Michael Schumacher cannot afford to yield to BMW-Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya this season if he wants to claim a record-equalling fifth Formula1world title.

The warning comes from former teammate, and now ITV F1 expert Martin Brundle, who thinks the expected battle between Schumacher and Montoya will produce incidents similar to last year, when the Colombian pulled off a spectacular manoeuvre on the reigning champion.

"Michael let Juan Pablo off the hook on that occasion, but he can't keep yielding to him if he wants to sustain his supremacy in the sport - and I think it will end in an accident for sure."

"Last year, when Montoya had to decide whether to go up the inside of Michael or not, it was an easy decision for him because he wasn't racing for the championship.

"This time, it could be different, because if Montoya is competing for the title, he will have to start thinking about simply finishing in the points.

"But if Montoya does keep producing those kind of moves, I think an accident is inevitable. I don't mean one with serious physical repercussions, but maybe an incident where one of them loses a wheel or their front wing.

"Michael would have to decide whether to yield and move over, which if he did, would mean he had lost his authority - and he would probably have to retire."

Montoya, who scored one win for Williams in a debut season, is tipped as Schumacher's main rival in the season, which starts at Melbourne on Sunday.

The car with which Schumacher wrapped up the title with several races to spare last year proved so good, that Ferrari will start off the new season with it, while they continue to test their 2002 challenger.

Schumacher has also earmarked teammate Rubens Barrichello, brother Ralf and his BMW-powered Williams, and the McLaren-Mercedes duo of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen as his main threats along with Montoya.

While the 17-race battle for the title will almost certainly be between Ferrari, Grove-based Williams and McLaren, the contest to be the best of the rest could be even more exciting.

Silverstone-based Jordan only took fifth-place in the constructors' standings last season from fellow Honda-powered rivals British American Racing, of Brackley, after winning an appeal against Jarno Trulli's disqualification from the United States Grand Prix.

Giancarlo Fisichella, back with Eddie Jordan, and Japanese rookie Takuma Sato will have the task of keeping an edge over BAR, now run by Banbury's Prodrive boss David Richards.

Major changes are understood to be on the way, though what the consequences will be for Jacques Villeneuve, upset at the departure of mentor Pollock, remain to be seen.

Niki Lauda had given his under-achieving Jaguar Racing team a target of fifth place in the championship, though that was before a serious design fault was discovered in the R3.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit are confident the problem has been corrected.