Schumacher's performance was an ominous warning to his rivals as he scorched clear before easing up in the final few laps to win the event for the second successive year.

The German's fifth successive victory from pole took him to within six of the all-time record of 51 wins held by Frenchman Alain Prost, a mark he will seriously threaten this season.

Schumacher joined an elite band of drivers to win five races in succession, emulating Australia's Jack Brabham and the British duo of Nigel Mansell and Jim Clark.

The record of nine set by Italian Alberto Ascari in the early 1950's could come under attack from Schumacher unless his rivals can do something about it soon.

But Schumacher has warned his team against being made complacent by their performance.

"The car was perfect and we finally have a car which is capable of doing pole positions and winning races straight out of the box - and is reliable on top," he said.

"But although this can give us confidence for the season we know we must not be over-confident. But the car was perfect and I was fast when I needed to be."

Schumacher led for all but four of the 58 laps and saw his title chances given another boost with Mika Hakkinen crashing out after 25 laps with a suspension failure.

Hakkinen needed a precautionary check-up after his helmet took a knock in the accident which allowed McLaren team-mate Coulthard to take second after a fine overtaking move on Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari.

Coulthard was grateful for the six points having only started in sixth spot and coming within a few inches of being squeezed out of the first race within 100 metres of the start.

"Given my qualifying I am very happy to take second - six points is more than I had at this stage last year," said Coulthard.

"We have not got the best out of the car yet and I am sure at the next race in Malaysia next week we will be a lot quicker."

Barrichello came home a distant third while Olivier Panis took the chequered flag in fourth place for BAR on his F1 comeback - but he dropped to seventh after being penalised for overtaking under a warning flag.

Nick Heidfeld was promoted to fourth, scoring his first points after an awful maiden season with Prost, while Sauber team-mate Kimi Raikkonen became the 50th driver to score a championship point on debut in sixth spot.

Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen was fifth for Jordan with Eddie Irvine 11th in the Jaguar.