Delighted Schumacher Hails 'Tough' Victory

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was delighted after he equalled his own record of 11 wins in a single season with a majestic victory from pole position in his home German Grand Prix on Sunday.

While Ferrari failed to clinch the Constructors' Championship with six races remaining, the World Champion celebrated his 81st career success and 11th in 12 races to match his 2002 record.

"What a weekend," Schumacher said. "Pole position, today the victory. It was a pretty tough race at the beginning when Kimi (Raikkonen) was putting on the pressure. He was right behind and he was quick, no doubt.

"I think you have the general trend between the tyre manufacturers, you have certain stages in the race where one is quicker than the other and then it is the other way round later. I wasn't too worried as long as he was behind me and just the strategy I think it could have worked out. It would have been a tough one no doubt."

McLaren's Raikkonen crashed out of the race at high-speed when he was pitched into a spin when the rear wing snapped of his McLaren as he followed Schumacher down the start-finish straight in second place.

It was the German's third win at Hockenheim and he crossed the line 8.3 seconds ahead of BAR'S Jenson Button to wild celebrations and air horns from an army of red-shirted Schumacher supporters.

Schumacher is now 36 points clear of teammate Rubens Barrichello in the Championship and ever closer to an inevitable and unprecedented seventh title. The German has 110 points, Rubens Barrichello 74 and Button 61. In the constructors' standings, Ferrari have 184 points to Renault's 85.

Astonishingly, Schumacher has now gone 50 races without a mechanical or technical failure of any sort.

Schumacher's teammate Barrichello failed to score today after he hit the rear of David Coulthard's McLaren on the first lap. The Brazilian was forced to pit for a new front wing - sending him to the rear of the field and keeping the Constructors' Championship out of reach until August at least.

The Brazilian finished 12th after he was forced to limp home on the final lap, with a rear tyre deflating.