Schu plans strong home showing

Michael Schumacher is confident he can put Ferrari’s worst performance for a long time behind him and clamber back onto the podium at the team’s home circuit of Monza on Sunday.

The inaugural Turkish Grand Prix 10 days ago represented a nadir in recent years for seven-times world champion Schumacher and Ferrari as they emerged pointless at the end of a shocking weekend, with the famed Prancing Horse appearing more like a seaside donkey.

It means after five consecutive years as Formula One king with Ferrari, who have won the last six constructors’ titles, the ailing team are poised to suffer the ultimate ignominy of relinquishing both crowns on home soil.

With five races remaining Schumacher trails current championship leader Fernando Alonso by 40 points, while Ferrari are 44 adrift of Renault in the team standings.

But following a two-day test at Monza last week, Schumacher is sounding more confident than of late, and certainly has no intention of handing over his drivers’ title lightly.

“It really was our worst performance of the season at Istanbul – I would say our worst for a long time,” said Schumacher.

“If I think about the state in which we find ourselves at Monza this year, and that in which we were last year, there is a huge difference.

“Last year we knew we already had both world titles in the bag. This time around we are not in such a fortunate position and the chances of winning the title are remote.

“Still, it is our home race. Even though our current results are not up to those of the past, we will go into the race with the same spirit and motivation of the past few years and we are certain our fans will realise this.

“Is it not the case our true supporters will stick by us in difficult times? Our fans were very encouraging during last week’s tests and I was very pleased at their enthusiasm.

“We promise to do our best for them this weekend and give our all because although after the race in Turkey our expectations were dimmed, we have done better in testing.

“I think we can get amongst the points and even make the podium. However, it will only be clear once we are on the track on Friday, as we discovered last year.

“Then we will see how the weekend goes. As I have said, this is a very important race for us and we, by nature, enjoy a good battle.”

It is the true fans Schumacher speaks of who will be supporting the team on Sunday as ticket sales have suffered this year, down 15% as a result of Ferrari’s dismal form and despite prices being reduced.

The crowd could be less than 100,000, compared to the 117,000 of last year and the record of 160,532 in 2000, the year Schumacher became the first Ferrari driver in 21 years to win the championship.

At last week’s test sessions there were 30,000 fans, with last year’s figure double that, serving as a major worry to Milan Automobile Club president Ludovico Grandi.

“Ticket sales are down on previous years and this is troubling us,” confirmed Grandi.

“On the one hand costs are going up and on the other the returns are going down, while the competition is growing from emerging countries, as Turkey, China and Bahrain have all demonstrated.”