26/02/2008
NEWS STORY
Having now driven the Ferrari F2008, seven-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher, is confident that the Italian team can successfully defend its constructors' crown, predicting the red cars can win in Melbourne and beyond.
"This Ferrari can fight to win right from the first race," the German told Gazzetta dello Sport, following his test with the team at Barcelona on Monday.
However, with the banning of driver aids, Schumacher warned that the drivers who line up on the grid in Melbourne next month will need to respect the fact that the machines of 2008 will be entirely different to their 2007 counterparts.
"You have to pay attention because without the electronic aids everything depends on you," he said. "It is all in your hands and in your head."
Having topped the timesheets for two consecutive days in post-season testing at Barcelona last year, the German was on form again yesterday, heading Kimi Raikkonen for much of the day and eventually finishing third quickest.