BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Schumacher wary of Monza backlash

Michael Schumacher has warned Ferrari fans to brace themselves for a backlash at the final Grand Prix of the season at Monza in two weeks.

The world champion clinched a record 10th win of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, beating the record he shared with Nigel Mansell.

Schumacher romps to another record

It was the 63rd victory of his career, and a record sixth at the demanding Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Monza is a long circuit and we have seen Williams going very well there in past years

Michael Schumacher

But the five-time drivers champion believes his rivals will be highly motivated to deny Ferrari another triumph at their home event.

"I don't think we can ask for so much," said Schumacher.

"We have achieved so much this year that it would probably be a little bit arrogant to ask for more.

"We just take what comes and we do our best, and honestly we would like to take another victory because Monza is our home Grand Prix."

However, after two successive Ferrari one-twos in Hungary and Belgium, the German warned that it may not be as easy.

"Monza is a long circuit and we have seen Williams going very well there in past years. It's going to be a difficult race but it should be a race where we should be competitive as well."

Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya, who was third at Spa and is third in the championship, also believes he may have a chance of at least putting a dent in the Ferrari armour.

Juan Pablo Montoya in action at the Belgian Grand Prix
Montoya (front) had to settle for third at Spa

"I think next week everybody is going to be down there for testing and we will have a better idea of how competitive we are," said the Colombian.

"We know they have done a lot of testing in Monza and I think it is going to be tough to beat them but we will do our best, like every weekend."

Montoya is losing ground to Rubens Barrichello for second place in the standings, with the Brazilian now seven points ahead of the Colombian.

Schumacher has an extra reason to succeed in Italy - it was at Monza in 2001 that he last failed to finish on the podium.

But he admits that the distractions of 11 September meant that winning motor races was not high on his list of priorities.

"It was the reason why I was not on the peak of performance," added Schumacher, who finished fourth.

"But this time I should be in normal shape and with normal motivation."

Since that race, Schumacher has 11 victories, four seconds and a third to his name.


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