Triumphant Schumacher in Love with F2003-GA

Michael Schumacher said he was in love with his new Ferrari after giving it a triumphant Formula One debut in Spain today.

"We are lucky to be here with the new car because I think, with the old car, we wouldn't have been able to make it," commented the five-times World Champion after steering the F2003-GA to the chequered flag.

The old Ferrari won on its farewell appearance at Imola in Italy two weeks ago after a dominant season in 2002 with 14 wins in 15 appearances. The new car, its initials a tribute to the late Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli, was launched in February but delayed by reliability concerns after test driver Luca Badoer had two big accidents in testing.

"This new car is something very special. It works so beautifully and so fine, I am so much in love with this car. It's just fantastic what they've done," said Schumacher.

Schumacher's win, the 66th of his career, kept up a winning streak for Ferrari, who have now won on their new car's debut for the past five years. Ferrari might have had a one-two finish had Renault's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso not split the two red cars.

"That was a fantastic debut for the new car, especially as it is never easy for the mechanics to adapt to a new car after the season has started," said Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn. "It was a tough weekend for them and they worked very well to make this result possible."

Ferrari closed in on the overall lead in the constructors' standings with 48 points to McLaren's 51.