Newspaper claims affected Ralf, claims manager.

Formula One star-spotter Willi Weber is convinced that Ralf Schumacher can overcome recent personal problems and put his grand prix career back on track after a disappointing start to the 2003 season.

The younger of the two Schumacher brothers had to confront gossip about his private life, which appeared in a German magazine prior to the Malaysian Grand Prix, and try to blot it out as attempted to put a disappointing eighth place finish in Melbourne behind him. After another poor qualifying performance left him well down the grid at Sepang, however, Schumacher battled through to fourth place, but Weber insists that there will be more to come once the situation is laid to rest.

"It was very difficult for Ralf," Weber explained to Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper, "Inside the car he is fine, but all the stuff outside is a different matter. [He] can't just cut it out when newspaper stories say he is gay and his wife is having an affair. Then they apologise and say there was a mistake. What the hell do they think they are doing to the guy? He is a human being - of course it affected him.

"In the circumstances, he drove an excellent race in Malaysia. I know he can beat [Juan] Montoya and win races. He is 100 per cent motivated and will show what he can do. He is definitely a world champion of the future. It's just that, like any driver, he needs the equipment. Hopefully, that will come."

Schumacher has constantly denied the claims made by Bild, and hopes that pursuing claims against the title will allow him to put the issue behind him and allow him to concentrate fully on his racing. With his contract at Williams-BMW due to expire at the end of next year, the German needs to impress his notoriously impatient bosses if he is to keep a leading seat in the sport.

He has been linked with a move to Toyota for 2004, but Weber is keen to play down all speculation surrounding his charge's future.

"It is not true that we have targeted Toyota," he said, "I would like Ralf to stay with Williams for another two years, but that is for Frank Williams to decide. If Frank chooses to bring in another driver, I have to look for another top team for Ralf and there are not many. McLaren is obviously one and Toyota is, I think, a team for the future."