Schumacher Expects 'Big Battle' in 2002

Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix put a smile back on Michael Schumacher's face after two subdued races overshadowed by events elsewhere in the world.

His Ferrari team now head back to Monza for a celebration with their fans at home this weekend and Schumacher can bask in the glow of a job well done.

He said before the weekend that he wanted to win, if he had the chance, because the feeling from the last race would set the tone for the next season. Last year, Schumacher won the final four races of the season and then started off utterly dominant in Australia and Malaysia in March 2001.

That supremacy tailed off as Williams powered back and McLaren managed fitful moments of glory. Nobody doubts that Schumacher and Ferrari will return in strength next season but 2002 will see plenty of tough challenges ahead.

"I expect, obviously, a big battle from both of the teams (Williams and McLaren) and whoever is sitting in the cars," he said. "I don't think it is possible to point at one driver and say 'He's the one I'm going to face.'

"Everybody thought at the beginning of the season that it was going to be Mika (Hakkinen) and then it turned out to be David (Coulthard) challenging me. You never know what is going to happen."