Schumacher Hopes for Updated F2004 for Spain

World Champion Michael Schumacher says he is hoping to have an updated version of his Ferrari F2004 for next week's Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth race of the season.

"We hope to manage to go to Spain with an updated version of our car, in order to have a better performance compared to the tests carried out before Easter," Schumacher told Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"We need to prepare well for Barcelona, because that race appears to be the hardest of the beginning of the season."

Schumacher, winner of the first four Grands Prix of the year, said the revised car would have new aerodynamic and suspension components as well as the latest specification of the Ferrari engine.

The German was testing at the Mugello circuit on Wednesday in order to prepare the car for the race in Spain. He said teammate Rubens Barrichello would take over today.

Schumacher has won the Barcelona race for the last three years, and will start the weekend as the main favourite once again. The World Champion, however, said Briton Jenson Button and his BAR team will be a force to be reckoned with once more.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they are [so strong] in Spain too," Schumacher added. "He'll certainly be one to look out for, that's why I'd be very happy to let him have the pole position, and then win the race."

Button clinched his first pole position at the San Marino Grand Prix last Sunday, but finished the race in second place behind Schumacher.