Formula One: Ferrari stick with title-winning car

Ferrari will use last year's car when they start the 2002 Formula One season at Melbourne's Albert Park.

The Italian team introduced their new F2002 car earlier this month.

But after extensive testing they have opted to go with the F2001 machine which took Michael Schumacher to the world title last season.

Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt admitted he had concerns over the new car's reliability, despite Schumacher's confidence in the F2002 following testing this week.

Todt said: "The new car has proved to be very quick right from the start, but we do not have sufficient time at our disposal to be entirely sure about its total reliability for the first round of the season.

"Therefore we decided to go to Melbourne with the F2001, which even in this winter's tests, has proved to be very competitive and reliable.

"We think it will be able to bring home valuable points for the championship."

Ferrari will continue testing the new car - as well as the F2001 - during a three-day session at Imola next week ahead of the opening round in Australia on March 3.