Schuey brushes off rules concern

Speaking at the Bologna Motorshow over the weekend, Schumacher was asked whether worries from his rivals, including team-mate Rubens Barrichello, about how the new lower downforce rules had drastically changed the feel of cars, were justified.

But Schumacher expressed little interest in the changes. "The new rules?" he asked. "They will be an interesting point for the others because we will continue as we are.

"For me they are not a problem because whichever team does a better job will continue to win. The changes of the rules are not important."

Only last week, Barrichello expressed his shock at how different a 2005-spec car felt when he returned to testing for the first time since the end of the season in a modified Ferrari F2004.

He said: "There is no mechanical grip, because you are lacking in aerodynamic grip and behind someone you lose everything again - effectively you do not have the car to turn the corner."

When asked whether he was expecting a host of surprises from the first race of the season, he added: "I think so, it will be a big shock for all of us. I am up for it, it is a new challenge and we will live with it. But you can count on a lot more spins next year than 2004, for sure."