Preview - European Grand Prix 2004.

After the glitz and glamour of Monaco, a trip to the Eifel Mountains will prove to be something of a culture shock for the Formula One troops - and could give Michael Schumacher the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways after his glitch in the Principality.

While the old Nordschliefe would have been a fitting back-to-back venue to the equally historic Monaco, it is to the more sterile 'modern' circuit that the F1 circus heads this weekend, facing less of a driving challenge and more one for the engineers. Still situated in sight of the famous schloss, the circuit had been the domain of Ferrari until Williams' Ralf Schumacher gave BMW a victory on home soil last season, but is more likely to revert to type in 2004.

The success of the Schumacher brothers, along with the presence of both BMW and Mercedes-Benz, is the main reason why the Nurburgring remains on the Formula One schedule, given the moniker of European Grand Prix to allow it to sit side-by-side with the remodelled Hockenheim in the heart of the campaign. It too has been reprofiled in recent years, with a new 'stadium' section built at the first corner to appease the fans in the grandstands. Now 3.2km in length, the circuit does occasionally provide thrills and spills - take Juan Montoya's pass on Michael Schumacher last year as an example - but is still regarded by many as 'just another new-style circuit'.

The European Grand Prix has frequently fallen foul of the weather on its journey around the calendar and, running earlier this year than last - when it followed Canada at the end of June - the conditions may play an important role in shaping the outcome of the race. So, too, may the lack of testing time between races, with the cars heading straight to Germany from Monaco and leaving the engineering crews to rely on data accrued from outings over two weeks ago.

Ferrari Bridgestone 88 points

To Ferrari and Michael Schumacher fans, it will be a pity that the European GP didn't precede Monaco, as it is likely that they would now be celebrating another record in the German's growing collection. If anywhere was going to end his pursuit of six straight wins, it was the Principality - just ask Nigel Mansell - and the tight layout did not disappoint. Combined with a safety car caused, according to Fernando Alonso, by the world champion's brother, and the curious decision to warm his brakes in the tunnel of all places, the barrier-lined streets of Monaco bit Schumacher hard by registering his first non-finish of the year.

Rubens Barrichello went some way to making up for the disappointment by inheriting a podium finish, but the result will not reflect as the Scuderia's finest hour this season. Expect it to fight back hard and, with the large number of horn-blowing, flag-waving and firework-throwing Germans in the crowd this weekend, soon.

Michael Schumacher 50 points

Qualifying position in last race: 5Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.200secs Finishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: -1.324secsDrivers championship position: 1He says: I am always pleased to return to Nurburgring, but this time is even more special.

Rubens Barrichello 38 points

Qualifying position in last race: 7Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.200secsFinishing position in last race: 3Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +1.324secsDrivers championship position: 2He says: At the Nurburgring we will do our best on a circuit where we had a tough time last year.

Renault Michelin 52 points

The regie hinted at its enhanced performance in Spain, where Jarno Trulli went from fourth to first by the opening corner, and added to a meagre podium total by being the biggest challenge to Ferrari over the full race distance. Who could have imagined, however, how that would translate at Monaco two weeks later...

Trulli was simply magnificent in the Principality, taking a dominant maiden pole ahead of Jenson Button and team-mate Fernando Alonso, and then leading his team-mate and the Briton for almost the entire distance to add a first win to his tally. Confidence boosted by the performance, he will be one to reckon with this weekend, even if the Renault V10 continues to lag behind its main rivals in terms of grunt.

Alonso, too, was on top of his game last weekend, only to exit rudely as the result of a skirmish in the tunnel he claims was not of his making. The Spaniard made the most of Renault's potent starting 'system' to vault past a dozing Button in Monaco and was heading for a possible 1-2 when he crashed out.

Although there are no major upgrades due on the R24 this weekend, the team reckons that the Nurburgring in late May will prove a better test-bed than Monaco. In particular, it is hoping that the performance it showed in cooler-than-expected conditions in Australia can be replicated in the German mountains.

Jarno Trulli 31 points

Qualifying position in last race: 1Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: - 0.423secsFinishing position in last race: 1Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: - 0.356secsDrivers championship position: 4He says: This weekend we start again, it is a new challenge.

Fernando Alonso 21 points

Qualifying position in last race: 4Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.423secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: + 0.356secsDrivers championship position: 6He says I don't know if we can fight for a win again, it will be very tough. But we will be aiming for the podium, definitely, and the cars were very reliable again in Monaco.

