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THE COVETED treasure trove that is Formula One looks ever more appealing as the world championship switches to Europe this weekend for what is traditionally recognised as the start of the season proper.
Opening skirmishes on far-flung continents serve to knock off the rust and oil the axles, but the sport's sages will tell you: "Wait till Imola, then we'll see who's going to do what".
The Autodroma Enzo e Dino Ferrari now beckons and by the end of Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix, the authentic contenders should have emerged from the throng of pretenders.
Many believed it was already written: that this Easter, here in the heartland of Ferrari, would bear witness to the supremacy of Michael Schumacher and his scarlet car. It is their first competitive appearance in Italy since last season's double championship success and is set up to be an indulgence in triumphalism.
Schumacher's victories at the first two races of the year, in Australia and Malaysia, extended his winning sequence to six grands prix and his declared ambition to make Ferrari the dominant force of the era appeared not merely realistic but almost preordained.
However, events in Brazil, 11 days ago, seemed to have changed the landscape of Formula One significantly. If these impressions are confirmed on Sunday, then the grand prix road show may be embarking upon one of its most riveting summer seasons in years.
The source of this rampant optimism was the eclipse of Schumacher at Interlagos by both Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW's rookie, and David Coulthard, the McLaren- Mercedes driver promising to come of age at 30. Montoya, the precocious Colombian, barged inside Schumacher only to be denied the chance of a maiden win in...