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Twists and turns No shortage of storylines in 2001
LONDON (Reuters) -- Michael Schumacher could enjoy a record-breaking season in 2001 if he can keep the McLaren men behind him and lead Ferrari into a new era of Formula One supremacy. Domination is also a theme away from the racetrack, with uncertainty over the control of commercial rights hanging over Formula One before the first checkered flag is waved in Australia on March 4. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was this week even quoted as saying he had been asked by leading carmakers to look into the possibility of establishing an alternative series should German media groups take control. The financial twists and turns, in a preseason period always clouded by bluff and counter-bluff among the teams, have already made gripping reading. "What Bernie has to deal with I wouldn't choose for myself. Personally, I'm quite satisfied with my responsibilities," declared Schumacher recently. Compared with lack of transparency elsewhere, the 32-year-old German's aim is clear. He starts his 10th season in Formula One needing eight more wins -- one fewer than he managed from 17 races in 2000 in becoming Ferrari's first champion for 21 years -- to beat Alain Prost's record of 51. Another title would equal the Frenchman's four, with only the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio ahead on five.
But Schumacher claims to be less interested in that. "You cannot say that my goal is a certain amount of titles," he said at the launch of the new F2001 which technical director Ross Brawn has described as Ferrari's best car yet. "I would simply like to win as many races as possible." Schumacher says he is hungry as ever and there can be no doubt that the 2001 championship will be as tough as ever, probably more hotly contested and open to surprises than it has been for some time. There has already been controversy and acrimony. Prost and Jaguar, the teams who disappointed their fans most last season, are already at daggers drawn over the latter's signing of Spanish test driver Pedro de la Rosa after he had already tried out the new Ferrari-engined Prost. Prost has already threatened both Jaguar and De La Rosa with legal action. Further controversy can be expected with the immediate renewal of "tire wars" and the return of hitherto banned electronic "driver aids" from the fifth race in Barcelona at the end of April. "I think we are going to have some very contentious post-race scrutineering," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis, voicing fears about illegal tire wear and the possibility of teams cheating with electronics in the early races. His drivers can expect to be front runners again in a sport that has seen just four races won by teams other than Ferrari or McLaren since the end of 1997. Finland's Mika Hakkinen, whose son Hugo was born in December, says he is refreshed and looking forward to being a hunter again after having his run of two successive titles ended by Schumacher. David Coulthard is more determined than ever to break out from under Hakkinen's shadow at McLaren. The top two teams may not be able to dominate to the extent they did last season, when they won everything. "We'll be fighting with McLaren for the title but with the advent of Michelin tires there'll be room, in some circumstances, for other teams," says Schumacher, whose Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello was the only first-time winner of 2000. One team on the rise should be former champions Williams, a distant third last year, who have Colombian newcomer Juan Pablo Montoya and an all-new BMW engine. Montoya, a CART champion who won the Indy 500 last year, is a class act who will be particularly closely watched at the season-opener in Melbourne. In 1996, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve made his Formula One debut in a Williams in Australia as a CART champion who had just won the Indy 500. He took pole and almost won the race, finishing second. Next year he was champion. Montoya's teammate Ralf Schumacher is also ready to win a grand prix in his fifth season. Villeneuve's chances of a first podium since 1998, when the Canadian was still at Williams, are also looking better since his BAR team finished a strong fifth overall last season. He will be partnered by Frenchman Olivier Panis, McLaren's test driver last season, who is one of seven drivers who were not on the grid at the start of 2000. Jenson Button, now 21 and on loan to Benetton after a strong debut at Williams, seems like a seasoned driver compared with some of the youngsters who will be making their grand prix debuts in Melbourne. Spaniard Fernando Alonso, in a Minardi, is just 19 while Finland's Kimi Raikkonen is 21 but the Sauber driver has just 23 single-seater races under his belt. Only three teams have unchanged lineups -- Ferrari, McLaren and Jordan -- while Honda and Ferrari are providing engines to five of the 11 teams and watching with interest. Jordan will be sharing the Hondas with BAR -- a situation which has fired up both teams. "This is our chance. If we blow it this time you can blame us," said Eddie Jordan at the launch of his EJ11.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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