Q & A with Michael Schumacher

Conducted and provided by Ferrari's press office.

Q. When will you get back in the car again?

Schumacher:

We've been here in Norway since the middle of December and will fly back to Switzerland well rested around this weekend. Ferrari's traditional event that marks the start of the new season is taking place next week at Madonna di Campiglio and the week after that I suppose I'll finally take a Formula One car for a spin around the track again.

Q. Ferrari will not start the season with a new car, but will go into the first races with 2004's model. A disadvantage?

Schumacher:

I don't think so. We've been doing that before and it's never proven to be a disadvantage. We have such a good car with the F2004, it's the championship winning car after all. On the contrary, considering all the new rules, I think it's good that we can fall back on something that's proven to be so reliable.

Q. Could the new rules turn out to be a problem for Ferrari? After all, the team was the most dominant one last year. But now the cards are being shuffled again.

Schumacher:

Yes, but everyone will have to get accustomed to the new conditions. I think that an experienced, well functioning and successful team like ours will be able to adjust to the new circumstances better. We're all set to fight for the title again this year - and we can hardly wait to start.