Schumacher takes nothing for granted

Michael Schumacher may be putting in some unbeatable looking drives so far this season but the reigning champion says talk of winning the championship is premature. Schumacher won the season opener in Australia with the older F2001 and has taken two more wins since in the F2002 with team mate Rubens Barrichello coming home second to the German in the San Marino Grand Prix, also driving a new chassis.

Michael Schumacher.

Photo by Ferrari Media Center.

While Ferrari have re-taken the lead in the Constructors' standings from Williams with their 1-2 finish, the German is 14 points clear of nearest rival Ralf Schumacher in the Driver's championship. But Michael is not being complacent: "To talk about the championship already being in the bag, which some people are doing, is totally premature,' he said.

"If there is one thing I have learnt in all my years in Formula One, it's that there can always be surprises. Nothing should be taken for granted and a small thing can change everything. The fact we dominated on a track reckoned to suit the Williams is great and I am very happy about it, but we will still have problems and difficulties to face. We have to concentrate and we certainly cannot afford to be complacent."

Surprises may happen but although Schumacher is playing down his chances, Ferrari seemed hard to challenge, especially at Imola. Ralf said in the post-race press conference that it was 'not nice' to see another team win so easily and David Coulthard admitted McLaren had trouble keeping on the pace of Renault in San Marino, never mind Ferrari.