BAR - Honda Michelin 40 points

Another couple of laps - coupled with a forceful manoeuvre or two - and the Monaco Grand Prix could have been welcoming an altogether different first-time winner. Jenson Button's spirited pursuit of eventual victory Trulli livened up what could have been a staid finale to an action-packed race, and most of the paddock thanked the Briton for his efforts.

A fourth podium was gratefully received in the Button household, but made the BAR team leader all the more determined to nail that first win as soon as possible, and he - along with the rest of the team - reckon that this weekend could be as good an opportunity as any. The Honda-powered 006 continues to perform well on all kinds of circuit, and the constant radius corners of the Nurburgring have been a happy hunting ground for Button in the past.

Team-mate Takuma Sato returns to the site of his European racing debut, in the Opel Euroseries, and will be keen to erase memories of a painfully short involvement at Monaco with a reprise of his Spanish Grand Prix. Contrary to the belief of many, the Japanese driver kept his nose clean in the Principality, only to be let down by his engine, confirming his elevation to the status of grand prix driver proper. Points are once again a real possibility.

Jenson Button 32 points

Qualifying position in last race: 3Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.431secsFinishing position in last race: 2Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: -6.148secsDrivers championship position: 3He says:

Takuma Sato 8 points

Qualifying position in last race: 8Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.431secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +6.148secsDrivers championship position: 8He says:

WilliamsF1 Michelin 35 points

Oh, how the once mighty have fallen! Winners in Monaco a year ago, and again at the Nurburgring, Williams-BMW has basically admitted that its FW26 isn't working and is not expecting to challenge the top three for honours this weekend, despite its recent management reshuffle.

A miracle notwithstanding, Juan Montoya was never going to repeat the victory in Monaco that turned Williams' 2003 season around, and took something of a lucky and laboured fourth place instead. Lucky because it required the demise of some of those ahead of him as well as surviving 'that touch' with Michael Schumacher in the tunnel, and laboured because the Colombian hardly set the Principality alight all weekend. He is rumoured to be trying to get out of his deal with McLaren following the Woking team's problems this season - but he won't exactly be rushing to re-negotiate with Williams on current form either.

Ralf Schumacher at least managed to top the pre-qualifying times, and then secure second place when it mattered, but, by then, it was already too late, because he knew he faced a ten-place grid penalty for losing a BMW V10 early on the opening day. Like Montoya, Schumacher was off the pace on Sunday, not helped by a recalcitrant gearbox, but what exactly did happen in the tunnel between him and Alonso - a man he has already tangled with this season....

Rumour has it that Ralf will be confirmed as a 2005 Toyota driver in time for the Nurburgring. It will be interesting to see what effect that news has on his performance for the rest of the season.

Juan Pablo Montoya 10 points

Qualifying position in last race: 2Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.694secsFinishing position in last race: 4Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: -2.193secsDrivers championship position: 5He says: I quite like racing at the N?rburgring. I think this track is challenging which, for a driver, makes it fun.

Ralf Schumacher 2 points

Qualifying position in last race: 2 (Started from 12th on grid due to engine change)Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.694secsFinishing position in last race: 10Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +2.193secsDrivers championship position: 7He says: The N?rburgring has always been special for me. It is only a short drive from Kerpen, where I grew up, so I have watched many races there.

Sauber Bridgestone 7 points

It would be wrong to say that Sauber had a hit-and-miss weekend in Monaco - it was more like hit-and-hit.

A reasonable qualifying performance put Giancarlo Fisichella in with a shout of points given the race's propensity for retirements, but team-mate Felipe Massa had his work cut out to come from further down the order. It was ironic, perhaps, that it was the Brazilian - who admits to disliking the Monaco circuit - who came out on top, while Fisichella - renowned as a Monaco-meister - only came out on top of the barriers. The Italian's third lap shunt provided a dramatic start to the race, even if his sponsors didn't get full value as the inverted Sauber remained shrouded in smoke from Takuma Sato's expired Honda, while Massa plugged away to hold off Cristiano da Matta's Toyota for fifth place.

Both drivers have good reason to anticipate this weekend's trip to the Nurburgring. Massa, with his love of faster corners, is already looking to add to the points he scored there in his debut season, while Fisichella is still trying to avenge the loss of what would have been his maiden F1 win when his Benetton's headrest came loose and caused him to spin out of a chaotic race eventually won by Stewart's Johnny Herbert.

