Schuey up for the fight

Although speculation that Schumacher's age and continued domination of Formula 1 could leave him less hungry for an all-out fight with his rivals, the seven-times champion has kicked off his 2005 by declaring himself ready for anything the opposition can throw at him.

"You bet," he said. "I'm starting off the new season just like all the others before: with a hunger, fully motivated and looking forward to the fights that lay ahead. Like I said, I have fun, I love my sport and I love being challenged.

"The things I've achieved so far have nothing to do with it. That doesn't count in sports anyway. In sports, you can't rest on your past victories, you have to take on the challenge again and again. It's always all about the next race."

Although Schumacher celebrates his 36th birthday on Monday, he insists that age is not yet hindering his performance and that he feels as strong as many of his rivals - including some who are 10 years younger than him.

"Let's put it like this: of course I have the odd small ache or pain every now and then, but they are only small ones. All in all I feel very, very fit and to be perfectly honest: much younger than almost 36.

"I play soccer with my colleagues quite often, with people like Fernando Alonso, who is ten years younger than I am, and I don't see much of a difference. No, I am not getting worn out, and especially not psychologically. I still enjoy what I do immensely."

The challenge Schumacher will face this year will be greater than in recent campaigns because of the dramatic change in the sport's technical regulations - with less downforce and less powerful engines making the cars slower and perhaps more difficult to drive.

But rather than use the change as an excuse to explain why the opposition may be closer, Schumacher is confident that the new rules will not affect him more than anyone else.

"It is what the F1 is all about: nothing ever stands still, you have to keep on developing new things. We'll all have to get used to the changes next year. I already got a little taste of it when I drove the last test at Jerez with the configurations for 2005 - it all seemed extremely slow in the beginning.

"It will be a different F1, and everyone will have to adjust to it. Right now, I would say that the cars will be two, or more likely, three seconds slower per lap. So it will be different, but it will also be interesting."