BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Schumi vows to put team first

Michael Schumacher has refused to rule out team orders giving him a record-equalling sixth victory in Monte Carlo on Sunday.

The four-time champion returns to the track on Thursday for the first time since being gifted victory in Austria when Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello was told to move over for him.

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Schumacher could lose the points he won at the A1-Ring when he, Barrichello and Ferrari appear before the World Council of FIA, the sport's governing body, in Paris next month.

But that threat will not stop Ferrari ordering Barrichello to move over for the German on Sunday when Schumacher bids to equal Ayrton Senna's record of victories on the famous street circuit.

"I think everyone understands what we are doing," said Schumacher, who was booed by the crowd at the A1-Ring.

Rubins Barrichello allowed Schumacher to overtake him
"It is our philosophy. I am part of it and I am very much in favour of it.

"That's the way we have always worked in the past, so it was not really a surprise.

"When you think of the difficult years we have had in 1997, 1998 and 1999, I would certainly take some criticism instead of having the feelings we had then when we lost the title.

"But I was surprised by the reaction of the crowd and in the press conference afterwards.

"I did not like it. I have never had to handle that sort of situation and I was struggling to deal with it."


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