Irvine: 'Schumacher could lose championship'

As the Grand Prix circus gathers in the Hungaroring paddock, the Ulsterman, now racing for Jaguar, warned that Schumacher must halt his run of misfortunes or risk losing his grip on the World Championship.

"I wouldn't want to be in his shoes," said Irvine, who raced alongside Schumacher at Ferrari for four years.

"Michael is under a lot of pressure here. He has got to perform.

"If he comes away from here without a result and he is behind the two McLarens it is going to be difficult for him to do anything about it at the circuits that are coming up.

"McLaren has got to be favourite at Spa and Monza which suits their car. "

Schumacher raced to a 22-point lead in the championship but has failed to finish four of the last five races and is now nursing a slim two point advantage with six races remaining.

Going into Sunday's Hungarian GP, Schumacher has 56 points, David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen 54 and Rubens Barrichello 46.