In this week's column, Ann Bradshaw explains why sometimes it is not easy being a Formula One press officer; she also warns Kimi Raikkonen of the perils of racing Michael Schumacher in a Championship-deciding race and tells the incredible story of Alex Zanardi's return to competitive racing action

I worked as a Formula One team press officer for many years and I loved my job. However, there were times when I wished I could have been packing shelves in Walmart rather than having to talk to an irate driver and try to write a press release without using his more colourful language. I had one such situation in 2001 with Juan Pablo Montoya in Hockenheim when, after leading the race for nearly half distance and looking likely to win his first Grand Prix, his engine blew up. ITV F1 pitlane reporter, Louise Goodman, told her viewers that I had explained to her his comments were not repeatable on TV.

This is why on Sunday Silvia Hoffer, the very efficient and amiable BMW WilliamsF1 Team press officer, had my full sympathy. You only had to see the body language from the Colombian as he strutted down the paddock after the race and witness that not a single television reporter dared approach him for a quote. I am sure when he got into the privacy of the team's office the air would have been blue. Not only had he lost any chance of winning the Drivers' Championship, but the team's hopes of winning the much coveted constructors' title were dashed with Ferrari back in front by three points.

All credit is due to Silvia for the quote that came out at the end of the day. "A very disappointing race, basically decided by the penalty I was given for the accident with Rubens and the moment I had to pay it," was how it started. I was also disappointed as I have always stood up and been counted as a WilliamsF1 fan. It was a great shame for me and those other people who felt Ferrari did nothing for our sport last year. Having said that, I can only stand back and applaud Michael Schumacher's drive on Sunday. He deserved that win and demonstrated yet again why he is the best driver in the world. The conditions were atrocious but he never put a foot wrong and when decisions had to be made they were spot on.

WilliamsF1 did not do much right - although I feel the stewards were harsh with Juan Pablo over the collision with Rubens - but to their credit they did not hide behind any excuses. It was refreshing to see the honesty in the words after the race from their Chief Operations Officer, Sam Michael, who said: "It was obviously a bad day for both championships from our point of view. We have made quite a lot of mistakes as a team today, which we have to address for the next race in Japan." It would not have been a happy group of people from Grove on the British Airways plane on the way home on Sunday night and for once I feel sorry for the person who had to sit next to Technical Director Patrick Head for seven hours!

I suppose the McLaren people were a little happier on their way home. Kimi drove a good race and still has a chance in the driver's battle. While his chances are slim they are still there and I hope he will reflect on some of the great final race battles and what the outcomes have been. In 1986 as the drivers arrived in Adelaide for the final race Nigel Mansell was leading the battle with 70 points from Alain Prost on 64 and the Nelson Piquet on 63. Although in those days things were a bit complicated with the best 11 of 16 results to count, it was still neck and neck and Mansell's exploding tyre gave Prost the title. Then you look at 1999, when going into the final round in Suzuka, Eddie Irvine was leading Mika Hakkinen by 70 points to 66. Here Mika drove a blinding race and came out as champion. In these circumstances the best man won.

At this point I have to add a word of caution here to the young Finn as he is going head to head with Michael Schumacher and so he should stop and think a bit about what happened between Damon Hill and Michael in 1994. As they went into the final race in Adelaide it was neck and neck with Michael on 92 and Damon on 91 points. I am sure I don't need to remind any Atlas F1 subscribers or Kimi what happened there when Michael and Damon collided. He took the title and Damon had to wait another couple of years for the one that he was robbed of there. I hope that no such happenings blight this year's chase and that it is a clean fight to the finish, but Kimi should never forget that Michael is totally ruthless when it comes to championships. If he doesn't remember what happened in '94 then he could just wander down the pitlane and ask Jacques Villeneuve what Michael did to him at the last race in '97.

