Schumacher expects Renault fightback

"I am sure they will not give up," said Schumacher, winner of the last three races, ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"They will fight back and they will get their opportunities. That is why it is so important we use this momentum as long as we have these strengths to make the gap come down to zero of even build up a cushion for the moment when maybe they become strong again."

While Renault and Fernando Alonso enjoyed an almost perfect first half of the season, Schumacher and Ferrari look like the package to beat the moment.

In three races, the German driver has reduced the gap to Alonso from 25 to 11 points, with just six races remaining.

"If you go to the beginning of the season then you say 11 points, it is not a very nice number," added Schumacher.

"But if you take all that has happened recently and at this rate, to come down from 17 to 11, it is really great coming to a circuit and to other circuits with our package and strengths, we think we can do quite good.

"If you go back to when I had 25 points before Indianapolis I think, and then you come to this situation it gives you an extra boost. You see that basically the championship is becoming very realistic, whereas three races ago it was not so realistic.

"In a way you simply never give up, you will fight until the very end and that is exactly what I love to be in - that fighting position. And in the end it will come together."

Schumacher admitted he is feeling very optimistic of keeping his run of form and take his fourth consecutive win this weekend.

"I have to say I am very optimistic because as I said, we prepared very well in the last weeks and months," he said. "We tested very well, we understood the situation and that is one of the key factors that we did not always do.

"If you take Australia for example, we made a big mistake in judging the situation by taking the wrong tyres. And we are much more precise and much better in that direction in order to maximise the opportunity, so I am feeling very confident here and honestly for the rest of the season."