Changing fortunes

Changing fortunes

Jonathan Legard BBC motor racing correspondent

Will Ferrari set the pace again?

Forget Michael Schumacher's attempt on an unprecedented sixth world championship, Formula One's leading man is on a mission.

The rulebook has been dramatically redrawn and FIA president Max Mosley's winter revolution will be put to the test.

Official clarifications are still fluttering about like confetti as yet more regulations are introduced.

Read BBC Sport's guide to F1 changes

The potential for confusion, controversy and thrilling theatre has never been so great at the start of a season.

Change was inevitable. F1 could not afford to be dismissed, like it was in 2002, as a discredited, predictable procession.

Whether Mosley's approach is the road to hell, as team bosses Frank Williams and Ron Dennis believe, or the path to salvation will become clearer over the next eight months.

But the notion that Ferrari will be toppled by the new measures is nonsense.

How often is Michael Schumacher found wanting over one lap, with or without traction control? And which team is currently the benchmark for race strategy and technical excellence?

The rules only set the limits. The players define the contest.

Joker in the pack

The best should still succeed - the challenge is to stiffen the competition.

This is the the inspiration for the new schedules on Fridays and Saturdays, with the prospect of jumbled grids and better racing on Sundays.

Frank Williams is unhappy with F1's new rules

One lap qualifying will demand so much more of a driver. Who will play it safe, who will go for broke and who will wobble under pressure?

But the ban on refuelling between Saturday and Sunday is the real joker in Max's pack.

Pole ain't what it used to be. The pitlane's big brains will have to weigh up the pros and cons of loading light or heavy.

Should a team go for glory on Saturday in favour of the commercial exposure of pole position? Or do they save the big push for points on Sunday?

Feature: Shaking up the show

And what works through Monaco's mean streets will not do for Monza's high-powered straights.

In effect, qualifying becomes the stint before the first pitstop in the race.

Second-guessing team strategies can be a futile business. And if Williams technical director Patrick Head admits it will be even harder now, what hope have the rest of us?

Never a dull moment

Only an FIA scrutineer has it tougher in 2003.

Their job is to police the banning of electronic driver aids - having admitted less than two years ago that it was a hopeless cause!

On top of that, they are on patrol to ensure mechanics only carry out the necessary safety checks between the end of qualifying and the start of the race.

At least they will be helped by the ban on screens and engine covers, which turned off the public as much as any Ferrari walkover.

McLaren's David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen are Ferrari's most likely challengers

But it is easy to foresee some angry confrontations between spanner-wielding mechanics and the clipboard brigade, not to mention full-blown protests to the stewards.

As for confrontations between drivers on the track, step forward Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button.

Fast or mediocre, BAR will never be dull.

Sparks will also fly between Montoya and Schumacher if Williams do not fix their new car.

Ferrari's extra gear

Elsewhere, Renault are down on power, Jaguar rebuilding and Jordan and Minardi simply happy to still be part of the action.

Toyota have made progress but the most encouraging noises are coming from McLaren.

Old car improved, new one still being honed - David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen are Ferrari's most likely challengers.

Michelin have played their part with a new tyre that is both quicker and more durable.

This could be David Coulthard's year to mount a challenge

But are Ferrari and Bridgestone sitting back on their laurels? No chance.

Anybody who was at the launch of the strikingly beautiful F2003-GA has to fear that the champions have found another gear that will leave the field trailing again.

That would be seriously bad news for F1. Even Bernie Ecclestone admits that.

Max Mosley feels he has done his bit. Now it's up to all teams not racing in red to play their part.