Formula One: Schumacher Poised to Leave Williams Team at End of Season

Ralf Schumacher is poised to join Juan Pablo Montoya in leaving the Williams formula one team at the end of the season unless he gets his way in negotiations with Frank Williams over the terms of his contract for 2005.

It is believed that the world champion's younger brother is already in negotiations with Toyota.

According to German media reports Schumacher has said that he is prepared to consider leaving Williams, fuelling a sense of controversy and unease which the team and their engine suppliers BMW could well do without less than a fortnight before the first race of the new season takes place in Melbourne on March 7.

"There is a chance it could happen," Schumacher reportedly told the tabloid Bild an Sonntag. "It would be sad, but I can't allow myself to be treated like that by Williams. I find it hard to understand certain things that have happened these past few months."

He claimed that Frank Williams said he was nothing but a money grabber. "I can only laugh at that," he said. "We scheduled a meeting for the final race of the season in Japan, but Frank Williams wasn't there and then he suddenly pulled the offer. I am very disappointed with him."

It is believed that Schumacher wants a substantial rise from his current $15m-a-year retainer as well as specified No1 status, demands which the Cologne-based Toyota squad is likely to meet.

Frank Williams, who missed last year's Japanese grand prix due to a chest infection, refused to be drawn yesterday. "I never make any comment about contractual matters about our drivers," he said, "and I'm not about to be drawn into any sort of a discussion about Ralf's deal."

However, Williams had already made it clear that he will not be negotiating with Schumacher until at least halfway through the season. "We've agreed to park the problem of money for quite some time," he said last week.