Ferrari to Decide on New Car this Week

Ferrari will decide this week whether to use the F2002 or the F2001 in the next Grand Prix at Malaysia, team chief Jean Todt said.

"We will test the new car this week in Mugello and then decide about Malaysia," Todt explained. "We would have no problem getting the car there for the race the following week."

The team won yesterday the first Grand Prix of the year, held at Melbourne, Australia, with Michael Schumacher driving a revised version of last year's car, the F2001. This, after the team said the 2002 challenger has not been tested enough and may suffer from reliability problems.

"We honestly did not expect to win the first race, although we wanted to be competitive," said Todt. "This does take some pressure off us now. If we had been uncompetitive and behind on pace then we would have been in a difficult situation. I do not care if our rivals are now concerned, I only worry about my team."

The team's test driver Luca Badoer is set to carry out the five-day testing session at Mugello this week, which is scheduled to end on Saturday.