Michael Schumacher yesterday refused to concede that the psychological advantage in the Formula One drivers' championship lies with archrival Mika Hakkinen.

As the pair prepare for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the fourth last race of the season, Schumacher is six points behind Hakkinen in the chase for the title and while the defending world champion has taken a phenomenal 42 points from his last five races, Ferrari's Schumacher has scored just 12.

The German though is refusing to accept that Hakkinen now has the upper-hand. The second-placed driver even went so far as to dismiss Hakkinen's extraordinary overtaking manoeuvre in Belgium two weeks ago when the Finn passed Schumacher on the inside of back-marker Ricardo Zonta as the German took the orthodox outside line around Zonta's BAR.

"We're old enough and experienced enough so that, from my side at least, a race lasts only until the next one and then you have to prove it again," said Schumacher dismissively. "That's my view of it, anyway."

Hakkinen's only response to Schumacher's words was a wry smile, an indulgence the Finn can afford as he heads into this weekend's race as both the man in command and the form driver.

But while he knows that he undoubtedly has both a mechanical and psychological advantage over Schumacher, the champion will be haunted by last year's race when he threw away a large lead at the Rettifilio chicane, mis-selecting a gear and spinning his McLaren MP4-14 off course and out of the race - a lapse that left the Finn on his knees and crying in the woods surrounding the chicane.

Yesterday, Hakkinen admitted that he was somewhat relieved to note that the Rettifilio is one of a number of corners to be altered at Monza for this year's race.

"I'm happy they changed this corner," he said with another grin. "It's good to come here. What happened last year was something different and something very strong and I hope I don't have to experience that again."

Despite Hakkinen's belief in the improvements to the circuit, which include the removal of many of the circuit kerbs and the alteration of the Variante della Roggia and the Variante Ascari chicanes, many have questioned the wisdom of the changes and believe the tighter and slower approach to the Rettifilio could cause the sort of first-corner mayhem witnessed in recent times in Austria and Germany.

Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen has been one of the most vocal critics of the alterations saying that "the changes at the Goodyear corner are particularly odd. A double chicane has been reduced to a single one and on top of that it is now very narrow. I have no idea how it will work out after the start."

Michael Schumacher though insisted that it is up the drivers themselves to make sure that no incidents occur.

"It is definite progress in safety terms," he said. "It might be difficult for 22 cars to go through without accidents after the start but it's up to us to avoid that."

While Schumacher contemplates forcing his way on to the front of the grid to avoid the sort of clashes that scuppered his races at the A1 Ring and Hockenheim, further back down the order Jaguar yesterday confirmed that Luciano Burti will partner Eddie Irvine at the team in 2001.

The 25-year-old Brazilian test driver, who memorably stood in for Irvine in Austria this year when the Irishman was flown home with stomach pains, was understandably delighted to have secured a drive with the British team.

"Becoming an F1 driver is what I've been working at since I started karting at 16 and I'm thrilled it's finally happened," he said. "Now I must seize the opportunity and focus on making a contribution to the success of the team."

Success has been a long distance away from Jaguar this year as the troubled outfit has lurched from technical crisis to technical crisis.

Both Irvine and outgoing team-mate Johnny Herbert have often been unequivocal in their criticism of Jaguar's R1 car and working practices within the squad but Burti added that he was looking forward to working on next year's car and also to partnering Irvine, a driver with a reputation for riding roughshod over the ambitions and egos of his team-mates.

"I'm looking forward to working with Eddie. Besides being a lively character, he's got loads of experience. He's won races and finished second in the world championship and when I've tested with him I've learned a lot."