Ferrari aims for reliability

Ferrari has decided against bringing their development chassis and is running the same V10 they used at the last race in Austria, even though Hockenheim is a dramatically different power circuit.

The circuit is punishing on engines because it has the highest speeds in the championship - topping 205mph - and cars spend 75 per cent of every lap flat out. It is also punishing on brakes because the cars have to throttle down from over 200mph to 60mph for three chicanes on every lap.

Despite his team's conservative approach, Schumacher was fastest in Friday practice and is confident about his prospects for the rest of the weekend.

"I did a lot of laps and I'm happy with the work we have done and the balance we have found on the car," he said. "It works well in the wet and the dry.

"I think qualifying will be very close and now I am looking forward to going up against our usual rivals for the front row."

Team-mate Rubens Barrichello was fourth quickest.

"We are in good shape and in a strong position for qualifying," he said. "Our car is well suited to this track."