Villeneuve slams Schumacher

Michael Schumacher stands accused of moral cowardice by his bitter long-term rival Jacques Villeneuve.

There is little love lost between the Canadian and Formula One's reigning world champion since Schumacher's failed attempt to ram-raid him off the track at Jerez five years ago.

Now Villeneuve has re-opened old wounds by condemning the German's podium histrionics at Austria's A1-ring - where he pushed Rubens Barrichello on to the victor's rostrum after his team-mate gifted him a win under Ferrari orders that have stirred up a storm.

The BAR driver said: 'It's very sad for everybody not to have seen a fair fight between the Ferrari drivers, and so early in the season. 'It was Barrichello's race but it was Michael's win. That's what goes into the record books.

'It was the podium situation that was not right. Even if Michael was embarrassed about his win, you should be man enough to step on to the dais and take the trophy.' Villeneuve delivered his rebuke at a Press conference ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

A repeat of the perfectly legal, though ill-conceived, result of the last race here would inflict even more damage on the sport.