Sao Paulo - A third straight season victory would suit Michael Schumacher just fine at the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday as it would all but assure him of back-to-back world championship titles for Ferrari.
After all, the Sao Paulo winner was later crowned world champion in the last seven years, with Schumacher collecting race wins and overall titles in 1994, 1995 and 2000.
"We know our car is good. There is no reason why we shouldn't be up front," the confident German said.
The stunning victory from a spin into the gravel in a chaotic and wet Malaysian race two weeks ago has only further boosted the confidence of Schumacher, who reigns on top of the 2001 standings with a maximum 20 points from two races.
Team-mate Rubens Barrichello has 10 points going into his home race, and British McLaren-Mercedes driver David Coulthard also has 10. The 1998 and 1999 champ Mika Hakkinen, by contrast, has just one point from a sixth-place finish in Sepang March 18.
Schumacher arrived in Brazil Monday from tests in Barcelona last week where they worked on traction control and tyres.
On Wednesday, the keen footballer scored from the penalty spot in a charity match at the famed Maracana stadium in Rio which featured other drivers, former football legends like Zico and Ronaldo, who is attempting a comeback from injury and scored five goals.
Schumacher got a warm welcome from the 20 000 fans on hand. The relationship between him and the Brazilian public has vastly improved after the Brazilians initially didn't want to forgive him staying away from Ayrton Senna's funeral in 1994.
In Sao Paulo, Schumacher is seeking his seventh straight win and even McLaren currently have no illusions.
"We are not able to win by our own means in Brazil. Michael Schumacher has every right to speak of a Ferrari era," said Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug in reference to the team's aerodynamics problems.
But he vowed that McLaren was far from giving up the title race this early in the season (the Brazil race is the third of 17) and Schumacher is also convinced that McLaren will fight back.
"It was the same last year. And we had to fight hard for the title. Mika was even leading after the Hungarian race. Mika is my main rival, one should not make too much of the current standings," Schumacher warned.
"We will not think that we already have the title in our pocket," insisted Schumacher, who earlier this week was offered a job by Toyota, who will join the F1 circuit next year.
The Sao Paulo weekend starts with the free practice on Friday, the qualifying is Saturday and Sunday's race is at 7pm SA time. - Sapa DPA