New Ferrari is good and fast: Schumacher
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-24 16:17

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher gave his seal of approval to Ferrari's new Formula One car on Wednesday after testing it for the first time.

Ferrari F1 driver Michael Schumacher of Germany tests the new F-2005 Ferrari model at the Mugello autodrome, Italy, Wednesday, March 23, 2005. [AP]

"The most important thing is that the new car shows that its good and its fast. And this car did both right away," the German said on his website after the test at the Mugello circuit in central Italy.

"I had not driven the F2004 here at Mugello, so I can't really compare the two, but I am very happy with the (new) car."

Ferrari, struggling in the first two races of the season won by Renault, must make an immediate decision about whether to race the new car in Bahrain next week or continue with the modified old one for two more grands prix.

That is because of new rules requiring engines to last for two successive races. The engine in the F2004 cannot be transferred to the new F2005.

"Getting into a new car for the first time is always a really special moment," Schumacher said. "But it's even more interesting now, seeing that we did not really do well in Malaysia.

"Of course (test driver) Luca (Badoer) and Rubens (Barrichello) had told me a lot about it but I wanted to see what my own impression would be. And it is very good.

"The car has been driven quite a lot, it's not as if it was brand new and going to leave the garage for the first time. So it all felt a little different than it usually does when you take a new car to the track for the first time."

Barrichello, who retired in Malaysia at the weekend while Schumacher finished seventh, tested the car for the first time on Tuesday and also felt happy with it despite having to shut down the engine at the end of the day.

Schumacher did 81 laps, completing a total of 422 km.

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