Michael Schumacher took a few days off to relax in the Canadian wilderness with his wife and a few friends before trying to call yet another record in formula one his own on Sunday at the Canadian Grand Prix.
”There is nothing better than to have a little fun and action with Corinna and a couple of friends. I simply love it when no one is watching what I do, what I look like. And the best thing about it is: you really look forward to be sitting in a racing car again,” said Schumacher on his website.
After all, Ferrari star Schumacher has no reason whatsoever to be nervous ahead of the North American double-header — the Montreal race on Sunday and the United States Grand Prix a week later in Indianapolis.
Schumacher, who was not expected in Montreal until Thursday, commands the world championship standings with 60 points, having won six of seven races so far this season.
Teammate Rubens Barrichello ranks second with 46 points and BAR driver Jenson Button is third with 38 points.
In Montreal, Schumacher will aim to become the first driver in the sport’s history to win seven races on the same track.
Schumacher also has six wins in France and Belgium, the late Ayrton Senna six wins in Monaco and Alain Prost six wins in Brazil and France.
His earlier wins at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve were in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003. He also has three second-place finishes there from 12 appearances overall.
”I have always done well in Canada and I hope for similar success this time around,” he said.
A seventh victory on Sunday would just be another milestone for Schumacher, who among other records has the most world titles (six), race wins (76) and world championship points in a season (144 in 2002).
The opposition will not feel any better being confronted with Schumacher’s optimism ahead of the Montreal and Indianapolis races.
”Montreal as well as Indianapolis should suit us from the track characteristics. I expect us to be very competitive,” said Schumacher.
”I believe that we will drive for victory. That is definitely our aim, and we will do everything for it,” Schumacher said.
Successful tests last week in Silverstone have only further bolstered Schumacher and Ferrari’s morale.
”The tests were very constructive. We even managed to do more than we had originally planned,” said Schumacher.
The German expects the main challenge to come from Button and his BAR teammate Takuma Sato because the Montreal track is similar to Imola where Button was second behind Schumacher.
”They were extremely strong there [in Imola]. But so were we, so I expect a really good fight [in Montreal],” said Schumacher.
Schumacher’s brother, Ralf Schumacher, won in Montreal in 2001 and came second last year in a Williams-BMW.
But neither Williams nor the other Anglo-German team, McLaren-Mercedes, appear competitive enough to provide a serious threat to Ferrari.
Both teams have instead set their sights on the second half of the season, starting with the French Grand Prix on July 4. — Sapa-DPA