Felipe Massa 16 points

Qualifying position in last race: 16Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.896secsFinishing position in last race: 5Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: - 3.653secsDrivers championship position: 9 He says: After our fifth place in Monaco we are obviously a little spoilt, but realistically I would be happy if I could be in the points.

Giancarlo Fisichella 11 points

Qualifying position in last race: 11Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: - 0.896secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: + 3.653secsDrivers championship position: 12He says: I lost my first Grand Prix win at the new Nurburgring back in 1999, when I was leading easily in the wet but lost control and spun when my car's headrest came lose. I've scored points there a couple of times since...

McLaren Michelin 5 points

McLaren will not know whether to laugh of cry as its trucks head from Monaco to Germany. On the plus side, both drivers qualified well and there was little sign of mechanical reliability through the opening two days that could have scuppered a qualifying effort on the tightest track on the calendar. Even race day began well, with Kimi Raikkonen getting ahead of Michael Schumacher at the start. Then it all went wrong, with David Coulthard an innocent victim of Giancarlo Fisichella's flip and Raikkonen being advised to call it a day before Mercedes' finest embarrassed the company in public once again.

The Finn was the star of the show at last year's European GP, taking a first pole position and then streaking away from the pack before he got an early taste of what his 2004 season would be like. Coulthard was also sidelined on a poor day for the Three Pointed Star in front of its home fans, as he was forced to take evasive action and clattered the barriers after his pursuit of Fernando Alonso ended in acrimony.

At least that means that any finish this weekend would be an improvement...

David Coulthard 9 points

Qualifying position in last race: 9Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: - 0.359secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +4.357secsDrivers championship position: 10He says: After the disappointing end to my Grand Prix in Monaco, I am now looking forward to getting back to racing at the N?rburgring.

Kimi Raikkonen 6 point

Qualifying position in last race: 6Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.359secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: -4.357secsDrivers championship position: 15He says: The European Grand Prix has also historically been affected by unpredictable weather, which of course adds another element to the race.

Toyota Michelin 4 points

Toyota, like Jordan, finally got itself on the scoreboard for the season, benefiting from the reliability that has seen it achieve a decent finishing rate since the year opened in Australia. The difference this time, however, was that sufficient parts of the field self-destructed to allow the still slow TF104s a shot at the top eight.

Both Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis managed to record points in Monaco, despite the Brazilian being lambasted for acting as another obstacle on an already tight course. He retorted by saying that the blue flag penalty he received was unjust... Panis was solid if unspectacular, and may learn this weekend whether he has a future as an F1 race driver should the team confirm Ralf Schumacher for 2005.

The N?rburgring is not far down the road from the team's base in Cologne, making it a 'home' round for those employees wishing to lend some support from the stands. Unfortunately, not even the team reckons that they will have mush to cheer, particularly given the car's dislike for maximum downforce, slow-to-medium speed circuits.

Cristiano da Matta 3 points

Qualifying position in last race: 15Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.310secsFinishing position in last race: 6Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: - 0.262secsDrivers championship position: 14He says: We will have the additional support of all the team employees watching from the grandstands, which will be very welcome. I just hope we can give them all something to cheer about.

Oliver Panis 1 points

Qualifying position in last race: 13Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: + 0.310secsFinishing position in last race: 8Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +0.262secsDrivers championship position: 11He says: We had a highly competitive package at this race last year, and I was fastest in two of the practice sessions, but in the end we were unable to turn that performance into points.

Jordan Bridgestone 2 points Lazarus rising?

Two points from Monaco will almost seem like a win to Jordan, which has suffered another poor start to the year. With U2's Bono aboard the hospitality yacht, it was definitely a 'beautiful day' for the team.

Nick Heidfeld, like Toyota rival da Matta, did not exactly escape criticism for his behaviour in front of the leaders, but at least survived to the end of the one race where the team was likely to have a sniff of points. He will return to 'home' ground this weekend, hoping for a similar performance to stave off the threat being posed - in the media at least - by Jos Verstappen, who tests the EJ14 just a couple of days after the Nurburgring.

Rookie Giorgio Pantano was again an early casualty of the Monaco race, retiring with smoke issuing forth from the back of his car just when he thought he might be able to sense a breakthrough point. The Italian is actually a fan of the Nurburgring, despite falling victim to the kerbs in last year's F3000 race there, and is one of the few to admit to hoping for rain this weekend - but that might be the only thing he gets in his favour.

Nick Heidfeld 2 points

Qualifying position in last race: 17Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.955secsFinishing position in last race: 7Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: -1.153secsDrivers championship position: 13He says: I really like the circuit - it's safe and modern.

