Saturday March 2nd, 2002

World Champion Michael Schumacher has said that he will not be surprised if Ferrari's apparent domination in Australia does not continue at the next race in Malaysia.

Schumacher, who qualified second for the Australian Grand Prix and completed a Ferrari lock-out on the front row, believes the Albert Park circuit often gives an incorrect picture of the true relative performance between teams.

"I wouldn't be surprised if all this can change very quickly," he said. "I think the fact is we have seen very often in the past that Australia, for whatever reason, seems to suit one team in particular. I remember we have been here with Ferrari against the Williams and they were at one point seconds ahead.

"And then it was McLaren being so much time ahead, and then you come to the next races and suddenly the gap shrinks dramatically. So it seems something with that circuit, whatever is the reason for it I don't know. It does suit us 100 percent, but why the others may suffer, I have no idea."

Schumacher and Barrichello were split by just five thousandths of a second at the front, but outpaced the Williams car of closest rival Ralf Schumacher by nearly half a second.

Published at 07:44:35 GMT