Feature: Schumacher Ready to Celebrate at Home

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, his record-equalling fifth Formula One title secured, can celebrate before his home fans with another landmark win at Hockenheim on Sunday.

The German, who matched the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio's five Championships with his 61st career win in France last Sunday, is already the most successful driver in Grand Prix history. He now needs just one more victory to equal the record of nine in a single season that he holds jointly with Briton Nigel Mansell.

The pressure is off and for the first time in his career Schumacher will be appearing at home before his raucous campsite army of supporters with the title won.

"We can now concentrate race by race and just enjoy it," said the German at Magny-Cours. "At Hockenheim we will celebrate again in style."

On paper, the odds do not favour the German. He has won his home race just once before, in 1995 when he became the first ever local driver to triumph there, and was last on the Hockenheim podium in 1997. He has never won it for Ferrari.

Schumacher has failed to finish for the past two years, last season's retirement with a fuel pressure problem also being the last time that his Ferrari has let him down on the track. Since then, Schumacher has roared to 13 successive podium finishes and 16 races in the points while Ferrari have won the last four races and nine of the 11 to date.

New Circuit

With the drivers' title won, Ferrari may now reward Brazilian Rubens Barrichello for his efforts and ensure that he finishes the season as runner-up to his teammate.

"The team won't relax, it's not our approach," said team principal Jean Todt.

The big unknown, for Schumacher as much as any of his rivals, will be the circuit itself which has been extensively revamped and shortened. The great, sweeping straight through the forest has been lost but new overtaking opportunities introduced.

"It used to be a very fast race and I hope that some of that remains," said Jaguar's Eddie Irvine, who won for Ferrari at Hockenheim in 1999 when Schumacher was recovering from the broken leg that ended his title hopes that year.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, now second in the Championship, will be hoping so as well after starting the last five races on pole position. The Williams driver holds the lap record from the old Hockenheim and started on pole there last year alongside teammate and eventual winner Ralf Schumacher.

"The revised circuit is going to make it a bit of a gamble for everyone," said Montoya. "Most of the drivers and engineers of course haven't been there and it's going to be interesting how everyone will be able to work it out from scratch.

"We are going to Hockenheim hoping that our package will be able to show a better performance than in France. We know where the problems are and we will try to sort them out."

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, leader in France until skidding on oil five laps from the finish and gifting victory to Schumacher, will still have been encouraged by his best result to date.

The young Finn will get another boost at Hockenheim if, as expected, McLaren retain him for next season with David Coulthard - a move likely to finally confirm the retirement of the team's former World Champion Mika Hakkinen.

At the poor end of the paddock, Arrows' Heinz-Harald Frentzen will be hoping for more of a show in his home event after the team made a half-hearted attempt at qualifying in France and missed the race.

Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella, who missed the Magny-Cours race on medical advice after a heavy crash in practice, should be fit to return for Jordan.