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Indianapolis is one of the most magic places for a Grand Prix and I was sad for the second year running not to be at the track. Formula One needs America but sadly I did not feel from looking at the empty grandstands that America needs Formula One. I don't think they have got over the Ferrari team trying to stage their 'grandstand' finish last year and, although I have not seen any official attendance figures, the television pictures showed row upon row of empty seats in the area round the banked last turn. Tony George must look at the gate receipts and wonder how he can woo the spectators back after that memorable first year.

The publicity machine that runs round this event is second to none. There are a great group of people who think up effective promotions, send press releases out with every fact you ever needed, and keep you updated during the weekend if you are not lucky enough to be there. I am not sure what else they can do. In fact I think it is now down to the powers that be who run the sport to work out how they can make the whole Championship more attractive. I agree with Bernie Ecclestone, one-lap qualifying is boring. Surely it is possible to make it more entertaining by going back to the old 12 laps format, but forcing the teams to do half the laps in the first 20 minutes, so we don't have an empty track. We seem to have got overtaking back and the Championship points also seem spot on so, I for one, am hoping that there is some serious head scratching this winter to spice up the show for 2004.

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I am now going to put my touring car hat on again, as the weekend before Indianapolis we had two very entertaining European Touring Car Championship races at the German Oschersleben track. When you get race one winner, Jorg Muller, saying he can't wait to get home to see the race on television then you have some idea of what it was like. We had two races like this and have five drivers able to win the title with four races left. The organisers have got an ideal mix with reverse grids - the top eight from race one start race two in reverse order - and the regulations seem to make the race very competitive. However, this is not where the entertainment ends as several teams are bringing in stars for the final two race weekends.

In my view the appearance of one of these stars gives us the best story from any form of motorsport this year and when I explain a little more you will not think I am saying this just because he is in a BMW 320i. The man who will be making his competitive return to motorsport after two years away is none other than Alex Zanardi, who will be at Monza for the final event of the series on the 19th October.

When I was first told he was going to test one of the cars of BMW Team Italy-Spain I was delighted. At that point it was thanks to his friendship with Roberto Trevisan, an engineer with Ravaglia Motorsport, who run the cars. It seems it came from one of those conversations that start as a bit of fun but then get serious. Did he fancy having a go in a car if they modified it for them? Why not was the reply. As he lost both legs in his horrendous Lausitzring accident the car had to be seriously modified with hand controls, but this did not faze the team. No one knew how quick he would be. It was soon obvious he would be competitive. He then had to make his decision as he had declared his comeback would only be if he was able to mix it with the regulars. Umberto Grano, a consultant to BMW Italy and a partner in Ravaglia Motorsport, said he would make it happen if Alex agreed.

Thankfully for all his fans round the world Alex made the decision to race and following a press release announcing it, he went to a special press day at Monza on the 25th September. The press interest this kindled astounded everyone and while BMW Italy thought that perhaps 50 or 60 people would attend, they were totally amazed when over a 100 converged on the track. It was not just the Italians as even the BBC sent a film crew there. It seems Alex, one of the most easy going and delightful drivers, even got a bit frustrated at the amount of time he had to spend talking to the press when he was itching to get back into the car for some more valuable laps. He can't wait for the real thing and neither can I.

In the meantime we now have to look forward to Suzuka and the final chapter in what has been a vintage Formula One year. I do hope the two players - Kimi and Michael - realise that the good name of Formula One is at stake. I shall be sitting in front of my TV screen in the early hours of the 12th October and I hope in this column I shall be writing about a worthy World Champion.

About the author:
Ann Bradshaw - Annie - began her motor racing career as a teenager, helping out her brother in local rally races in England, where she grew up. In the 1970s she organised motor racing events in England, and was later the press officer for the RAC MSA - the motorsport governing body in Britain. In mid 1980s, she became press officer to team Lotus, where she worked with Ayrton Senna. Shortly after, she moved to the Williams team and was working there for several years, when once again she found herself working with Senna. She worked with Damon Hill after the Brazilian's death, and moved with the British Champion to Arrows. She also worked with the Panoz team in the United States, before becoming a freelance press officer, now working with Compaq and BAR among others. Annie joined Atlas F1 as a regular columnist in April 2002.