BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One

Williams driver Ralf Schumacher has been told by his team boss that he must find a way of matching his team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya.

Frank Williams has spelt out that Schumacher is "under pressure" from Montoya and that the German "has to perform".

Montoya criticises team-mate

Schumacher has been increasingly put in the shade this season by the Colombian, who has outqualified his team-mate seven times in 11 races, as well as outpacing him in races.

Ralf is certainly in a bit of a dip

Frank Williams

This has been a pattern since about the middle of last season, which was Montoya's first in F1.

Schumacher has won four races to Montoya's one since the beginning of 2001, but that has not been a fair reflection of their relative pace since the middle of last season.

Montoya has scored six pole positions this season while Schumacher has none.

Schumacher has been in the sport since 1997 - and with Williams since 1999.

Team boss Frank Williams said: "We would like Ralf to be quicker. Some days he is brilliant and some days he cannot quite put his hand on what makes the car work.

Rash Montoya to blame

"He is certainly in a bit of a dip at the moment.

Frank Williams is demanding that Ralf Schumacher up his pace
Williams wants more from his more experienced driver
"But I would say Ralf's performance has been a coloured a little bit by his equipment, in that Ferrari have been extremely quick.

"Ralf is under pressure from Juan - that is quite obvious. He has to perform."

But Schumacher believes that the two are evenly matched on race pace.

"I don't think qualifying is so important as it doesn't count for the points and in the races we've been close and maybe I've been slightly better," he said.

"Juan's certainly doing a great job in qualifying - better than I have - but that's something that I will try to improve."

Schumacher is contracted to the team until the end of 2004, while Williams is believed to have recently extended Montoya's contract until at least the same time.

Montoya "wins new Williams deal"