Schumacher Not Making Predictions

The team spent much of last week's running focusing on tyre developments with Bridgestone, after appearing to have made a small breakthrough in Brazil with older specification tyres.

But after earlier promising tests this year failed to follow through to decent race runs, Schumacher is not building his hopes up too much for the Japanese and Chinese Grands Prix.

"First of all, it was good that we were able to test calmly in good weather and had no technical problems," said Schumacher on Monday.

"I'd like to wait and see which effect our insights will have on the last two races this season. This year, it's often been the case that you don't see the developments until you actually hit the respective track."

Schumacher and Ferrari have set their sights on ending the season as strongly as possible, so that they head into the winter in as good a shape as they can.

"Of course it would be nice if we could manage to do that this year," he added. "But you can't forcefully make it happen.

"It won't have any impact on our motivation for next year though, we'll be highly motivated anyway. So now we're off to Japan and will try to make the best of it. And then we'll take it from there."

Even if the season does not finish well, though, Schumacher insists that his motivation will not be dented by it - and that he and the team are fully fired up to hit back next year.

In fact, he claims that the disappointing 2005 season has not come as a complete shock - just as he will not be surprised if the team were back at the front next year.

"I can't repeat enough that this was to be expected," added Schumacher about this year's result. "Racing is very much like life, there are ups and downs.

"And when you experience as many ups as we did over the course of the past years, it's clear that there has to be a down sooner or later. It comes in waves, so you shouldn't be discouraged by it.

"And when I see each and every one of us continue working, I can say that everyone is anything but discouraged. Our new challenge will be to not let the down last very long. We want to fight for the championship again next year."