Schumacher cautious about Austria

Michael Schumacher and the Ferrari F2002 are looking hard to beat this season but the reigning champion is cautious about the Austrian Grand Prix -- a race he has never won. With four wins out of five races this year and a total of forty-four points at the head of the Driver's standings, Schumacher is already on course for a fifth title. The next race at the A1-Ring is not one he is counting on for another ten points.

"We believe we have a very competitive package overall but it's a question of how good the others can be," he said. "We have been dominant, but we have seen other races like Brazil where it was a close fight and we have no idea what it's going to be like in Austria."

Eddie Irvine won the Austrian Grand Prix in a Ferrari in 1999 but it's a feat Schumacher has yet to do. He was second last year behind David Coulthard and has never been to be able to conquer the A1-Ring. However, this year is the year that the German will take his first victory in Austria according to some.

BMW Motorsport director Gerhard Berger is sure the Ferrari ace will triumph this time around: "Despite the fact that Michael Schumacher has never won on the A1 Ring, this year will be his first time," he predicted.

Jaguar boss Niki Lauda, the only Austrian to have won his home race, thinks Schumacher is out of this world this season: "The Ferrari/Schumacher package is functioning so well this year that nobody can even get close to keeping up with them," he said. "Schumacher is currently a driver from another planet."

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