Analysis: No End in Sight to Ferrari Domination

Those Formula One fans who had hoped for a sign of Ferrari weakness would have been disappointed on Sunday.

Michael Schumacher's pole-to-post win in the Malaysian Grand Prix put the D word - for domination - back into the public debate and suggested that the Ferrari machine will keep on winning for months to come.

After one of the closest title battles in recent years last season, with Schumacher taken down to the wire for his sixth Championship, 2004 is already threatening to turn into a cakewalk for the Italian team.

"It's an uphill battle for anyone else," said team boss Eddie Jordan, who gave Schumacher his first drive in 1991.

The German produced another peerless performance at Sepang to continue his unbeaten start to the season with a second successive win and build on Ferrari's overpowering one-two finish in Australia.

Even in 2002, when Ferrari won all but two of the races, Schumacher did not triumph in the sweltering heat of Malaysia and the signs at Sepang on Sunday were that he was on a roll.

"My perception is that the Ferrari is so dominant that if we are close to Ferrari with anybody, it's a great achievement," said Michelin motorsport boss Pierre Dupasquier.

Dupasquier, whose tyre company supplies Ferrari's four main opponents, doubted whether anyone could stop Schumacher claiming a seventh title.

"I don't see how. We also have another handicap in that since our partners are close to each other, they will share the points. And all the red points will go to Michael."

So Superb

Last season Ferrari had the speed, but not the luck or consistency, to win the first two races. This year they have not put a wheel wrong.

"In the current situation now, Ferrari are just so superb but even Ferrari can make mistakes," said BAR boss David Richards.

"Unfortunately you are probably right," he added when asked whether he felt Ferrari were in danger of disappearing into the distance. "But it's our job now to keep improving and try to catch them."

Ferrari's last period of domination led to a decline in television viewing figures and a raft of sweeping changes to pep up the show. Yet there were plenty of people in the Sepang paddock prepared to argue that a string of wins for the champions did not add up to a problem for the sport.

"I don't see what all the commotion is about. When Tiger Woods wins nine majors in a row or thereabouts everyone is singing his praises," said Jordan. "This is magic what's happening. It is so competitive at the front of the grid, it's just phenomenal.

"But at the moment Michael Schumacher, Ferrari and the people he's put together have the edge. And good luck to them."

While Ferrari did not have it all their own way in Malaysia, Schumacher was in control from the start as he headed for his 72nd win in more than a decade at the top.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was his closest rival but the five second margin at the finish flattered the Williams driver. Schumacher drove a measured race, keeping the gap without risking too much.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who saw last year's overall runner-up Kimi Raikkonen again fail to finish due to an engine failure, said there was no prospect of a quick fix.

"It's going to be tough for a couple of races," he said. "We're hopeful of quite a bit coming on to the car, hopefully by the Spanish Grand Prix. I think it will be tough until then but we'll just keep working away at it."

Dennis said it was too early to talk of domination, however: "I think it's a bit premature. Williams are quite strong, there are several teams there.

"Other teams are going to win races this year but not one team is going to compete (constantly) against Ferrari so it's going to be difficult to beat them. But they (Ferrari) won't win all the races."