Ferrari confirms: F2005 to debut in Bahrain.

Two wins for Renault, and only two points for Michael Schumacher, from the opening two races of the 2005 Formula One season has been enough to force Ferrari into giving the new F2005 an earlier than expected race debut.

The team was due to introduce the new car into competitive action in the Spanish Grand Prix in May, but after a disappointing start to the season with the modified F2004M, and an encouraging test of the F2005 at Mugello, Ferrari has now confirmed that it will introduce its new car in the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend.

"In the next race we will be running with the new car," Ferrari managing director Jean Todt confirmed. "The Mugello test, which saw both race drivers try the F2005 for the first time, confirmed its potential. We will have two F2005, one for each driver, while for the spare, we will use one of the F2004M used in Australia and Malaysia.

"The contrasting results of the first two races gave us a positive incentive. Along with Bridgestone, we decided to accelerate the development programme and we believe that the combination of various new elements - car and tyre - will allow us to move back on the attack after two Grands Prix on the defensive. I have to say I am very happy with the way the team and all our partners have reacted to try and quickly return to our true level of competitiveness."

Although Barrichello secured a podium in the season opener in Australia, Ferrari has struggled for pace in the first two races of the season, and is currently only fourth in the constructors championship, behind both Toyota and Red Bull, while world champion Michael Schumacher is already 14 points behind early championship leader Fernando Alonso.