Michelin facing crunch test at Jerez

Michael Schumacher and Ferrari caused a surprise in Magny-Cours when they took a victory on Michelin's home soil and in conditions that usually favour the French tyre manufacturer.

The latest family of rubber from Bridgestone appears to have helped dramatically lift the pace of Ferrari, and it means that Renault and Michelin need to find some answers in Spain this week.

If they don't, then Ferrari could seize the initiative over the next few races because the summer testing ban will leave Michelin with little chance of making a breakthrough - especially with the series of typically hot races in Hockenheim, Budapest and Turkey.

Schumacher himself believes that the Magny-Cours performance has provided a true image of the competitiveness of Ferrari and Renault, with it widely accepted that the Indianapolis result was due to Michelin's conservatism over the weekend.

"To me Indianapolis was not really the reference in a way," he said. "We were too dominant. Looking at this year, yes, it is a reference point.

"We have clearly made up ground and we have to keep on working at that pace. And for sure everybody will just keep pushing for the last seven races. It's far from being over."