Ferrari confident for Imola

Ferrari has been testing at two tracks this week in preparation for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola next weekend and Rubens Barrichello is confident that the F2005 is now reliable. Both he and teammate Michael Schumacher failed to finish the last race, Barrichello with tyre problems and Schumacher with a hydraulic failure, but the Brazilian is optimistic for the next event.

Rubens Barrichello.

Photo by xpb.cc.

"I don't think we've ever had problems with some specific part -- it was more a case of this car being ready a bit late, and we just needed to get to know it better," Barrichello told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Now that we have done that, we have found greater reliability all round and I think that from now on we'll have everything we need to finish races. So we are very confident for Imola."

At Bahrain's Sakhir circuit Barrichello was running in the points until towards the end of the race, then was forced to cede positions as his tyres degraded. He thinks Imola will be easier on the rubber even without current testing information.

"At Imola the behaviour of the tyres would be different even if we hadn't done anything," he said. "But nevertheless we've been doing plenty of work with two cars on two different tracks."

"I'm testing compounds while Michael tests constructions. We haven't yet put together all the data we've gathered, but we've found some very good things which will bring positive results for Imola and beyond."

Schumacher was satisfied with his work at Mugello this week and has now switched to the Fiorano circuit. "Everything has been satisfactory for us at Mugello so far," he told his website. "We are working on several programmes regarding tyres and aerodynamics and are step by step making progress."

"If things keep on running as smoothly as they did here, we should be in a good position for the next race at Imola."