Ferrari delay decision on new car

Ferrari will not rush into a decision over running their new car at next week's Malaysian Grand Prix, after Michael Schumacher claimed victory in the Formula 1 season-opener in Australia on Sunday

The world champion team decided to race last year's F2001 in Melbourne because they could not be sure their new car would be reliable. The F2002, which features radical developments at the rear, had not undergone enough pre-season testing.

Now Ferrari will test the new car at the Italian Mugello circuit until Saturday before they decide which version to race at the Sepang circuit.

Sporting director Jean Todt said in the Daily Telegraph: "We honestly did not expect to win the first race, though we wanted to be competitive. If we had been uncompetitive and behind on pace we would have been in a difficult situation.

"We will test the new car at Mugello until Saturday and then decide about Malaysia. We would have no problem getting the car there for the race the following week."

Test drivers Luca Badoer and Luciano Burti are likely to be behind the wheel.