Ferrari to work hard in testing

Ferrari is ready for some hard work in testing this week, with the aim of turning things around and putting distance between itself and Williams again. Team boss Jean Todt described the French Grand Prix result of Michael Schumacher third and Rubens ...

Ferrari is ready for some hard work in testing this week, with the aim of turning things around and putting distance between itself and Williams again. Team boss Jean Todt described the French Grand Prix result of Michael Schumacher third and Rubens Barrichello seventh as 'minimising the loss of points' but obviously he would have preferred better.

Jean Todt.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Todt admits Williams has the upper hand at the moment but is sure Ferrari can fight back: "They've had a superior package since a few races but I don't think we should think that it cannot change," he said. "We should think that we can change this trend, and we are going to put all the effort together with our partners to try to change the trend knowing that the others will try their best to try to keep the trend, but you know that's racing."

Intensive testing is the order of the week for the Scuderia: "We have a programme in Barcelona, we have a programme in Mugello, we have a programme in Fiorano, programmes testing the car, testing tyres and the engine. So we are going to test all the various components of the car."

Tyre work, naturally, is important and this week's results will be compared against the test Ferrari had in the UK three weeks ago. "If we find something we want to use at Silverstone we can use it," Todt explained. "But we have already tested at Silverstone and we are quite happy about this testing, but saying that, we may see some different things which make us more happy."

This week will see a lot of test activity from the teams, as from Silverstone the summer testing ban comes into force and there will be no chance for tests before the Hungarian Grand Prix in August. Whichever team is strong at the British GP will be a force to be reckoned with for the two races after.

"We have one more week of testing," said Todt. "We do a lot of testing, simulation, test bed, wind tunnel testing, but having said that, those who have the best car and the best package at Silverstone will definitely be in a strong position for the next two races which are Germany and Hungary."