While others spend this time of the year talking up their chances, Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari workmates usually talk down theirs, the forthcoming season being no exception.

Talking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the seven-time world champion, winner of five successive titles, predicts a difficult start to the season, when the Italian team will be using an interim car in anticipation of the F2005 which should make its debut in Spain.

"I keep thinking that a difficult start of the season awaits us," he said. "We have to keep in mind that we are using a car which is basically the one we used last year."

"They will be using completely new cars," he continued, referring to his rivals, "which they need to learn how to set up properly and they can count on vast margins of improvement.

"There's still over a month to go to Melbourne so they can surely improve," he added.

In reality, Ferrari has only begun the season with the previous year's car since 2002, when Schumacher and Barrichello both drove modified F2001s. The German won the season opener, and finished third behind the WilliamsF1s in Malaysia, before getting his hands on the F2002 in time for Brazil, where he won. Rubens Barrichello didn't get his F2002 until a race later (San Marino), when the red cars scored a 1-2.

In 2003, both drivers used the F2002 for the first four races, the F2003-GA being introduced in Spain, where it won and finished third. Using the old car, Schumacher still managed a win at Imola, while Rubens took second in Malaysia.

In 2004, using the F2004, Schumacher and Barrichello scored a resounding 1-2 in Melbourne, the German going on to win the next four races.