Motor Sport/Formula One: Michael Schumacher insists he has nothing to prove in this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka despite the worst Formula One result of his career in China.
The seven-time world champion was relegated to backmarker in a disastrous weekend at Shanghai which featured two spins and a crash with rival Christian Klien, as well as a puncture.
Schumacher eventually ended the race 12th for his lowest finishing position in Formula One but remains upbeat ahead of the Japanese race.
The Ferrari driver expects to return to the front, where he believes team-mate Rubens Barrichello, on the hunt for a third consecutive win, will be one of his main threats.
Schumacher said: "It's probably fair to say we will be highly competitive here and highly motivated at the home grand prix of Bridgestone. It's important that a Ferrari wins, whether that is Rubens or myself. I would like it to be me.
"I don't have anything to prove. I will give everything and see how it works out.
"In terms of speed I was there (in China). The race did not give me a lot of possibilities to see where we would have ended up. I am not thinking too much about China."
Schumacher has a clear idea of where Ferrari's competition will come from at Suzuka. He has tipped BAR, who benefit from a special Honda engine for the Japanese company's home race, and McLaren to continue their run of form. Both teams have been the best of the rest in recent races, a situation Schumacher expects to continue.
"BAR are quite strong," he said. "In certain areas they were stronger than us in China and did a better job than us. I see BAR being very strong - Takuma Sato will be highly motivated here.
"McLaren will also be very strong too. They are the main opposition that I see.
"My sole objective is, obviously, victory. In any case, I'll be doing my utmost to win here."
Schumacher may be hampered in that quest, not just by his rivals but also by the weather in Japan, with the Suzuka area in danger of being hit by a typhoon just in time for qualifying tomorrow.
Suzuka is one of the most testing tracks on the calendar and is unforgiving on mistakes, with barriers closer to the circuit than at many other venues.
Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes qualifying may even be cancelled if the predicted rain and wind strike at the wrong time tomorrow.
The Colombian said: "If the typhoon comes I would be surprised if we go out, to be honest. The winds are pretty fast, even if you get 40-mph winds I don't think you would want to go through 130R (corner) in the wet.
"If we have to go out, we would go out and see what happens. I'm good for anything. If everyone decides not to go out then it's reasonable, but if two or three cars go out and nothing happens then I would go out and do the same, what can you do?
"It would be crazy if it happens, but I believe if it gets to the point that it is dangerous to drive the FIA will stop it."
Schumacher, though was yesterday not counting on wet weather. "I don't know how heavy or difficult it will be. There's still a couple of days to go and sometimes they change direction," he said.
