Schumacher Stays Calm Despite No Podium

Michael Schumacher believes the F2002 is a very competitive car despite the German missing out on his first podium finish in the last 20 races.

Five times World Champion Schumacher finished fourth, a result that ended his run in the Championship lead dating back to September 2000. After rewriting the rulebook following a year of Ferrari domination, with Schumacher winning 11 of the 17 races in 2002, there was change at the top.

Schumacher had started on pole and was leading 12 laps from the end when stewards ordered him into the pits after an aerodynamic turning vane broke on his Ferrari. The broken 'bargeboard', which was left dangling off the side of the Ferrari, was removed but the lost time cost Schumacher a 65th career victory.

It was the first time Schumacher had finished off the podium since Italy in 2001, 20 races ago, while all-conquering Ferrari had been on every podium since the Malaysian Grand Prix of October 1999.

"The changing weather made for a chaotic race today," said Schumacher. "We could not have predicted there would be two Safety Car periods and in this situation it is just a gamble whether or not it works in your favour at the right time. At one point I hit the kerbs, damaged the car quite badly and lost a lot of time because of it.

"Apparently, on the lap before my last pit stop, some parts started hanging off the car and that was badly affecting its handling. It felt as though the car was damaged and I even thought I might have a puncture.

"So, all things considered I think we can be happy with fourth place today. It was an interesting day with plenty of action and these five points will be important later in the year. The F2002 is still very competitive."

Ferrari's hopes of a sixth successive one-two finish had disappeared on the sixth lap when Brazilian Rubens Barrichello crashed out. Barrichello, a close second behind Schumacher at the time, slid off the track and into a concrete barrier.

The impact ripped the front left wheel off his car and left debris scattered on the track.

"A disappointing day, but it's not a case of Australia being unlucky for me," said the Brazilian. "It was just one of those things. There is no need to panic about this result. We just have to dig in and concentrate on Malaysia.

"The F2002 is still a very good car, as could be seen by Michael's lap times, even when he had lost some bodywork."