Schumi can't wait for the off - 1st March 18:59pm GMT

A few days before the beginning of 2005 Championship, Michael Schumacher is longing to jump again into the car to verify on the field the changes introduced by the new rulings: “Melbourne at last!", says Schumacher. "I really want to discover it now. I want to know what awaits me. I want to get into the car and drive at Albert Park. Australia is the perfect place to start the season as both the people and the country make you feel at ease. Here you don’t feel on edge; you feel at home. And then there is the joy of waiting for the beginning of the season which this year, as ever, comes out punctually in me…”

“This year I am curious to see the effects of the new regulations. Nobody can be sure what will happen. I was very eager to see how the temperatures, that are much higher than in Europe, affect our tyres and engines. In the winter testing we could not really evaluate it accurately other than test knowing that the engines had to last two races. It is hard to judge which team has managed to prepare for this best so there are many unknowns which renders everything very exciting. We can all hope for a thrilling start. My aim is to go for the win…after all, Australia has always been a good hunting ground for us."