Kimi Raikkonen hopes to inherit some of Michael Schumacher's home luck and add to McLaren's woes in his first German appearance in Ferrari colours this weekend.

The Finn, third in the Formula One title race and chasing his third win in a row, returns to the Nuerburgring for Sunday's European Grand Prix with considerably more optimism than in previous years.

Raikkonen had a dismal record at the circuit with McLaren, the championship leaders who are embroiled in a damaging spy controversy with Ferrari, and their engine partners Mercedes.

Schumacher, the seven times world champion who retired last October, won there last year in one of many victories before his adoring home crowd.

"Something always happened to stop me from winning," Raikkonen said on his Web site (www.kimiraikkonen.com) of his German jinx.

"Hopefully I can put that right this time with Ferrari," added the Finn, 18 points adrift of McLaren's 22-year-old rookie Lewis Hamilton at the halfway point of the season.

After beating McLaren at Silverstone, Raikkonen can now double his former team's pain by beating Mercedes in their backyard as well.

"It is exciting for me to be there with Ferrari," he said. "Somehow I have a feeling that Michael won there almost every time. Never mind what we did, at the end of the day the red car of Michael was there to take the chequered flag first."

SPY SAGA

McLaren, 25 points clear of Ferrari, already faced a difficult weekend even without their rivals' improved form.

While Hamilton will be chasing his 10th podium in a row, a feat only previously managed by Schumacher and Spain's Fernando Alonso, his best efforts could be undermined by the controversy that threatens his and the team's title hopes.

Formula One's governing body have summoned McLaren to a hearing in Paris on the Thursday after the race to face charges of unauthorised possession of confidential Ferrari technical information.

If found guilty, they could be stripped of points or thrown out of the championship.

McLaren, who have suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan, are adamant that their car is untainted.

Hamilton and double world champion Alonso, a winner at the Nuerburgring with Renault in 2005 and 12 points behind his British team mate, can only stay focused and hope for the best.

"I think I need to step up my game, which I intend to do," Hamilton said after finishing third at Silverstone from pole position.

Even if the race remains a battle between Ferrari and McLaren, German fans could have five home drivers to cheer on.

Markus Winkelhock, son of the late F1 driver Manfred, is in the frame for a home debut with Spyker after that team severed the contract of Dutchman Christijan Albers.