Ferrari's [Images] new Formula One car is clearly quicker than last year's, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello said after driving the F2005 for the first time on Tuesday.

"Days like these always give you a nice feeling, when you drive a new car for the first time, especially when it's a Ferrari," said Barrichello after the test at the Mugello circuit in central Italy [Images].

"First impressions count and I am very happy with how it felt to drive the F2005. It is definitely quicker than the F2004M and represents a step forward in every area."

The Brazilian, who retired from Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, completed 95 laps.

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Ferrari have struggled in the first two races of the season after deciding to delay the introduction of the new car and continue with a modified version of the F2004 that won 15 of 18 races last year.

Renault's success in Australia and Malaysia is expected to spur the champions into racing the F2005 at the next race in Bahrain rather than waiting until the fifth round in Spain in May as originally planned.

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said at the weekend that the team, chasing their seventh successive constructors championship, would decide this week once Barrichello and Michael Schumacher [Images] have driven the car.

Seven-times world champion Schumacher, who finished seventh in Malaysia and retired in Australia, will drive the new car for the first time on Wednesday.

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