Victory in front of Italy's 'Tifosi' at Imola was not a flash in the pan, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher has insisted.
Key observers and rivals suggest that, back in the grind of the European tour and away from a Ferrari speciality circuit, the Bridgestone-shod package could return to a supporting role in 2006.
But Schumacher, who beat Renault's Fernando Alonso by two seconds in the San Marino GP, reckons his performance should become a 'general trend' for the rest of the championship.
"I don't think it is going to be like last year," the German told his website, "where Imola was just a one-off."
The 37-year-old racer said the '248 F1' car's pace at Imola was a 'shot of motivation' for the next races, starting with a home event followed a few days later by the GP in Spain.
Schumacher added: "It was nice to see that all of our hard work to improve was not in vain. I believe that we can look good once again at the Nurburgring and all year."