MARCH 8, 2002

Ferrari decides: F2001 again in Malaysia

As expected, Ferrari will again use the F2001 to compete in Malaysia, giving the test team more time to develop the new F2002 before it is debuted.

AS expected, Ferrari will again use the F2001 to compete in Malaysia, giving the test team more time to develop the new F2002 before it is debuted. Ferrari sporting director, Jean Todt, said earlier in the week that the team would decide Saturday which cars they would bring to Asia, but Thursday announced that Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello would be behind the wheel of F2001s again next weekend.

"The development program of the F2002 is going well," said Todt on Thursday. "The work done by Luca Badoer at Mugello is giving some good indications. Today we've performed a race simulation."

"However, we feel that the F2001 has shown to be competitive, and that it can be in Malaysia too. In the meantime, we will carry on with work on the F2002 in order to take it to a race as soon as possible."

The team will now shoot to debut the new car in Brazil on March 31st, and with warm conditions expected to favor the Michelin teams like Williams and McLaren, the test team is under pressure to prove the F2002's competency as quick as possible.