Schumacher focused on beating Hakkinen

The German lines up fifth on the grid, two places behind his title rival and determined to finish ahead of the McLaren driver, despite saying before the weekend that he was so comfortable with his championship lead that he would be content to finish second to Hakkinen at Silverstone.

'It is very important for me that my main rival for the championship is right in front of me,' said Schumacher. 'My main objective is to pass him.'

Ferrari team boss Jean Todt took responsibility for Schumacher's comparatively lowly grid slot, saying that the team had cost him the chance to go for one more flying lap on the drying track.

'We got Michael out of the pits a couple of seconds late and that is why he did not get a second timed lap,' Todt said.

'But for that, he would have had the chance to improve his time. Given the unpredictable weather, tomorrow's race will be difficult. We will try our best to defend our position in the champioship.'

Schumacher agreed that anything could happen tomorrow.

'It is impossible to predict,' he admitted. 'This weather means that everything can change in a matter of minutes.'