Schumacher Urges Caution Around Monaco

World Champion Michael Schumacher has called for caution at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, which will take place around the streets of Monte Carlo.

Schumacher, who is heavily involved with circuit safety as a member of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said that Monaco is "not one of the safest" tracks and warned his rivals to take care.

"Clearly, Monaco is not one of the safest circuits and there can be no doubt about that," said the Ferrari driver. "Every year we ask ourselves why we continue to race here and every year we decide to come back. In many ways, it's a strange thing.

"Probably, we think it is only one of 17 races on the calendar and that once a year we can take this sort of risk with all the necessary precautions. You really have to avoid making any risky moves because the consequences can be serious."

Jordan rookie Takuma Sato, who will race this weekend just two weeks after a heavy collision with Nick Heidfeld's Sauber at the Austrian Grand Prix, has already felt the strength of the harbourside circuit's barriers.

The Japanese driver crashed a Lotus car as he tried to learn the circuit during last weekend's Historic Monaco Grand Prix, and Schumacher has warned drivers to give the circuit the respect it deserves.

"The Monaco Grand Prix is a challenge," he said. "Racing between the guardrails at high speed is tiring, but at the same time, extremely motivating because it is so narrow. I really like driving here and although every year we ask ourselves why we continue to race here, we always decide to come back. In many ways, it's a strange thing.

"Probably we think it is only one of 17 races on the calendar and that once a year we can take this sort of risk with all the necessary precautions."

Schumacher believes his F2002 car can continue its dominance around the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, as he bids to score his 59th Grand Prix victory and his Ferrari team's 150th.

The dominant German has won five of this season's six races so far in 2002. He is unbeaten in the last four events and he believes that Monaco is another circuit that will suit the new Ferrari.

"I am reasonably optimistic about our level of competitiveness and I think the F2002 will go well in Monaco," he said. "The car intrinsically has a lot of aerodynamic downforce, which is a very important factor at this track."

Schumacher will kick off his Monaco Grand Prix week on Tuesday evening, when he takes to the football field to compete in a charity game between a team of drivers linked with Italy and an All Star team.

The sides have been put together by Prince Albert of Monaco, who is also expected to play, and the game will take place at Menton.