Schumacher says victory in Australian GP 'not impossible' (ANSA) - Melbourne, March 30 - Michael Schumacher used a double negative on Thursday to explain his team's chances at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix saying it was "not impossible" that Ferrari will win .

Meeting the press ahead of the race weekend, the 37-year-old German said "we are going into this race in fine form and, to be perfectly totally honest, I can wait" .

"Ferrari is competitive again and everyone else better take note. It's a great feeling and certainly much more than we could have hoped for after last season," he added .

In 2005 Ferrari failed to win the constructors' championship for the first time in seven years, while Renault driver Fernando Alonso denied Schumacher his sixth straight title. Looking ahead to Sunday's race, Schumacher observed that "as a city circuit, Albert Park is a scenic one and enjoyable to drive. It has been improved from a safety point of view and I expect a better result than in Malaysia. Let's keep our finders crossed" .


"Malaysia did not go as well as we would have liked, but on the whole the start of the season has gone well," he added .

Schumacher came in 6th in Malaysia, behind teammate Felipe Massa, but this was in large part due to the fact that he was forced to change his motor before the race and was thus penalized ten places on the starting grid .

Looking back at that race, Schumacher recalled that "we were concerned about our engine's reliability which is why we changed it. But it turns out that it was not really necessary so we have no concerns in that area at the moment". At the season opener in Bahrain, Schumacher grabbed pole position with Massa right beside him. He ended second after Alonso passed him before he came out from a pit stop .

Renault has won the first two races of the season, first with Alonso and then with his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, and for Schumacher it obviously remains the car to beat .

"Up until now they have not shown any weaknesses. But it's a long season and the key to winning the championship this year will be the speed in which a car can improve. And from that point of view I think this is Ferrari's strongpoint," Schumacher said .

Massa agreed and said "Ferrari is a team which looks ahead and this is why Renault does not scare us. In Bahrain we lost because of a pit stop. In Sepang, although we started way back, we kept the pace of those who were in the lead" .

"This is why I think that on Sunday I will have a good chance for a podium finish. On what level, who knows...", the Brazilian added .