By Jens Marx Apr 3, 2006, 17:37 GMT
Melbourne, Australia - Showed into his place by second-rate opposition and lampooned by the press seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher must be worried that he is facing yet another disastrous year.
After finishing second in the season-opener in Bahrain and sixth in Malaysia, the German Ferrari driver crashed out of contention in Sunday's Australian GP.
'We have the potential, we just need to realise it,' Ferrari team principal Jean Todt said.
Ahead of the home race in Imola, Ferrari is hoping to turn things around. 'The huge disappointment changes nothing of our goals. We want to get the results that show clearly that we have what it takes to return to the top. We want to start doing that in Imola.'
The gap between Ferrari and the leading pack is not as big as it was last year, when Fernando Alonso had 26 points, while Schumacher had 2. Although the Spaniard has 28 points from two victories and a second place this time around, Schumacher has 11.
'We are much more competitive than we were last year,' Schumacher says, but realises that the team can not compete with Renault at this stage.
In fact, Schumacher was even overtaken by one of the cars of Grand Prix minnows Scuderia Toro Rosso. 'That is not a problem for my pride,' said Todt.
But for the press Vitantonio Liuzzi's manoeuvre created a field day. 'Michael Schumacher shows the first signs of ageing. The Alonso era has begun,' said Marca, while AS reported: 'Where was the Emperor? Michael Schumacher had nothing to do with the outcome of the race. The German was so out of it that he went into the Toyota box after crashing out.'
For the Sun 'Michael Schumacher destroying his Ferrari when smashing into the barriers after losing control while chasing Jenson Button - then walking into the wrong garage,' was the moment of the day.
Schumacher, who said he will decide whether to continue racing next year on the basis of the competitivenesses of his car, said that he needs the Ferrari to be fast. 'We need to be fast under all circumstances.'
To achieve that the 37-year-old, who was racing in his 234th Grand Prix on Sunday and failed to finish for the 27th time, is to undergo three days of testing in Barcelona later this month.
For Todt, Schumacher's disappointing run was not only due to the German's mistake, it was also due to the tyres, which struggled to reach the required temperature.
Todt is hoping to receive some help from other Bridgestone teams like Toyota, Williams, Midland and Super Aguri. 'We will exchange data and there will be other improvements.'
But he realises that his team will not be the only one with improvements. Even Renault team principal Flavio Briatore says that while they are in an excellent situation, they will 'continue to work.'
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