Schumacher Predicts Tough Battle for Victory

German Michael Schumacher says it will not be easy to score his fourth consecutive victory of the 2004 season at Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix.

Schumacher, winner of the first three races of the year from pole position, wound up third quickest in the Friday practice session. While Ferrari's six times World Champion Schumacher set the day's fastest time with a lap of 1:20.084 in the morning, Briton Jenson Button and Japanese BAR teammate Takuma Sato topped the timesheets in the afternoon session.

The first session, on a hot day at Imola, was a very different story with Schumacher looking in a class of his own as he started his bid for a fourth win in four races. The German was a hefty 1.359 seconds quicker than his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello and 2.166 faster than younger brother Ralf in a Williams.

Ferrari had been expected to dominate, with Schumacher having the best record of any driver at Imola with four wins in the last five years and five in total. Although Schumacher said Ferrari will be fighting for victory on Sunday, the German reckoned it will not be easy to win.

"We had an interesting day," said Schumacher. "We were very quick in the morning and a little bit slower in the afternoon. We had a clear picture of what set-up we required having tested at this track in the winter, but our competitors have picked up their pace during the course of the day and I think the rest of the weekend will also be interesting.

"I think we can fight for the win on Sunday, but it will not be an easy task."

Brazilian Barrichello was unable to finish near the top of the times and had to settle for the 11th fastest time of the day.

"We have not yet managed to find the ideal set-up for the car in these track conditions, but I believe that, along with my engineers, we will manage to find the right solutions to fine tune the F2004 for tomorrow and Sunday," said Barrichello.

"On top of that, we have seen that the potential is there."