Michael Schumacher is hoping this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix will mark a “new beginning” for his Ferrari team that so far this season has been unable to maintain its dominance of Formula One.
With only two points from three races, the seven-time Formula One champion trails Renault’s Fernando Alonso by 24 points entering the race in Ferrari’s backyard.
“It’s our home race and obviously we want to do well,” Schumacher was quoted as saying on Ferrari’s Web site.
“Also, this year, the beginning of the European season coincides with a sort of new beginning for us. We want to get back in the race for the title and we think our chances are pretty good.”
While no driver has ever overcome a 24-point deficit after three races and gone on to win the crown, Schumacher’s title runs each of the past five seasons and this season’s 19-race calendar – the longest in history – give him hope.
The German driver has been nearly unbeatable in Imola since 1999, winning five of the past six seasons, with only brother Ralf Schumacher interrupting the streak in 2001.
Schumacher is also much more confident in his new Ferrari F2005 model entering Imola.
Ferrari rushed the F2005 into competition at the Bahrain Grand Prix three weeks ago and improved in qualifying – Schumacher was second behind pole sitter Alonso – but Schumacher was forced to retire with an engine problem after just 12 laps.
Schumacher also retired in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and was seventh in Malaysia for his only finish so far.
Since Bahrain, Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello have completed 3,609 km of testing in the F2005, the equivalent of roughly a dozen races.
Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit also should favour Ferrari’s Bridgestone tyres, which suffered in the heat of Malaysia and Bahrain, while Renault and other opponents’ Michelins proved better.
“The course here has always been good for us and I have great memories from this circuit,” Schumacher said. “The F2005 is fast as was already shown in Bahrain. Sure, we didn’t finish the race there, but I think with the testing we’ve done since then we’ve resolved any problems.
“We also have some new aerodynamic parts available for the F2005. We’ve been focusing particularly on this race. I am certain we can compete for the victory.”
Victory has belonged to Renault so far this season.
Giancarlo Fisichella won in Australia – with Alonso not far behind in third – and the Spaniard took the checkered flag in the next two races.
“So far, the R25 has been competitive on all the types of circuits we have visited; I expect it will continue in San Marino,” Alonso said of his car.
“When we talk about the championship, we should not do it based on the first three races. It is the last three or four races of the season that will be the important ones I think,” Alonso said.
Last season’s title was virtually decided after Schumacher won the first five races.
A year ago at Imola, Britain’s Jenson Button of BAR Honda emerged as a possible threat to Schumacher when he claimed his first pole position and finished second in the race.
This season, Button is yet to claim a point so far.
The surprising team now is Toyota with Jarno Trulli, who is second in the driver’s standings, and Ralf Schumacher, who is fourth.
McLaren-Mercedes is third in the constructor’s standings behind Renault and Toyota, but will be without Juan Pablo Montoya for the second consecutive race. The Colombian is still recuperating from a shoulder injury suffered playing tennis.
Montoya will be replaced by Alex Wurz of Austria this weekend.
Antonio Liuzzi, last season’s F3000 champion, will make his Formula One debut for Red Bull, bumping Christian Klien down to the team’s third driver spot.
With Liuzzi an added Italian attraction to Trulli and Fisichella’s impressive starts, organisers are hoping for a bigger fan turnout than in past years. Imola nearly was eliminated from the calendar for this season and the circuit is hoping to replace crumbling infrastructures in time for next year’s race.     – AP
Last update on: 23-4-2005