 The new Ferrari is still undergoing testing in Europe |
Ferrari are not going to rush the introduction of their new Formula One car, despite defeat in the Australian Grand Prix, according to Michael Schumacher. The world champion has insisted his team will not introduce the new car ahead of its scheduled debut at the fourth race of the season, the San Marino Grand Prix next month.
And the German is confident he will be competitive in his old car for the next two races in Malaysia and Brazil while testing continues on the F2003-GA.
Schumacher said: "This result does not mean the new car will come earlier.
"If the circumstances hadn't been so unlucky for me I think I would have had a realistic chance to win.
"I am a bit disappointed but we have five points and have an old car in which we could have won in normal circumstance so we can have good hope for the next few races.
 It is still a bit too early to say who is exactly where and who is strong |
"We know the 2002 car is reliable and competitive so I am not too concerned.
"Our new car is coming but only when we know it's reliable and we will only know that when we have done enough testing."
McLaren, who finished first and third in the race with David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen, have also started the new season with an updated version of last year's car.
They are confident that their new car, to be introduced at either the fifth or sixth race of the season, will be competitive with the new Ferrari.
Schumacher finished fourth, with the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya sandwiched by the McLarens.
But the Ferrari star said it was unclear if the two other teams can mount a serious challenge this season.
"It is still a bit too early to say who is exactly where and who is strong. I have to have a bit more time to analyse that."
Schumacher tried to play down suggestions Ferrari had been out-thought on strategy, as technical director Ross Brawn has admitted.
"In hindsight, you can tell we made the wrong choice, but at the start it looked too wet to us to start on dry tyres.
"And we couldn't come in for a change right at the start because it was still raining on some sectors of the circuit," Schumacher said.
MMIX
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