Tuesday March 19th, 2002

Three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet has hailed Williams' one-two finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix as a "super" result for Formula One.

Brazilian Piquet, who won the world crown in 1981, 1983 and 1987, insisted that Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya's performance at Sepang proves that Michael Schumacher is beatable.

Former Williams driver Piquet claimed that Williams' new FW24 combined with the BMW engine and Michelin tyres has made the Grove-based team a title threat to Schumacher's Ferrari.

"The super race from Montoya is a proof that Williams will provide a title fight this season," Piquet was quoted as saying in the Spanish daily Marca. "The combination of BMW-Williams-Michelin will give Ferrari a hard time this season.

"The new Ferrari will have to be very good if they want to be able to fight against the two Williams drivers."

Published at 18:15:50 GMT