Rubens Barrichello looked very happy to be back in the racing environment when he arrived in the Albert Paddock this afternoon. 'Maybe I said it last year, but it is just as true now that I have never felt in such good shape, mentally and physically, as I do now,' began the Brazilian when he met the media circus. Just like his world champion team-mate, Barrichello maintained he was very encouraged with the results of winter testing. 'We chose to do most of our testing in Mugello and Imola for a good reason,' he explained. 'We certainly were not ‘hiding’ as some of the press have written. 'It was simply the most convenient plan to test within a short distance of the factory. If we had an engine problem for example, that engine could soon be back in Maranello for the problem to be analysed.' As for the F2004 itself, Rubens summed it up in one word – 'fantastic. It is definitely better than the F2003-GA, but it is hard for me to explain in what areas. I can describe it as feeling more complete. We can see the improvement on the stopwatch and from the data, but from the cockpit it is difficult to say why it is better. I think that in 2002 we had a fantastic car and with last year’s car, possibly because of the rule changes, I don’t think we always got the most out of it. But with the 2004, I think we will be able to extract all its potential. In a championship where every single point will be vital, that will be a valuable factor.'

Barrichello refused to make predictions about what the pecking order would be amongst the teams, based on winter testing. 'It does not give you a clear indication,' he explained. 'Even Friday’s practice here will not show us what the order is and the same could even apply to Saturday qualifying with the possibility of different teams running different fuel loads.' But he was positive when it came to his own outlook on the season: 'I feel this is the right time of my career and if I have the chance to win I will take it.'