Formula one roars back into action this weekend for the Hungarian Grand Prix with five-time world champion Michael Schumacher desperate to silence the critics.
The Ferrari driver has come under increasing pressure and as the championship headed into a brief summer break three weeks ago, his title lead was cut to just six points.
The heat is on Schumacher with Williams’s Juan Pablo Montoya having claimed podium finishes in each of the last six races.
The four race run-in to the end of the season promises to be a tense affair.
Schumacher, without a victory in more than two months, is confident he can get back to winning ways at the Hungaroring and end doubts about Ferrari’s performance.
”We are conscious of the situation in the fight for the world championship and we will do our best to fight for the win in Budapest,” said Schumacher, who has won the last three drivers’ titles and helped Ferrari to lift four consecutive constructors’ crowns.
”After the short break I feel extremely fresh and thirsty and can hardly wait to get back in the car again.
”Although we do have much development on the car to do because of the test break we can still go to Hungary with confidence.”
Montoya continues to play down his title prospects despite his run of form and the Williams driver is taking things one race at a time.
”I am not interested in talking about championships, because the only way these are won is by concentrating on each race as it comes, and that is where my focus lies at the moment,” the Colombian said.
He added: ”We haven’t performed very well in Hungary recently, but our car is much improved this year, so I am sure it will suit the Hungaroring much better.”
Montoya’s teammate Ralf Schumacher heads to the Hungaroring $50 000 worse off after being fined for his part in the opening lap crash in the German Grand Prix three weeks ago.
Schumacher’s yopunger brother lost his appeal against being blamed for the crash, but was fined instead of losing 10-grid positions for Sunday’s race.
McLaren drivers Kimi Raikkonen, now third in the drivers race and nine points behind Michael Schumacher, and David Coulthard, will bid for podiums to reduce the deficit on Ferrari.
Briton Justin Wilson and Nicolas Kiesa will make their second starts for Jaguar and Minardi respectively after enduring difficult debuts for the teams in the German race.
Jordan, meanwhile, will return to the track in a positive frame of mind despite ending the German Grand Prix weekend with a hefty legal bill after withdrawing their High Court claim against Vodafone.
The British team, who won the Brazilian Grand Prix through Giancarlo Fisichella in April, will attempt to overcome the financial setback with points in Hungary.
”We are fully committed to making sure Jordan gets the most it can from the rest of this season,” team owner Eddie Jordan said.
”It is our target to score points and I have no doubt that we can turn it around. Let’s not forget we have won a race this season.
”There are great people in the team, we’re doing something we love and we’re giving it our all.” — Sapa-AFP