Schumacher: Give Me a Winning Ferrari

 After another disappointing performance in the Italian Grand Prix officially put Schumacher out of this year's World Championship battle, the German says he is desperate to just get back to race-winning ways.

"After such a strange and tormented season, I'd like to have at least once a Ferrari that will allow me to fight for a victory," he told . "That's all I would like from 2005; am I asking too much?"

With his world title ambitions over, Schumacher also knows it is likely that he will lose his current third place in the standings to McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, who is just five points behind him.

"It's unrealistic to think of keeping third place, but it's not important. What I care about is to have at least once a Ferrari to fight for victory. It will be impossible at Spa: it's too soon, you can't create miracles. But after that I want it, it's the only thing I'm asking of this awkward 2005."

Schumacher's comments come after Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said at the weekend that he believed the team could get back to winning ways this season.

"We'll win this year," declared di Montezemolo, who has hinted about major progress from tyre supplier Bridgestone. "Congratulations to Renault and McLaren, but we'll beat them again.

"Here I've had some precise assurances from Bridgestone's top management. Monza is gone and Spa too close, [but] then the super tyres will come: I've got an extraordinary effort from Tokyo. We'll be able to go for it in the last three GPs."