no sign that he was really racing. He was there and in the points but 22 points behind after four races is a fair margin already.

He was the first person to congratulate Coulthard in Brazil - perhaps that was that a sign of him handing over the mantle as McLaren's chief challenger.

I remain to be convinced yet because the next track at Barcelona is a Hakkinen track. He's won it the last 2 years but there is definitely a question mark over his long-term future.

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Ronnie Mirza in India

Q: Do you think Montoya really measures up to Schumacher? Even when Coulthard arrived, he was a promising star but later he got the nickname of "bridesmaid". Do you see that happening to Montoya?

A: It too early to say. I spent a bit of time with Montoya and you can tell there is undoubted talent there.

The frustration is building and I don't think he'll take kindly to the fact that Ralf Schumacher has qualified in four races out of four. I rate him very highly indeed and certainly next year I expect him to be right up there.

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Andrew in UK

Q: With open chassis, engines and tyres, can F1 ever be truly ultra competitive? Or will we always have two or three teams and the rest making up the numbers?

A: It'always been that way really. Throughout the last 20-30 years - Formula One in the modern era - it's normally been the case of two teams fighting for honours and fighting for races. It's very rarely been three so maybe we'll be blessed in 2001 if Ferrari McLaren and Williams keep at it

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