Formula 1
New Ferrari comes out fighting
The Ferrari F2003-GA hit the track for the first time this week and the new car came out fighting. With Michael Schumacher behind the wheel, the F2003-GA broke the lap record at Ferrari's Fiorano test track on its debut on Tuesday. Schumacher set a ...
Published: Feb 13, 2003, 1:15 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Ferrari F2003-GA hit the track for the first time this week and the new car came out fighting. With Michael Schumacher behind the wheel, the F2003-GA broke the lap record at Ferrari's Fiorano test track on its debut on Tuesday. Schumacher set a fastest of 57.045 on the short track of the circuit and not only was the car fast, it ran a reliable 78 laps without any problems.
Michael Schumacher with the new Ferrari F2003-GA.
Photo by Ferrari Media Center.
"Gianni Agnelli would have been happy with this car and this team," said Schumacher. "Today, we achieved a very good result with great reliability. I am very happy with this first day of testing."
It's an ominous sign for Ferrari's competitors, the time being half a second faster than Schumacher's previous best at Fiorano. However, the German was not the only one setting benchmarks this week -- Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya broke the lap record at Valencia yesterday, knocking half a second off the previous best with a 1:10.153.
While Ferrari look set to be dominant again this season, Schumacher's long term future is assured as long as he still has the motivation: "I'm in the lucky position that the decision depends mainly on me," he told Kicker magazine. "The car is changing so I have to change. The day when I don't do anything or don't want to do anything is also the day that I'd be better off giving up."
The five-time champion was virtually guaranteed a race seat for life with Ferrari by president Luca di Montezemolo. Speculation ran rife last year that Schumacher might quit when he won his fifth world title, but why anyone would think Michael would stop there is a mystery.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Briatore takes over Renault France
Next article FIA relying on private teams
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Michael Schumacher
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
More from
Ferrari
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC
Monza
9 h
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
10 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe