Schumacher at home in Spa

Spa is Schumacher's favourite circuit

BBC motor racing correspondent Jonathan Legard looks ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix.

One day Michael Schumacher will slow down. But it's not in his diary for the foreseeable future.

Indeed, fresh from his fourth world championship success in Hungary, he's warning all pretenders to his crown that the best is still to come.

"I don't believe we have reached our peak yet," he said during preparations for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, which marks the 10th anniversary of his entry into Formula One.

"I believe that Ferrari can still get better. There is still room for improvement mechanically."

Montoya could take pole in Spa

Ferrari's technical director, Ross Brawn, had already set about demoralising the opposition in the aftermath of Hungary by declaring that next year's car will be even stronger.

Not that the team is considering easing up. The pressure of chasing championships may have gone but the pursuit of perfection remains, amid a mood of supreme enjoyment.

"I remember last year we arrived in Malaysia after winning the title in Suzuka," said Schumacher.

"Then I was also able to start with a feeling of freedom, and that was great.

"That's why I'm now particularly looking forward to Spa and not only because it's my favourite race."

Watch out for Williams

Only Ayrton Senna has won more often at the Belgian track just across the border from where Schumacher was brought up in the small German town of Kerpen.

If Schumacher wins at Spa, he will equal Senna's record of five as well as set a new F1 best of 52 wins overall.

But the champion may not find the weekend as straightforward as he did in Hungary.

After the predictable struggle around the Hungaroring's uninspiring twists and turns, Williams and their BMW engines should be far more of a force this weekend.

Jean Alesi loves Spa

In fact Barrichello's hopes of second place in the championship could be threatened more by Ralf Schumacher than David Coulthard.

McLaren have won the Belgian Grand Prix for the last two years, but their form has been so patchy of late, Williams are shaping up for the stronger finish to the season.

Ralf probably feels the circuit owes him victory after being forced to hold station behind Damon Hill in 1998.

And Juan Pablo Montoya loves a challenge and should find the terrain more to his liking than Hungary.

His pole position in Hockenheim proved how he was mastering the car to growing effect.

Don't be surprised if he's out in front again after Saturday.

Behind the front-runners, Jordan and Jaguar will demand watching.

Horrific accident

Jordan because Jean Alesi has this race and the next one at Monza to convince the team that his replacement of Heinz-Harald Frentzen can be more than a five race swansong.

Alesi loves Spa. The last time he raced there in yellow Jordan overalls, he won - in F3000. If it rains, there are few better at dancing through the puddles.

Jarno Trulli started from the front row last year. His reluctant, imminent departure from Jordan should encourage a finish with a flourish.

As for Jaguar, Niki Lauda has to show he can do a better job in charge than Bobby Rahal who lost the power struggle between the pair last week.

Anyone who's achieved what Lauda has in sport and business is no mug.

His recovery from his horrific fireball accident at the Nurburgring in 1976 is one of the most remarkable human stories.

But running a Formula One team of nearly 400 people demands the utmost in time, money, dedication and determination.

Lauda has the might of the Ford motor company behind him - not necessarily a bonus in itself.

But does he possess the appetite and commitment to compete with men like Ron Dennis, Frank Williams and Jean Todt who live, breathe and sleep grand prix racing from morning till night?

For the sake of Formula One and Lauda himself, one hopes so.