Two Schumachers is quite enough for Hakkinen

Mika Hakkinen raised an appreciative laugh on Sunday with his telling response to the Schumacher brothers' private battle for supremacy at the Canadian Grand Prix.

"Lucky there's not three (of them)," said the double world champion, sharing the podium with race winner Ralf and second-placed Michael, when asked how it felt to be beaten by two Schumachers rather than just one.

"Then there would be a problem."

Montreal made history as the first time in more than 50 years of Formula One that two brothers had finished first and second.

Given world champion Michael's exploits in the Ferrari and Ralf's growing maturity at resurgent Williams, it is unlikely to be the last.

"I guess our Mum and Dad will be very proud of us, first time a pair of brothers are first and second on the podium and I'm obviously delighted," said 32-year-old Michael, relaxed and smiling in the post race news conference.

"I took six important points, he got the second win of his career. So a happy family day I would say."

Michael raised his fist, theatrically poised to hit his brother when Ralf was asked whether he had any suggestions on how Ferrari's championship leader might improve his driving.

Michael started on pole and was in front of 25-year-old Ralf until his one pit stop on lap 46 of 69. Then the Williams driver took over and never looked back.

"When I was following him, I thought he was going to pull away and then I saw that the two of us were pulling away from the rest of the field and I thought OK, why isn't he going quicker?" said Ralf.

UPPER HAND

"At the beginning I thought he was saving his brakes or his tyres but then he kept his pace. So I knew that I would have the upper hand at the end."

Ralf now has two career wins compared to Michael's 48 and the Ferrari driver, now 18 points clear of McLaren's David Coulthard in the championship, said he was unlikely to be displeased in a hurry by his younger brother winning.

"I've no problem with this at all," he said. If he's faster, he's faster and that's fine. We have to work harder to be up front again. Better him than anyone else."

Sunday's race was also the first time Ralf had beaten Michael over a full race distance in a clear battle between the two.

When the Williams driver won the San Marino Grand Prix in April, Michael had already retired with suspension problems and had in any case qualified behind him on the grid.

This time Michael qualified better but was out-raced.

But that did not stop the brotherly banter afterwards.

"We never really raced together as he's seven years older, as you'll see just by looking at him," said Ralf, ignoring one or two wheel-banging battles for position in recent seasons.

"We have never really competed together so it's actually the first time that, with a bit of luck, I was able to beat him."

Ralf tried repeatedly to get past Michael, almost managing it before the Ferrari shut the door at the end of the straight.

"I think we've shown in the past that whenever we've come together it's been very hard fighting in between us but fair...You saw today I didn't try any stupid moves but I did try to overtake him as I would anyone else," said Ralf.