Michael and Ralf Schumacher had a frank exchange of views following their first lap collision which has almost certainly robbed the Ferrari star of his third world championship crown and almost equally certainly robbed Jordan Grand Prix of a double podium finish at the Nurburgring yesterday. The double demise of the McLaren Mercedes of front-runners Hakkinen and Coulthard let Jacques Vilenueve waltz away to victory - one which puts him nine points clear in the world championship with two rounds remaining.

From an Irish viewpoint the race was over after 30 seconds - both Jordans out and Irvine's Ferrari hopelessly off the pace - so there could be no complaints from TV viewers about F1 interfering with the build-up to the All Ireland.

At Ralf and Michael Schumacher's home Grand Prix, great things were expected but what transpired was cruel for the most successful brothers in the history of Grand Prix. As the red starting lights dimmed, Ralf made a fantastic getaway from the fourth row: "I made the best start of my career," said the 22-yearold quietly afterwards. He shot up alongside his team-mate and both braked late for the sharp first corner: "Giancarlo braked later than me and got onto the sand on the inside. He then came back onto the track and hit my car which jumped up in the air, so I hit Michael."

Ralf was full of remorse for having taken out the brother who got him to Formula One, even though he was by no means 100% to blame: "The consequences are very bad for Michael," he said.

The Ferrari driver was at least partially at fault. After an average start he tried squeezing Fisichella onto the dirt on the right and was then overtaken by Ralf on the left. Both Jordans were side by side with the Ferrari behind at the 100 metre board. As they braked Schumacher the elder left his braking a car length later, pulling alongside to make it three abreast in to a corner that takes two at a real struggle. Ralf was blameless from then on - boxed in between the others - but what Michael objected to was Ralf powering past earlier and this was discussed by the brothers afterwards.

"Obviously I am very disappointed with what happened today, "Michael said later. "After Ralf hit me, my car was handling strangely. In the pits we could see the suspension arm was bent. It was a shame that the incident happened with my brother but I don't think anyone was to blame for what happened as it was not a deliberate move. That's motor racing."

Giancarlo Fisichella started from the second row and gave his view of the crash that changed the championship: "I had a problem with the clutch at the start. We could see that there was something wrong with it when we got to the starting grid and we had to make some adjustments, but on the formation lap it was not working right. As a result I made a very bad start.

"When I got to the first corner, I remember Ralf was on the outside - to my left - a little in front of me. I went round the corner and hit him because there was nowhere to go. It would have been worse if I had braked because I would have gone straight on. He closed the door a little but that was not his fault as he was simply taking the corner like everyone else. I don't think you can blame anyone for this," said the Italian.

You would have to feel sorry for Ralf who in reality was the most innocent party and was faced with the option of being hit by his team-mate or moving over onto his brother. With both Jordans out and both McLarens sailing away in first and second it looked as though the Eddie Jordan's hopes of fifth place in the constructors championship were gone. But on lap 43 of 67 first Coultard in second and then runaway race leader Mika Hakkinen suffered total engine failure which, coupled with the demise of the Stewarts, handed the race to a grateful Villeneuve.

The Canadian's win takes him nine points clear of Schumacher and he knows exactly what he has to do in Japan: "If I stay ahead of Michael and we finish in the points then the title is mine. I have more wins so in a tiebreak I will take the title".

Eddie Irvine had another wicked race in the Ferrari and mutual disenchantment is starting to show.

"The car is the worst it's ever been. It was atrocious in the corners and brick slow on the straights" said the Ulsterman. "the problem is that Williams and especially McLaren have improved and we have not."

For Jordan it was another major points loss. The 197 is the most reliable car in the field and staying out of trouble should have yielded at least a second and third place - 10 points which would have drawn them level with McLaren. As it stands then now have just two races to close the gap - a task as difficult as Michael Schumacher's is now.