Monday February 1st, 2000

By Simon Evans

After conflicts last year over Irvine's status within the team, Ferrari officials stressed today that neither driver would start as number one driver.

"We want Ferrari to achieve the best results," sporting director Jean Todt said. "Rubens and Michael will have to drive to the best of their abilities for Ferrari, and then later Ferrari will decide if we need a strategy and if one needs to drive for the other."

Barrichello said he wanted only to be treated as an equal. "If I had come here and said I wanted to be number one, well, I would say I would have had trouble," the former Stewart driver said.

"Michael is in his fifth year trying to win the title. I had to come in small and asked only for equal terms and support. But if I am winning in the first race they (Ferrari) will let me win. There is nothing in my contract to say I have to let Michael pass me."

"If I started the 2000 championship saying I want to finish on the podium, I would be lying," he added, "I want to win."

Schumacher, whose title hopes were dashed by a crash at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last July, said he had fully recovered and was ready for the new campaign.

"I have had a good preparation time and I've relaxed as well," the former Benetton driver said. "I have seen the new car and the data we have and I am very optimistic."

He said the accident had helped him develop new training methods which were now paying off.

"The result is that, with the same four or five hours training a day, I can achieve much more but now I want to prove it in the car," Schumacher said.

"Clearly McLaren are the team to beat and for them we will be the team to beat," he said, adding that Jordan and Jaguar could also play a role in the title fight.

Ferrari officials said last season's car had gradually improved throughout the season but they hoped the new F1-2000 would be at its peak by the first race, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 12.

"The 1999 car was a good, reliable car which only twice broke down and which was also extremely fast," Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said. "The only flaw was a lack of performance in the first races.

"We worked a lot and by mid-season the car was very competitive. This year we have extended development time before the season so we can be more competitive in the first race."

Ferrari say the new car will be lighter and have a lower centre of gravity.

"The F1-2000 is an evolution of last year's car but we've worked a lot on aerodynamics, suspension and weight distribution," Todt said.

The car will feature a new engine, the 049, which Ferrari says will combine improved horsepower with reduced weight.