Badoer says nothing wrong with 248 F1

The Italian, who is testing those parts on an F2004 at Vallelunga in Italy this week, believes that poor strategy choices and circumstances have had more to do with the team's disappointing start to the campaign than any design weakness with the car.

"We are testing some very important new parts, we have to make difficult decisions in a short time," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Testing has been reduced, and it's easier to make mistakes. The new components are many, and before Imola, next week, we'll also go to Barcelona.

"I drove the old F2004 because it's the car whose characteristics are more similar to the new one. In my opinion we are very competitive, maybe only Renault have something more. Let's not forget we could have won the first race."

When asked what he thought were the causes of the poor results in the last two races, he suggested that the team's reluctance to use new cold weather Bridgestones in Australia played a key factor

"Some management errors and some bad choices were made. It happens," he explained. "Before the Melbourne race I approved in Fiorano tyres with compounds for hot and cool weather.

"In Australia, however, despite the temperature being lower than expected, only hot weather tyres were used. Maybe there was too little time to decide, but nevertheless the test had been carried out."

And Badoer has also jumped to the defence of Michael Schumacher, who has been on the receiving end of criticism following his crash in Melbourne.

"Michael is a human being, besides being a monster of a driver," explained Badoer. "At that point of the race in Australia he was pushing hard. In those conditions even the best can make a mistake."