Ralf Schumacher and Williams produced a very impressive performance in Japan.

Their strategy was superb, with Ralf running close behind his brother but making three stops - the final one at just the right time when Jenson Button and BAR were straggling a little bit.

Ralf put in some mega laps. When he came out after his third pit-stop on lap 39 he got in front of Button, and he hung onto that second place - his first podium since victory in France last year.

I've been very critical of Ralf in the past because he has been so inconsistent. He does complain a lot, by his own admission, about safety in the sport and quite rightly given all the accidents he's had and come back from.

When you look at the first half of the season and analyse it he was nowhere, apart from getting pole position in Canada.

He had a lot of accidents with other drivers, like contact with Webber in Malaysia and hitting Sato in Bahrain.

I was less than impressed with his performances, and I don't think the team were very impressed either.

There are those still inside Williams who are glad to see him going off to Toyota at the end of this year.