Friday March 24th, 2000

Michael Schumacher has labelled McLaren boss Ron Dennis a worried man after Ferrari's one-two finish in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Dennis had accused Ferrari of treating Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello as a "sacrificial lamb" to protect winner Schumacher in the race and slammed the German for suggesting Ferrari was in control even before the two McLarens withdrew.

Asked about Dennis's comments before Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, Schumacher advised the McLaren boss to "first look after his own problems and his own team, and we will look after our team.

"We do it in a way we think is best for all of us, and I believe that Ron has always had difficulties with losing races. We know that from history.

"I think he has to be worried," Schumacher added. "So you will probably see some further statements like this."

Ferrari beat McLaren to the constructors' title last season but McLaren's Mika Hakkinen won the drivers' crown for the second year in a row.

Double world champion Schumacher said this year's Ferrari was competitive from the start but still not better than the McLarens.

"In recent years we weren't able to get close to McLaren in the early stages of the season. This is the first year we have been competitive right from the beginning," he said.

The German said Barrichello, who finished second in his debut race for the Italian team, already looked to be closer to him in terms of performance than Briton Eddie Irvine -- now with Jaguar -- was last season.

He said Barrichello was good enough to win races on his own merits and did not need his help.

"I hope he doesn't get too close... but we haven't had any chance yet to see what the exact situation is," he said.

"I'm pretty sure that he will be making life difficult for me, although at the same time he makes things easier for me by pushing the team," Schumacher added.

"The way we were working together in Melbourne was good: We were both very relaxed, very straightforward and very concentrated. That really helps. It means we are fighting the McLarens instead of fighting each other."