Following an 'eventful' inaugural Chinese Grand Prix, certainly as far as his team is concerned, Jean Todt sat down to answer a few questions, while company president Luca di Montezemolo disappeared to change out of his Champagne-soaked suit.
We witnessed a historic and memorable victory in Shanghai today, so how does Todt feel it went?
"I feel great satisfaction," he replies, "because it was important that we rely on Rubens once we knew that, given Michael's starting position, everything would rest on the shoulders of one driver, one car.
"However, we were confident that everything would go perfectly, that Rubens would drive a perfect race, that the Bridgestone tyres would be perfect, that the team would be perfect and the team as well.
"Finally, everything came together," he continues. "So there was a certain relief, but also considerable satisfaction to see Ferrari take its 14th win of the season, Rubens take his second consecutive win of the season and a victory here in China on the occasion of this first Grand Prix on a remarkable circuit, all of which is very, very gratifying."
It was a great plus for the team's image.
"It wasn't just a big plus," he says, "it was very important for our project here in China even if the road is long and we are only just starting."
Do you think Formula One put on its best face here in China?
"We know there were a lot of people here," he replies. "I think we have to thank the organisers who have done such a good job and who thought of the idea of organising a Formula One Grand Prix and then we saw a superb race."
Michael had an interesting time in what was a fairly action-packed race.
"We know that starting from the pit lane poses its own problems, because there are cars that are a lot slower in front," says the Frenchman. "We had chosen an ambitious strategy, one that was also risky, but if everything had gone very well, Michael might have finished in the points, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.
"I'm not saying that we needed those points," he adds, "because we did need points and Rubens Barrichello's win was ideal for him and for us."
China has established a new standard in Formula One in terms of infrastructure, surely it isn't too much to ask Europe organisers to rival this and keep the traditional races in Europe?
"I don't think we need to call for situation to be stabilised because I don't think there is a single circuit which has neither the ambitions nor the means to create a similar facility," he replies. "So one can only congratulate a country like China which has the courage to organise and construct a circuit of such magnitude."
You are also on business here, what is your project in China?
"Yes, it's true," he admits, "we're going to tour the commercial situations here in China. We're going to Hong Kong tomorrow. It's still developing and it's a long road. We need to establish a network of concessionaires and dealers, things like after-sales, so we need to find the right people in order to create all that.
"We established a joint venture a few weeks ago where Ferrari has 40 percent of this joint venture with two Chinese partners, one of which is already our partner in Hong Kong, called Italian Motors and the other which is a huge industrial group, and together we are going to try and establish a network in China. We have ambitions but there's a lot of work to do before with achieve them. Up until now, we sell 50 cars here."
It's a huge market though.
"It has great potential," he admits, "because we know how many inhabitants there are in China, even though most of them don't have the earnings that would allow them to own a Ferrari or Maserati, it's more known for the number of bicycles!"
Going back to today's race, who were you most worried about this afternoon?
"Raikkonen was on the same strategy and Button was on a different strategy," he responds. "They were the most difficult competitors. And of course ourselves. We needed to be reliable, not to make any mistakes."
It appeared that Michael seemed to be having problems on this track, or perhaps the car was, yet he set fastest lap of the race? Why has Michael had such bad luck this weekend?
"He did the quickest time in the first qualifying session yesterday," says the Frenchman, with a hint of a smile. "That's not such bad luck. He spun in the race, that doesn't happen to him often but he's a human being so he may spin. After that it was a succession of things.
"He started from the pit lane, overtaking wasn't easy. Then, while following cars he experienced a loss of downforce from the car in front of him so he lost grip. Running behind Alonso he spun so we changed his strategy. Then he had a problem with a puncture, a rear left, so all that put together didn't allow him to race where he could have finished in the points easily. But we know very well that if you're not in front or close to the front it's unpredictable."
