DAILY TELEGRAPH (UK): Schumacher plays a cautionary tune: “The Australian audience, invited by sponsors Shell, were already reeling from the champion's confession that he had little chance of winning a race he had claimed in four of the past five seasons.”: “In return for their millions, Shell Australia get first crack at Schumacher at the start of the season” (ShellNews.net) 3 March 05

By Kevin Garside

(Filed: 03/03/2005)

A surreal day began with Ferrari's world champion, Michael Schumacher, receiving a didgeridoo from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne. There is little that Schumacher has not seen in his 14 years in Formula One but here was an example. He did not know whether to hold it like a baseball bat or launch it like a javelin. The look on his face when the mayor blew into one end of it could not have betrayed more alarm had Rubens Barrichello been elevated to No 1 at Ferrari.

The Australian audience, invited by sponsors Shell, were already reeling from the champion's confession that he had little chance of winning a race he had claimed in four of the past five seasons. Ferrari's decision to run an amended version of last year's car has left them struggling to match the pace of the Renaults and McLarens, and inadvertently stole the MC's thunder.

In return for their millions, Shell Australia get first crack at Schumacher at the start of the season. The unveiling of the world champion and his team-mate signals a serious escalation in the reporting of events leading up to the first race. Glory by association is the reward. To learn that there might not be any at their home event was not the best start to proceedings for the petroleum giant.

Alarm bells should have been ringing when Gary Glitter refused to leave the stage during the introductions. Schumacher entered Melbourne's town hall to a recording of the disgraced glam rocker's 30-year-old anthem Leader of the Gang. Hardly original, and in the event overly persistent as a result of a technical hitch that extended the Glitter Band's involvement well into the question-and-answer session. When Glitter finally retreated the noise coming out of Schumacher's mouth was similarly distressing for Shell executives. "We are at a disadvantage," Schumacher said. "Racing the old car means we have gone backwards compared to our competitors in new ones.

"Renault and McLaren have looked quick in testing and have good drivers. We have less chance of winning this weekend, but the championship is not won at the first race. We have to look at the season as a whole. By delaying the new car now we believe it will be even quicker when it becomes available."

In the circumstances, it is probably just as well. Having put Minardi through the ringer in the build up to their home grand prix, relative failure might not be a bad thing for Ferrari. Fair go, mate, as they say in these parts.

The worry for Ferrari concerns their ability to pick up the pace when the new car appears. Initially that was to be at the season's fifth race in Barcelona. Such is the level of distress at Maranello that at least one of the cars may appear as early as the third race in Bahrain. No prizes for guessing to whom that car will go.

Ferrari's recent success has been built on consistency and reliability. They have not had an engine or gear-box failure in a race for more than three years. That template, and Ferrari's advantage with it, was wiped out by the introduction of new regulations this year governing engine life, tyre endurance and aerodynamic design.

Ferrari's innate caution served them well when changes between seasons were reduced to tweaks. That is not the case this season, leaving Schumacher to contemplate a dogfight if he is to retain his world title. "We will not see the same domination that we witnessed last year. Our advantage then was as a result of the poor jobs done by our rivals. This year will be a tough fight. Our competitors have done much better over the winter."

Schumacher returns to work as the oldest man on the grid, "I'm 36, only 36," Schumacher stressed. "I love what I do. I'm living with a wonderful team." Barrichello agreed, and went on to claim that the gap between him and Schumacher was not that great. "I'm sorry if I lack modesty on this point," Barrichello said, "but the space I'm given at Ferrari is the same as Michael's, and so is the respect people have for me."

While accepting that the regulatory changes have evened the playing field, Barrichello refused to look beyond himself for improvement. "If I am to beat Michael then it is what is happening inside me that is the important thing. The day I believe I can't beat Michael is the day I go home and spend time with my family."

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