Giorgio Pantano 0 points

Qualifying position in last race: 18Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.955secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +1.153secsDrivers championship position: 19He says: I have raced there three times in F3000 and, although it is one of my favourite circuits, I have been very unlucky there - just like Monaco!

Jaguar Michelin 1 point

Proof that the most glitzy guest list is no guarantee of success in Monaco, Jaguar actually dropped two places on the scoreboard as a result of a couple of early retirements in the Principality. Add to that the loss of a Steinmetz 'diamond' from the nose of Christian Klien's crashed R5 and it was a particularly costly weekend for the team.

Both Webber and Klien showed promise around the tight street circuit, although the Australian also graciously allowed his mechanics a chance to show what they could do by requiring not one, but two engine rebuilds in the course of 48 hours. The chance of a patched-up V10 going the distance, even on a circuit not renowned for its severe test of engines, was always going to be a touch optimistic, and Webber lasted just eleven laps before his car coasted to a halt. That was eleven whole laps more than his team-mate managed, however, after clipping the back of Heidfeld's Jordan at Mirabeau and skating into the tyres at Loews on lap one.

The team reports that a handful of minor modifications will debut on the car this weekend and Klien, in particular, is keen to get on with the action as he seeks to add to a winning Nurburgring record from his few years in the junior ranks. Webber, too, knows what it is to do well at the German circuit, and is looking forward to returning to one of his favourite F1 venues - and to the top eight - in order to redress the balance in the battle with Jordan and Toyota.

Mark Webber 1 point

Qualifying position in last race: 12Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.194secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: no time set by KlienDrivers championship position: 16He says: The Nurburgring track is one of the more interesting tracks on the F1 calendar.

Christian Klien 0 points

Qualifying position in last race: 14Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.194secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: no time set by KlienDrivers championship position: 18He says: I have great memories of this track and, of course, this makes it one of my favourites.

Minardi Bridgestone 0 points

It was a case of what might have been in Monaco, as Zsolt Baumgartner came close - if four laps can be described as close - to a rare points finish for Minardi. The Hungarian even overcame an electronics glitch on the opening lap before keeping his car out of the barriers - and the way of those lapping him - to come home in ninth place. If only Juan Montoya had fared as badly as Michael Schumacher in their 'tunnel touch', or Nick Heidfeld's Jordan stayed true to form.....

Baumgartner's performance will have boosted morale, if not the bank balance, at Minardi, and the team has little time to dwell on its misfortune in Monaco as it heads north to the Nurburgring. Another mechanical failure for Gianmaria Bruni also cost it what may be its only shot at the points in 2004, and this will be the thing on most minds heading into this weekend.

Giamaria Bruni 0 points

Qualifying position in last race: 20Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: +0.055secsFinishing position in last race: DNFBest race lap difference from team-mate in last race: - 0.294secsDrivers championship position: 20

Zsolt Baumgartner 0 points

Qualifying position in last race: 19Qualifying difference from team-mate in last race: -0.055secsFinishing position in last race: 9Best race lap difference from team-mate in last race: +0.294secsDrivers championship position: 17

Tyres

A win, their first of the season, was well welcomed by the Michelin squad last time out. What's the chances of them repeating it this weekend? The tyre supplier is confident. "We know what it takes to succeed here," says motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier. "We proved that last season when Kimi Raikkonen qualified his McLaren on pole position and Ralf Schumacher won for Williams."

What of Bridgestone? One win from their rivals is surely insufficient to make them run and hide? No, but Bridgestone's director of motorsport, Hiroshi Yasukawa, reckons things could be interesting. "I expect the European Grand Prix to be a hotly contested race," he says.

The Track

Sitting next to the world's most fabulous race circuit the F1 Nurburgring was going to have a difficult task measuring up. It doesn't try very hard, though recent changes have made thing better than before. Some corners, some straights, but nothing really of note.

Weather

Friday looks like being sunny, but from then on in rain and showers could well be on the agenda. The weather in the Eifel mountains is always difficult to predict and anything that adds a little uncertainty to the proceedings is to be welcomed, so get ready with the raindance.

Predictions

As if he didn't have enough of an advantage, certain corners on this circuit were designed by Michael Schumacher. No tunnels either, so business as normal should resume.

Who do you thing will come be the winners and the losers at this weekend's Monte Carlo Grand Prix? Have your say on the Crash Forum.

For further details on the teams and drivers see the profiles section on www.crash.net/f1.