Williams plays down Schumacher's Montoya threat.

Frank Williams has denied that Ralf Schumacher's 'threat' to push team-mate Juan Montoya off the road should they come too close during this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix is serious.

Speaking at Friday's press conference, 24 hours on from the German's outburst, Williams claimed that there would be no intentional contact between the pair - even if he stuck to his belief that team-mates should be allowed to race each other.

"Words are easy, especially in the heat of the moment," he said, "But, under racing conditions, they are free to race, they are free to compete and they are free to bump wheels if that is the only way of getting by. What they are not allowed to do is push their team-mates off. That is the divide. Words come easily in the heat of the moment, common sense will prevail."

Pressed further, the veteran team boss admitted that, while the relationship between his two drivers was hardly cordial, they could not be criticised for racing.

"I think Juan Pablo proved, and so did Ralf, [that he can race," Williams said, "In Melbourne, they did real overtaking, and [Ralf] moved up quite a few places during the race from where he started. There was little to criticise about their dedication, which is what they're paid for - to win.

"Off the track, there'll be trouble, but it's the team manager's job to try and handle it and keep it away from the racing. But you can't win sometimes. If you control your drivers, you get a lashing in the press sometimes. If you let them race and bang wheels and take a risk, you get criticism."