Schumacher thanks everyone

Same place, same idea: to celebrate. On Sunday night the Ferrari team gathered again in the Hotel Kempinski, just as it had done last year. The flight back to Bologna was rescheduled for Monday morning as yet again there was a great reason to party.

Same place, same idea: to celebrate. On Sunday night the Ferrari team gathered again in the Hotel Kempinski, just as it had done last year. The flight back to Bologna was rescheduled for Monday morning as yet again there was a great reason to party. Thanks to the one-two finish in Hungary, the Scuderia clinched its fourth consecutive Constructors' World Championship, a first in Ferrari's history, following on from Michael Schumacher taking the Drivers' title in Magny-Cours.

Team Ferrari celebrating its 4th consecutive Constructors World Championship.

Photo by Ferrari Media Center.

The Managing Director of the Gestione Sportiva, Jean Todt, thanked the entire team with a short speech before the fun began. Late in the evening a surprise guest arrived in the shape of Michael's wife Corinna who came to join her husband in the singing, drinking and dancing. The evening was a great success, given that the five times F1 world champion, just as he does in his work, proved to be a great motivator for the team. All those whose efforts have made this probably the most successful year in Ferrari's history were in fine form into the early hours.

Apart from a rendition of "We are the Champions," which has become pretty much compulsory on these occasions, Michael, along with the other drivers, Rubens Barrichello and Luca Badoer also entertained the gang with other numbers.

Along with others present, Michael found it an emotional evening: "The sense of unity and friendship in this team is really phenomenal," he repeated. "It is fun working with these people. They all work to the same ends, they never give up and they are all super motivated. With everyone working in such harmony it makes many things possible. You only have to think about how reliable our car has become. It demonstrates an impressive quality of work. All I can do is thank everyone and compliment them for taking the title again. They more than deserve it."

Just as he did after the Magny-Cours result, the world champion made an impromptu visit to Maranello. Along with Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, Jean Todt, Rubens and technical director Ross Brawn, engine director, Paolo Martinelli and chief designer Rory Byrne, he attended a small party with all the factory based staff of the Gestione Sportiva. "Without all of you this would not be possible," he said. "Your work has been the basis of our success. For us it is particularly nice to be able to thank you in a special way with a one-two finish. Ferrari took the title in style."

Michael then returned to Switzerland. The Formula 1 testing break continues until the forthcoming Spa-Francorchamps race and so the drivers can take another breather before tackling the final part of the season.