Schumacher ready to get started

After a long winter with the only action to be found in testing, everyone is raring to get going on the race track and Michael Schumacher is no exception. The reigning champion is impatient to find out how Ferrari stands against the competition, as are the rest of the teams and fans alike.

Michael Schumacher.

Photo by Ferrari Media Center.

"Finally we are getting started; at last all the speculation will come to an end," said Schumacher. "Each year is the same: everyone has an opinion after the winter testing but no-one knows exactly how things will turn out."

"In Melbourne we will see how things really stand and we will not be able to evaluate the work we have done before then. I can't wait to find that out and I am looking forward to getting onto the track and race against the other guys."

The fact that Ferrari has chosen to start the season with the interim chassis rather than the new F2005 has been a subject of much discussion. However, it's not exactly an unusual step for a team to take and Schumacher is convinced it's the right decision.

"For sure, this could be a disadvantage in the first few races but we believe that it is the best thing to do, otherwise we would not have decided to do it," he commented. "We will not allow anybody to alter our opinion. We are certain that taking more time to develop the car is the right approach."

"This season will be longer than ever and we take this into account when considering a challenge for the title. We will have a good car for four races and, in the subsequent fifteen, a superb car. If we had not taken this decision we would have to make constant modifications during the season."

Given that the F2004 won 15 races last year, it's hardly surprising that Ferrari has confidence in the updated version of that chassis. Schumacher is hoping for good results from the outset, while McLaren and Renault are the two of the teams he expects to be on the pace.

"I really want to find out who will be the best," he said of the competition. "I would not to too surprised if we do well right from the start. As I have said though, Renault and Mercedes made the best impression during the winter tests."