Schumacher raring to go

Schumacher needs to get just three points more than main rival David Coulthard this weekend if he is to take this year's drivers' World Championship. He also needs just one more victory to equal Alain Prost's record tally of 51 Grand Prix wins.

Due to Formula 1's mid-season break, which precludes testing in the three weeks between the German and Hungarian GPs, Schumacher is chomping at the bit to get things underway again.

"I feel physically and mentally very much rested and refreshed," said Schumacher. "I am really looking forward to the race in Budapest. It's time that things started moving again. I have to say that mentally the break has been great as well, I am really geared up to driving now."

Coulthard's McLaren team mate Mika Hakkinen won in Hungary last year to take the lead of the championship, while Schumacher had to be content with second place. However, the reigning world champion is confident he can go one better this year at the track described as 'Monaco without the barriers' after he took a convincing win at Monte Carlo earlier this year.

"I have already said several times that our car looks good on all track profiles and I also count on us being right at the front again in Budapest," said Schumacher. "With Ferrari's new aerodynamic package and the development of the Monaco package I do believe we have reason to be confident."

Despite the fact that the title battle is almost a forgone conclusion in Schumacher's favour - his lead over Coulthard stands at 37 points with only 40 still available - the 32-year-old insists that he has not been thinking about the championship during his break.

"To be honest, it didn't occupy me that much," he said.

The car Schumacher will use at the Hungaroring this weekend is due to be shaken down by Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer at Fiorano today (Tuesday). Badoer drove Schumacher's team mate Rubens Barrichello's F2001 yesterday, as well as the spare car that will be taken to Hungary.