After five years Formula 1 has a new champion and following six seasons of unqualified success, Ferrari is ending a not-too-positive year. However, the team, and its star driver, is as motivated as ever.

"I will never tire of saying that we had to expect that things would go like this," says the German, ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the 2005 world Championship. "The world of racing is like life: one goes through good times and bad. It is all about cycles and this should not frighten us. I can also say that the way that each of is going about his work makes it apparent that the situation is highly stimulating for us. We are facing a new challenge, one that will lead from the 'low' we are now in to once more going for the title next year".

Soon after returning from Brazil, Schumacher was soon back working, two test days being arranged at very short notice at Le Castellet. The sessions concentrated on testing the tyres and Michael, with his usual cautious optimism, observed that: "It was a very positive experience and we managed to test quite calmly. The times were good and we did not have any technical problems. So, I am curious to see how we do in the final two races of the season. Changes in performance are often witnessed over the course of a season and this could repeat itself again".

Michael concluded by confirming an often cited concept, that being that this has been a positive experience for the team. "Naturally, it would have been nice to have come out of it by the end of the year. However, we cannot force things too much. Our motivations for next year do not depend on the last two races but, rather, on other things. Now we are off to Japan to try to do our best. Then we will see how things go"