MAGNY-COURS, France, 4 July 2003 — Michael Schumacher this weekend returns to the track where he wrapped up his fifth world title 12 months ago aware that the pretenders to his throne are growing in confidence.
Just a week after the trauma of the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, where younger brother Ralf swept to victory and where Juan Pablo Montoya pulled off an audacious passing move which left the German legend marooned in a sand trap, the Ferrari ace knows that the pressure will be just as intense here on Sunday.
Schumacher still leads the world championship after nine rounds but had Kimi Raikkonen’s cool drive from the front at the Nurburgring not been sabotaged by a blown engine on his McLaren, then the champion would have been facing a gloomy outlook this weekend.
Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt has warned that the Williams duo of Schumacher junior and Montoya is beginning to pose a clear threat. “Nurburgring was probably the worst result of the season,” said Todt after watching Rubens Barrichello claim third and Schumacher fifth.
At the midway point in 2002 here, Schumacher made sure of the world title that took him alongside the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio as the only other five-time champion. Such was his dominance that the rest of the series was virtually reduced to a global lap of honor. Now, with a new points system in place, Schumacher’s advantage is just seven points ahead of Raikkonen and 15 in front of Ralf. “We didn’t expect to have such an easy season in 2002 when Ferrari won 15 races out of 17, but we consider what has happened this year is closer to what should happen during a season where major manufacturers are taking part as are the biggest tire manufacturers,” said Todt.
