They have made mistakes and I think the only way Ferrari can win the championship is if McLaren go on making mistakes I cannot see Jordan winning either. If circumstances are normal the only logical winner is Mika.”
That Schumacher should have chosen the eve of this important race – only two more follow – on which to give his state of the championship address, is being seen in some quarters as further proof of the rift between him and Irvine.
If it was meant to undermine the Ulsterman’s confidence it appears to have failed. Irvine, no back marker when it comes to playing mind games, used Schumacher’s words to massage a few egos inside the Ferrari camp.
“What Michael says is not important. What matters is what happens here on the track on Sunday,” Irvine said.

“All I can say is that he obviously has less faith in Ferrari than I do. I know my mechanics, my engineers and the whole team never stop working for me, as they never stopped working for him.”
What Schumacher says, of course, is what most observers believe, but clearly he would be irked to see Irvine win the championship It was Schumacher’s mission to bring the title to Ferrari. He doubtless feels he would have made better use of McLaren’s errors and built a decisive lead.
Schumacher, who broke a leg in the British Grand Prix 11 weeks ago, is due to test again on 7 October with a view to making his competitive return in Malaysia, 10 days later.
He has declared his willingness to follow team instructions and assist Irvine if required, but few believe he could bring himself to play the subservient role. If he does not race he does not have the problem, hence the suspicion he will not expose himself to such an awkward situation.
“Malaysia is still the target but at the moment I cannot be sure about that,” Schumacher said “We have to see what happens when I drive the car again I am training but I am still not 100 per cent fit I have to be guided by the doctors.

There will be no point in taking any unnecessary risks.”
Ferrari’s commitment to Irvine’s cause in pursuit of the championship has been questioned on the grounds they would not wish to see him take the champion’s No 1 plate to Jaguar. Such claims have met with repeated rebuttals from Maranello.
Johnny Herbert, in a Stewart-Ford, was 13th and Damon Hill, who lost time after a puncture sent his Jordan spinning into a barrier, was 14th.
NuRBURGRING PRACTICE TIMESEUROPEAN GRAND PRIX Provisional times (after opening practice session): 1 M Hakkinen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes, 1min 20.758sec (ave speed 203.095kph/126.200mph); 2 M Salo (Fin) Ferrari, 1:20.920; 3 O Panis (Fr) Prost-Peugeot, 1:21.134; 4 E Irvine (GB) Ferrari, 1:21.338; 5 R Schumacher (Ger) Williams-Supertec 1:21.385; 6 D Coulthard (GB) McLaren-Mercedes, 1:21.461; 7 R Barrichello (Br) Stewart-Ford, 1:21.505; 8 G Fisichella (It) Benetton-Playlife, 1:21.636; 9 J Trulli (It) Prost-Peugeot, 1:21.750; 10 J Villeneuve (Can) BAR-Supertec, 1:21.850; 11 J Alesi (Fr) Sauber-Petronas, 1:21.850; 12 H-H Frentzen (Ger) Jordan-Mugen-Honda, 1:21.983; 13 J Herbert (GB) Stewart-Ford, 1:21.982; 14 D Hill (GB) Jordan-Mugen-Honda, 1:22.207; 15 L Badoer (It) Minardi- Ford, 1:22.311; 16 A Zanardi (It) Williams-Supertec, 1:22.321; 17 A Wurz (Aut) Benetton-Playlife, 1:22.427; 18 P Diniz (Br) Sauber-Petronas, 1:22.462; 19 P de la Rosa (Sp) Arrows, 1:22.853; 20 M Gene (Sp) Minardi-Ford, 1:22.872; 21 R Zonta (Br) BAR-Supertec, 1:23.604; 22 T Takagi (Japan) Arrows, 1:24.282.. Visit the Hidden Valley National Park and Five Rivers Lookout at Wyndham.COOBER PEDYIf you remain to be convinced about the otherworldliness of the outback, the moonscapes around Coober Pedy and the unusual lifestyle of the inhabitants of this South Australian mining community should do it. It was purpose-built to serve the Ord River Irrigation Project, an ambitious local agricultural scheme. The cultivation at times makes the place seem more like tropical Queensland with sugar cane, bananas and mango trees lining the roadways. Visit the Living Desert Sculpture Park, the innumerable art galleries, or take a mine tour.SILVERTONSilverton, a short drive from Broken Hill, is your stereotypical outback settlement.