Get in early: Schu throws down gauntlet to championship rivals

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER believes his Formula One rivals must lay down their championship challenge in the opening three races of the season — starting with tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix.

The 36-year-old German, who statistically is the most successful driver in Formula One history with 83 wins from 212 GPs, is after eight world titles, six of them in succession with Ferrari after landing two with Benetton in 1994-95.

Few, if any, in the sport are predicting anything other than another season triumph for Schumacher, whose relentless domination has raised criticism of the sport's predictability.