Schumi hopes for Silverstone rain

Michael Schumacher believes the heavens opening over Silverstone on Sunday would hardly put a dampener on Mercedes' post-British Grand Prix barbecue.

Instead, the seven-times world champion feels rain is his only hope of ending the podium drought he has endured since returning to Formula One after three years in retirement.
For a man for whom winning was second nature during his heyday with Ferrari, these are lean times for the 42-year-old, his run now 27 races without a top-three finish over the last 16 months with Mercedes.
So when asked what he expected from this weekend, Schumacher's reply was a clear sign of the lack of pace Mercedes have shown in dry running so far this season.
"I hope for rain," said Schumacher, whose team are based just seven miles away from Silverstone in Brackley.
"In the rain we could talk of a podium, but in the dry - although we might have an improvement in the car - a podium would be out of reach.
"In having a home race - which most of the teams do have of course - with the guys working so hard, I'd really like to give them some pleasure, some fun, a good moment.
"We have a Sunday evening barbecue where we all meet up, so it would be great to head to that with something in my hands."
Schumacher's wish may not be granted because whilst light showers are forecast, sunny intervals are predicted for Sunday.
That could mean another race with Schumacher scrabbling around for measly pickings, as has been the case for the majority of his time during his comeback.
Although back in the pack, Schumacher admits to "feeling good", on the basis that he knows he cannot realistically do any more.
"Initially it took a while to get back into the habit of the whole working arrangement, but it's a lot more easier for me now," said Schumacher.
"I'm still learning about how to work with the team, how to get the car to work. This is a constant development, and I'm not yet at 100%.
"But you always judge your performance with the car you have in hand, as it was in the past, and you try to maximise it.
"If you achieve that then you are happy with yourself, and if not then you are unhappy and you keep working.
"Only through work and steady development do you arrive back to the top, as happened to me in the past.
"There is no magic in arriving at the front. It's all about timing, steady progress, keeping motivation high and working hard."
Nevertheless, for someone who won 91 grands prix and was on pole 68 times - both records - there must be occasions when Schumacher thinks back to his halcyon days.
"As I've said, we have a package which means it is not possible for us to get onto the podium," added Schumacher.
"So you are sort of happy if you have achieved the maximum with what you have.
"Naturally you would be more excited to be on the podium, which is where I feel I belong, and is where I'm working my way towards."