Preview: Schumacher Aims to Continue Ferrari Domination

All eyes will be on Michael Schumacher at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend as the German aims for a record 12th victory this season.

Schumacher's dominant Ferrari team can also wrap up the constructors' title if Renault fail to score at least ten points more than the Italian squad.

The six-times World Champion, who has shaken off a bout of flu during the three-week break, will need no further incentive having suffered a rare failure there last season.

On that occasion he suffered the indignity of being lapped as he finished eighth in a race won by Renault's Fernando Alonso who became the youngest ever Grand Prix winner.

This year, however, Schumacher, who has won 11 of this year's 12 races, is confident there will be no repeat.

"I don't see why in Hungary we shouldn't fight for first place," he said. "In my opinion, Renault, BAR-Honda and McLaren will do well here but our car is good and I will be going all out for victory."

Jenson Button, the most serious challenger to Schumacher and his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, will be pleased to put his contractual dispute with BAR-Honda to one side.

The Englishman has spent the last week arguing over his future with BAR after announcing he will re-join former team Williams for 2005.

BAR, who have helped the 24-year-old to third in the Drivers' Championship this season, claim they have a firm contract with Button for next year, while Williams contest he can join them on a technicality.

Button, who produced his self-acclaimed best-ever drive to finish second in Germany three weeks ago before the enforced summer break, and BAR team principal David Richards have promised the hostilities will not spill over in Budapest.

"The events of the past week came as a complete shock to the entire team," Richards said. "(But) I have always acknowledged we have a solid and professional team and they very quickly regrouped and got on with the job in hand.

"I have no doubt they will carry their professionalism through to the rest of the season. While the contractual situation is being addressed, the team's objective is to maintain our competitiveness and see a BAR driver back on the podium in Hungary."

Victory Shot

Button has scored 61 points this season and claimed his first pole position in the San Marino Grand Prix in April, although he is still to claim his first victory.

"We should have similar competitiveness as we did at the German Grand Prix since the Hungaroring suits our car well," Button said. "I am really looking forward to getting back in the car after the break, focusing on doing the best job possible for the team."

The tight and twisty circuit will suit Renault once again and Alonso and teammate Jarno Trulli, the only other man to win this season, will play a major role in the eventual outcome.

McLaren enjoyed improved fortunes following the introduction of a revised car before the summer break and will hope reliability issues do not halt Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard.

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia will continue to deputise for the injured Ralf Schumacher at Williams as he looks to build on the two points he scored in Germany.

"I am obviously very pleased to be racing again, and am looking forward to hopefully scoring some more points for the team," Pizzonia said.

At Toyota, test driver Ricardo Zonta will step up to the race team after the Japanese outfit decided to replace underperforming Cristiano da Matta for the final six races.