MELBOURNE – He is calm, relaxed, smiling. And he is obviously optimistic. It is Michael Schumacher who is preparing for the first tests of the Australian Grand Prix by watching and looking at the number one world champion printed on his Ferrari. The new adventure starts tonight (one in Italy) and the German driver feels ready to defend the throne he won last year.

How do you stand as world champion? “Having this number takes away a lot of pressure. Perhaps this is the most important difference compared to previous years”.

How are his conditions psychologically and physically? “I am very relaxed, it is normal that this is the case. But at the same time I can’t wait to get on the track. The car is beautiful and we are very satisfied with the work done so far, even if as it happens every year we don’t know exactly how to say where we stand “.

How does the new Ferrari look like? “I don’t know how to judge these definitions, I just take note with pleasure that the media speaks well of the new machine. I only say that it is beautiful and fast”. How fast the track will tell … “It is clear that we still have many questions open but it is normal at the beginning of the season”.

Do you think it will open a cycle with Ferrari? “I hope to do like Manchester, who after a long fasting has started to win a lot, but in Formula 1 it is difficult to predict a season exactly. I certainly think that this year the story of last season will be repeated again, that is a Ferrari-McLaren battle, but I expect progress also from Williams, Jordan, Prost and Sauber “.

Did you have to change your training according to the new rules? “A bit ‘yes because now the pilot is asked for more. I have already tried what it means both in Barcelona, ​​both in tests at Mugello. In some situations lateral acceleration is higher”.

How is the machine prepared? “It is difficult to say until we make the first qualifications, from which we will have the first significant indications. I would have liked to have done a ‘long run’, for example. However we did 4.178 kilometers, we have solved some problems, others are still open. One thing is certain: this year the development of the car will be decisive for winning the title “.

What advice do you give to the many novices of this season? “If one has the talent it is right that there is one. I like that there are new faces. I will go and see their cassettes, not necessarily have something to learn. And I give only one advice: to learn by themselves, without to be there to listen to the advice of an old marpion “.