Head boy Schu may lose £1m

Perhaps, it was just as well his rivals were not at Ferrari's Fiorano base on a cold, grey, January day when he unveiled the 2001 challenger. It was not the sleek, scarlet racer, emblazoned with No.1, that would have struck fear into their hearts as much as sleek, sun-tanned Schumacher himself, oozing fitness and supreme confidence.

Despite a personal fortune estimated at £100m, he said: 'I was born to race and that's what I'll continue to do. Better than ever, I hope, and certainly not taking my foot off the throttle because I've finally achieved my title dream for the team.

'It's now important to show that it was not a one-off and that Ferrari will not have to wait another 21 years for a driver's championship. My motivation is greater than ever.'

Even in a season clouded by a socalled 'tyre war' between Bridgestone and newcomers Michelin, the re-introduction of traction control from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards, and new aerodynamic regulations, there remains just one serious rival - the McLaren-Mercedes team of David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen.

Significantly, their boss Ron Dennis, has been making no extravagant claims, merely expressing the desire to minimise reliability problems that robbed them of drivers and constructors championships last season.

They had the fastest car in 2000 and, one suspects, will have it again.

Finn Hakkinen has been the German's nearest rival, winning the title in 1998 and 1999, but there are great expectations of Coulthard this season from within the team.

Norbert Haug, the motorsport chief of Mercedes-Benz, is a great supporter of Coulthard, 29, and insisted: 'Everyone will realise just how good he is one day. I believe he's now in the same class as Mika and Schumacher.'

Coulthard has never been better prepared. He has done most of the winter testing, while Hakkinen stayed home, and his fitness level is high. But, more importantly, he has had enough of finishing third.

He is my tip for the title.