willsy01
28-02-05, 02:24 PM
Schumacher under attack from F1 rivals
February 28, 2005 - 3:39PM
World champion Michael Schumacher is under attack from his key rivals - including his younger brother Ralf - on the eve of the Australian F1 Grand Prix.
Ralf Schumacher, who has switched from Williams to Toyota, has downplayed Ferrari's hopes of another world title, while BAR-Honda driver Jenson Button agrees.
Ferrari has been less than impressive in pre-season testing and Michael Schumacher says the team is preparing for a "difficult" start to the season.
Ralf claims his brother is unlikely to win an eighth drivers' championship this year.
"By the look of it in the testing season, you would say that Ferrari are not the benchmark anymore," Schumacher said.
"It could all turn around but for the moment the benchmark seems to be Renault or McLaren. I think it's going to be a tough season for Ferrari," he told Reuters.
Ferrari will start the season in Melbourne without its new car, the F2005, a move Michael admits is a 'compromise'.
"Of course, I would have liked to have the new car immediately," Schumacher said at the team's launch.
"Maybe it means we have slightly less chance to win (early in the season), but with 19 races this will be a long season.
"We have taken a decision that is a compromise, but I think many of the other teams would like to have our compromise.
"We are well prepared," he said.
Jenson Button said the end of Ferrari's reign at the top would come soon.
"Ferrari have been on top for a long time and it can't stay like that," Button told the BBC.
"Williams have been on top for three or four years at a time, the same for McLaren. It doesn't last 10 years.
"My goal for this season is to stand on top of the podium and look down on Michael."
Button said 2005 was "a season where we need to start winning races."
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn says the 2005 car could be ready as early as the third race of the season, at Bahrain on April 3.
The factory has only one chassis ready at the moment, which is being put through its paces by test driver Luca Badoer.
"The second will probably be ready after Malaysia (on March 20) because at the moment is still being used for the crash test," Brawn said.
"Maybe it might be possible to introduce it in Bahrain.
"It also depends how the F2004 M goes in the races. If it is competitive then we can get on with things more calmly," he said.
February 28, 2005 - 3:39PM
World champion Michael Schumacher is under attack from his key rivals - including his younger brother Ralf - on the eve of the Australian F1 Grand Prix.
Ralf Schumacher, who has switched from Williams to Toyota, has downplayed Ferrari's hopes of another world title, while BAR-Honda driver Jenson Button agrees.
Ferrari has been less than impressive in pre-season testing and Michael Schumacher says the team is preparing for a "difficult" start to the season.
Ralf claims his brother is unlikely to win an eighth drivers' championship this year.
"By the look of it in the testing season, you would say that Ferrari are not the benchmark anymore," Schumacher said.
"It could all turn around but for the moment the benchmark seems to be Renault or McLaren. I think it's going to be a tough season for Ferrari," he told Reuters.
Ferrari will start the season in Melbourne without its new car, the F2005, a move Michael admits is a 'compromise'.
"Of course, I would have liked to have the new car immediately," Schumacher said at the team's launch.
"Maybe it means we have slightly less chance to win (early in the season), but with 19 races this will be a long season.
"We have taken a decision that is a compromise, but I think many of the other teams would like to have our compromise.
"We are well prepared," he said.
Jenson Button said the end of Ferrari's reign at the top would come soon.
"Ferrari have been on top for a long time and it can't stay like that," Button told the BBC.
"Williams have been on top for three or four years at a time, the same for McLaren. It doesn't last 10 years.
"My goal for this season is to stand on top of the podium and look down on Michael."
Button said 2005 was "a season where we need to start winning races."
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn says the 2005 car could be ready as early as the third race of the season, at Bahrain on April 3.
The factory has only one chassis ready at the moment, which is being put through its paces by test driver Luca Badoer.
"The second will probably be ready after Malaysia (on March 20) because at the moment is still being used for the crash test," Brawn said.
"Maybe it might be possible to introduce it in Bahrain.
"It also depends how the F2004 M goes in the races. If it is competitive then we can get on with things more calmly," he said.