Designer Rory Byrne, a key member of the Ferrari team which has dominated F1 in recent years, will remain at Maranello, despite talk that he might retire from motorsport when his current contract ends later this year.

"Rory is assuming a new position at Ferrari," revealed Ross Brawn at today's launch of the team's 2006 contender, "he has agreed to stay with Ferrari for another two years. He will stay as a consultant working on projects that we agree together, primarily looking at projects for the future of Ferrari.

"Rory's got huge experience and we want to use that to our advantage," he added.

However, it isn't just Byrne's future at Maranello that was in doubt, since several members of the 'dream team', including Brawn, team boss, Jean Todt, and Michael Schumacher, are nearing the end of their contracts.

"As to my role in the future, we are discussing that at the moment," said Brawn. "I'm very happy at Ferrari, very pleased with the way things are and would very much like to be involved with Ferrari in the future."

Todt, like Schumacher has already admitted that he wants to see how the 2006 season develops before making a decision on his future.