Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has played down missing a podium place in Sunday's opening Australian Grand Prix and defended his Ferrari team's tactics.

"I can be satisfied with fourth place," Schumacher told his German website on Monday. "The season is still long and the title is not decided over one race.

"It is too early to have a clear picture of the other team's strengths," the German added after a race won by Britain's David Coulthard in a McLaren.

Schumacher, who was denied a podium finish by great resistance from McLaren's other driver, third-placed Finn Kimi Raikkonen, dismissed suggestions Ferrari had made the wrong choice of tyres.

"In retrospect our choice of tyres could be described as wrong but it was too damp at the start for us to start with tyres for a dry surface," he said.

"Just after the race started we could not change tyres either because it had then rained on the opposite section of the track," he added.

Schumacher, who outclassed the opposition last year, did not seem too worried about his start to this season.

"Obviously this is not the result we had hoped for but you must not forget that many things went our way last year," he said.

"It was always clear to us that things could not always work out that well. And that race was somewhat chaotic."