Team first for Schumacher

Unrepentant Michael Schumacher has refused to rule out team orders giving him a record-equalling sixth victory in Monte Carlo on Sunday.

The four-time champion returns to the track for the first time today since being gifted victory in Austria when Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello was told to move over for him.

Schumacher could lose the points he won at the A1-Ring when he, Barrichello and Ferrari appear before the World Council of FIA, the sport’s governing body, in Paris next month.

But that threat will not stop Ferrari ordering Barrichello to move over for the German on Sunday when Schumacher bids to equal Ayrton Senna’s record of victories on the famous street circuit.

‘‘I think everyone understands what we are doing,’’ said Schumacher, who was booed by the crowd at the A1-Ring.

‘‘It is our philosophy. I am part of it and I am very much in favour of it.

‘‘That’s the way we have always worked in the past, so it was not really a surprise.

‘‘When you think of the difficult years we have had in 1997, 1998 and 1999, I would certainly take some criticism instead of having the feelings we had then when we lost the title.

‘‘But I was surprised by the reaction of the crowd and in the press conference afterwards.

‘‘I did not like it. I have never had to handle that sort of situation and I was struggling to deal with it.

‘‘When I think of my feelings, they were probably a bit helpless.’’

Schumacher is confident there will be no repeat of the booing when he begins practice in Monte Carlo this morning.

But Schumacher did come under fire yesterday from rival Jacques Villeneuve, who told him he should have acted ‘like a man’ at the victory ceremony in Austria.

Villeneuve blasted Schumacher for forcing Barrichello on to the top step of the podium and handing the Brazilian the winner’s trophy.

‘‘I don’t have a problem with the team orders the only thing I found unacceptable was the podium situation,’’ said Villeneuve, crowned world champion in 1997 after surviving Schumacher’s attempt to force him off the track in their title decider.

‘‘If you win a race, even if it’s in a way you don’t like, then be a man and go up on the top step and take the trophy even if you are embarrassed because everyone is booing you.

‘‘He accepted taking the win, he didn’t slow down and he felt good about it and waved his hands on the last lap until he heard everyone booing, so he should have stepped up there and been a man.

‘‘It would be stupid not to take anything you are given, so if you are given a win then take it.

‘‘But stick with it, don’t say it’s embarrassing and wrong and say you feel bad about it.’’