It all depends on the tyres - Schumi

It is a well known fact that Michael Schumacher does not like air-conditioning, often asking for it to be switched off when he is in press conferences in the media centre. Today, at Magny-Cours, he had nothing to complain about as he met the media under the awning of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Media motorhome. France is currently experiencing a heatwave and the temperature this afternoon was over 35 degrees Celsius.

"I hope we can be as competitive here as in Indy," began the German. "To be honest, it all depends on the tyres. We have a great car and if the tyres work then we look good, if they don't then we don't." Indeed Schumacher went on to agree with a journalist who suggested to him that tyres would in fact decide the championships. On the subject of the titles, the Ferrari man admitted that the one-two in Indy had made catching Renault a more realistic prospect. "After the US, the gap in the Drivers' is now 19 points. It was a major step to close the gap that much and as I have said before, as long as there is a mathematical chance of winning there is still hope."

Michael was then asked about the results of last week's test in Jerez. "We have a couple of new aero bits, but nothing major," he maintained. "It's just the normal development you would expect at this time of the season."

Finally, on the subject of Juan Pablo Montoya moving to NASCAR racing: "I don't see the attraction in driving around ovals in heavy and rather low technology cars!"