Eddie Jordan took time off from celebrating his team's first Formula One success, in Belgium on Sunday, by launching an attack on Michael Schumacher yesterday. Jordan, who ironically gave Schumacher his first drive in Formula One in the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix before the German was snapped up by the Benetton team, accused Michael of trying to persuade his younger brother Ralf, who drives for the Jordan team, to move to Williams for next season.

"I was not amused by Michael's efforts to tell Ralf to switch teams for next season," Jordan said.

"Michael accused me of being solely a money-grabber, and he should be the last person to accuse anyone of that," he added.

Ralf, who finished second behind team leader Damon Hill on Sunday to give the team their first win in 127 starts but is currently in litigation with Jordan, wanting to leave to join Williams, said that even Sunday's result would not change his mind.

Schumacher was clearly unhappy about the team orders given out during the race, saying he had planned to try to pass Hill when racing resumed on lap 32.

"But you can't always do what you want to do," he said.

"It was a decision by the team, but we could have put ourselves in danger," he admitted.

An emotionless Schumacher said that Hill had been quicker all weekend and deserved the win.

Jordan's outburst completed a controversial weekend for Michael Schumacher, who had alienated many with his reaction to being forced out of the race when he collided with McLaren's Scottish driver David Coulthard.

Coulthard accused Schumacher of behaving "like an animal" in the McLaren garage following their clash.

The Scot spoke out after Schumacher had tried to confront him in the pit lane following the crash, which robbed the German of a likely victory in his Ferrari.

Preparing to lap Coulthard, he reacted too late when the Scot appeared to try and let him through and smashed into the back of the McLaren.

Schumacher, who accused Coulthard of slowing down, drove his car back to the pits on three wheels, tore off his helmet and set off to try and get to Coulthard, only to be forced back by a crowd of McLaren officials.

The German car company Mercedes, who provide the engines for Coulthard's McLarenteam, said they feared their drivers could be targeted by Schumacher's fans in Italy during the Grand Prix at Monza on September 13th.

Mercedes's sports division chief Norbert Haug said: "A Schumacher apology would calm things down."