Ralf Schumacher says Williams wanted drivers to 'hate each other'

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has taken aim at Sir Frank Williams, describing his former team boss as anything but a straightforward person and a man who wanted his drivers to hate each other.

Schumacher, who raced for six seasons for Williams from 1999 to 2004, securing his six F1 wins with the Grove-based outfit, revisited his past with the British outfit in an interview with German website Sport1, and didn't have a good word to say about his ex-boss.

The 45-year-old brother of Michael Schumacher and uncle of Haas charger Mick Schumacher was hardly a popular figure in the paddock back in the day and never one to be short on self-confidence during his decade-long spell in F1.

And his latest comments aimed specifically at Williams will have done nothing to change one's perception of the former German driver.

"Frank Williams, for all the great successes he had, was extremely difficult as a person," said Schumacher. "He was the opposite of straight, unlike his partner Patrick Head.

"You could really argue with him, even loudly, then drink a glass of red wine together in the evening, laugh at yourself and the dispute was forgotten again.

"With Patrick you always knew where you stood. Frank was different, he never wore his visor open.

"Sir Frank, for example, had often used his media contacts to build up extreme pressure with his drivers.

"He also believed it was not enough that his two drivers did not like each other. They should downright hate each other.

"Fortunately, today’s team bosses have a different philosophy when it comes to management style."

• Read also: F1 debut 'ten times more difficult' for Schumacher - Rosberg

On the subject of his nephew who is on the eve of his F1 debut with Haas, Schumacher believes that Mick being part of the Ferrari Driver Academy will enhance the technical collaboration between his team and the Scuderi.

"Ferrari has to focus on itself first and then look at others," said Schumacher. "But I can well imagine the collaboration with Haas will be more intensive because of Mick than with Alfa Romeo."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter