Small steps making progress for Ferrari

Ferrari's ups and downs so far this season have been the subject of endless debate but Michael Schumacher is maintaining his confidence that things will get better. This time last year, in the run up to Monaco, Schumacher had won every race of the season -- in 2005 he's not won any. It's a situation that he accepts with calm composure.

Michael Schumacher.

Photo by xpb.cc.

"We may be going through somewhat of a weak phase right now, but that's the way it is in sports: there are always ups and downs," he said. "We were doing extremely well for an unusually long period of time, and now we're having to struggle a little bit. But we know what the reasons for that are, and that's the most important thing."

"We'll have to see how we can work our way back to the top now. The good thing is that none of us are giving up, everyone is continuing to do their work. Small steps also show their effect and we've already made some good progress -- even if it may look differently from the outside."

Monaco was one of Schumacher's few stumbling blocks in 2004, when he crashed out of the tunnel after an incident with the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya. Despite that, Michael has good memories of the Monte Carlo street circuit and is looking forward to this weekend.

"I have so many fond memories, I always enjoy coming here," he said of Monaco. "It's just a lot of fun to wind your way through the streets here. Even though it will be difficult for us this time, because the position on the starting grid at Monaco is somewhat decisive for the outcome of the race: but that does not diminish my excitement."

"We are looking forward to taking on this challenge. Giving up is not an option, but giving up before you try is completely out of the question. Like I said: this is sports, and in sports anything is possible."