In recent months we've grown used to Jean Todt wearily facing a barrage of questions from journalists that can smell the blood of a wounded animal, a horse that is barely able to walk, far less prance.

Following his team's worst home performance many years, the first time that it has failed to score a single point at Monza since 1995, when at least Gerhard Berger had posted fastest lap, and had even led the race, as had teammate Jean Alesi, Todt looked thoroughly crestfallen as he sat down to the traditional post-race press conference, at this most traditional of race circuits.

It was clear from the outset that the Frenchman was in no mood for foolish questions. Asked if the race was as good or as bad as expected, he snapped back: "You are the expert of strange questions! What were we expecting?

"We were expecting better," he added, "we were expecting a lot better. And we are disappointed. We were expecting better.

"Unfortunately the best we could have hoped for was finishing seventh and eighth and for different reasons; Rubens had a puncture, therefore we lost this possibility, and Michael, by trying to get eighth position, finished tenth."

Asked how it feels to finally know that at least one of the titles, and realistically, both the titles, are lost, he replies: "We still… we never stop fighting. The day you stop fighting you do another job, but as long as we can we will fight.

"Every time, even if you don't see it in the lap times or the result, you learn something and by learning you improve the situation. It takes more time than we wish it would take and more time than we thought it would take, but we fight."

Luca di Montezemolo has said that he wants to see at least one more win for Ferrari in the last three races.

Todt looks to the heavens: "Tell me how I could commit to delivering that?"

"Bolt on some Michelins?" says a brave journalist at the back.

The Frenchman's face is like thunder: "First it would be very disrespectful to Bridgestone and very presumptuous to say we will change and it will happen.

"Number two, we are committed by contract to Bridgestone and we will honour our contract and we will trust Bridgestone until the end."

There's been much talk that Bridgestone might supply Williams and Toyota in 2006, would Ferrari work with them, in order to create a stronger future, or would it prefer to work (mostly) separately from other teams?

"I don't want to speculate who could be using Bridgestone tyres next year," he says, "but the more we can have synergy with teams to work on tyres the better it will be for us."

It's pointed out that di Montezemolo admitted on Saturday that grip is the main problem for Ferrari in 2005. Previously, Ferrari has been protective of Bridgestone. Is the Ferrari President's admission of where the problem lies, indicative of a change of mood within the team?

"OK," he sighs. "It's not the first time.