 Barrichello hopes to be enjoying more success with Ferrari in 2005 |
Rubens Barrichello believes Ferrari will make a fast start to the Formula One season as a result of the decision to delay racing their new car. The team will run the modified F2004 before introducing a new model, possibly as late as the fifth race.
He said: "Let's hope it's going to be sufficient to be in front, but it's an advantage for me to know the car.
"Last year I got to Melbourne without knowing the car. This year this won't happen and that's a positive for me."
The Ferrari F2004, one of the most successful cars in the history of F1, has been changed to comply with new regulations that restrict aerodynamics.
All Ferrari's main rivals are planning to race brand new cars from the start of the season, which is in Australia on 6 March.
The Brazilian also insists he could still be world champion despite the dominance of team-mate Michael Schumacher.
"I still have the motivation to be the best. Whether this will take place this year, or another year, we don't know. It's going to depend on my work, it depends on what I can do, it will depend on how I adjust to the new rules," he added.
"But these are just words. I have to keep my right foot down, I have to use my head, I have to be as calm as I have been.
"If, one day, I should start thinking and say that 'look, I will never catch Michael', I'm sure that from that day I would not stay at Ferrari because I'd lose the motivation to be the best."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 