"Next race, hopefully better luck: maybe that's how you could best describe my expectations for the race at the Nürburgring," says Michael Schumacher, ahead of this weekend's European Grand Prix. "We haven't really had much luck lately, and so our very good race-pace never really paid off. Maybe that will change at the Nürburgring. The new qualifying procedure should work in our favour, because it's a well known fact that qualifying was our biggest problem in the past. Now, we'll be able to make up for the disadvantage we've been having through deciding on how much fuel to take on board. So those news are not bad at all.

"The best thing we found out at Monaco was surely that we were absolutely competitive during the race," he continued. "When I took to the track with a full load of fuel behind Kimi I was able to keep up with him, and that's more than solid proof that we are right up there on top of things during races. So our chances of being among the leading cars are definitely there, and therefore I will continue to be optimistic.

"The race at the Nürburgring is always nice anyway. The circuit is so close to Kerpen, where I'm from, and that's why I'm even more motivated than I usually am. Somehow that always makes me feel good, it doesn't create more pressure at all - as some may think. Of course, people love to think about the fascination surrounding the North Loop and the myth around the Nürburgring, but I like the currently used track as well. It calls for good balance and good mechanical grip.

"Following my seventh place at Monaco, I want to be right up there fighting for the win during the race at the Nürburgring," added the German. "As I said: our recent performance gives us every reason to be optimistic for this race."