Formula 1
Disappointed Ferrari will fight on
Ferrari team boss Jean Todt admits that the last two races have been a disappointment for Ferrari but believes the team can bounce back to fight for the final three Grands Prix. Rubens Barrichello crashed out of the Hungarian GP with suspension ...
Edited: Aug 26, 2003, 1:54 AM
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Ferrari team boss Jean Todt admits that the last two races have been a disappointment for Ferrari but believes the team can bounce back to fight for the final three Grands Prix. Rubens Barrichello crashed out of the Hungarian GP with suspension failure and Michael Schumacher finished a lowly eighth. His single point was enough to keep him in the lead of the Driver's championship by the same margin from Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya, but Ferrari faces a tough time ahead.
Jean Todt and Paolo Martinelli.
Photo by Ferrari Media Center.
"To take the last two races, it's a terrible disappointment," said Todt. "But the past four years have been a fantastic achievement so you have to judge the whole thing. This was very disappointing. It's unpleasant but if you take 13 races altogether, it's not so bad. Michael is still leading the drivers' championship by one point."
Schumacher himself is never going to give up while there's still a chance -- and despite its recent troubles, no-one should be writing Ferrari off just yet. Teams return to testing this week after the summer ban and the Scuderia will certainly be working hard. Schumacher can do nothing but admit the Hungarian GP was one to forget but he's not beaten yet.
"Perhaps it wasn't our day and we were unlucky but you should know me after all these years: I never avoid fighting, I love to fight," Michael said. "Right now it is difficult but it is not over. I can only say I still believe in our possibilities plus I am still leading the championship."
"We have to improve everything, the whole package, in all areas. For sure we have a big programme and there is a lot to test but everybody inside Ferrari is motivated to fight for the championship and that is what makes me confident."
While Michelin is going from strength to strength with its partner teams, Bridgestone is struggling. Todt admits things are not as good as 2002 but says the tyre manufacturer is not solely to blame: "Last year we were so dominant, a lot thanks to the tyres. At the moment, together with Bridgestone, but not only because of them, we are struggling a bit with certain circuits and certain conditions."
After its run of competitive performances, Williams has now taken the lead of the Constructors' championship by eight points from Ferrari. Todt thinks his team can respond and warned people not to have short memories, as not so long ago it was Ferrari that was dominant.
"We know we have the capability to react and return to being competitive," he said. "I think it will be a bit too early to say that the season is over. I think we will fight and we still have good chances to succeed. If you go back to Silverstone it was a big domination of Ferrari, so it can happen -- I don't say it will happen -- but it can happen. Again, we must not have short memories."
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