Thursday March 14th, 2002

German driver Ralf Schumacher is hoping his Formula One colleagues are more careful at the start of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix in order to avoid a repeat of the mayhem that took place at the first corner in the season opening race in Melbourne.

The Williams driver crashed into the back of Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari, his car taking off in the air at high speed. Meanwhile, further back, another six cars were forced into retirement after a chaotic first corner incident at the Albert Park track.

"I hope all the drivers will be more careful here than in Australia," Ralf was quoted as saying by The New Stray Times newspaper. "The accident was not as bad as it looked. I am used to accidents. In situations like this, you just shrug it off and concentrate on the race ahead."

The German, who last year finished in fifth place at the Malaysian Grand Prix, said he is hoping to stop his brother's streak of wins at the Sepang circuit.

"Michael has won here two times already, and I plan to stop the Ferrari, that's the plan," he added. "(But) if Michael wins it, then I am happy for him."

Ferrari have won every Malaysian Grand Prix since the first one in 1999, with Michael Schumacher finishing first there in the last two years. Michael, however, expects his younger brother Ralf and Colombian teammate Juan Pablo Montoya to be strong challengers for victory this year.

"In a straight, dry race we are going to see them very close to us," he warned. "One of the two will certainly be with us on the podium if we can be there."

Published at 08:44:07 GMT