I CAN WIN AT 'RING - SCHU

The German, 36, insisted that - on race pace alone - Ferrari is ready to return to the front of the grand prix pack.

''I think we will have a chance, sure,'' the local boy, born - like brother Ralf - not far away at Kerpen, insisted.

''You can say that our main weakness is qualifying, and it was much worse here than anywhere else. If you calculate where we would be if we had a normal grid position, I think you will find we are somewhere much higher.

''I hope we can offer something more to our fans at the Nurburgring.''

Meanwhile, the Schumacher brothers' manager - Willi Weber - told the German 'SID' agency that Michael will announce 'around Monaco time' next year whether he'll retire or not.

Weber said: ''One day he will turn around and say 'ok, I stop now'. But I do not believe this day is some place near.''