11/10/2005
NEWS STORY
Asked how he felt, having secured third place in the Constructors' Championship, having won it every year since 1999, Ferrari team boss, Jean Todt, replied: "It makes no difference whether you finish third or fourth in the championship.
Despite the (relative) disappointment of 2005, his team appears to bearing it well, and taking taking the knocks on the chin.
"I don't think we are too demonstrative when it comes to winning," says the Frenchman, "even though we've won a lot in the last few years, a lot more than one could have imagined and has been accomplished in motor sport until now and so we have a certain way of tackling things or seeing things, and I think one has to be humble faced with that success and even more humble when it comes to the defeats that we've had this season."
On Sunday we witnessed outstanding performances from Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher, who, despite everything, has remained exemplary in the face of adversity.
"I think Michael once again had more to show than sixth place because he fought for sixth place but finished seventh and it was for him something that was very important," says Todt. "It was the spirit of fighting and doing as much as he could for the team, because he loves his job, he loves his team and he loves the sport."
The crazy grid, which, thanks to the rain that hit Suzuka during the final stages of qualifying, saw some of the fastest men in F1 start from the back of the grid. Does Todt feel that this might give an indication as to how the sport could become more interesting, a sort of reverse grid, with the fast drivers at the back?
"Do you want Formula One to become a circus?" he snaps. "It was a situation, but if it is to remain a sport then I think it's logical to allow those who are quickest to start in front."
Over the course of the Suzuka weekend there were a number of meetings concerning proposed regulation changes for 2006, including a major revision (again) of the qualifying format, and the re-introduction of tyre stops.
"Basically it was a meeting called by the drivers," he responds, "and we tackled a number of subjects among which was qualifying, but we are going to wait for the Formula One Commission which will meet on October 24 when decisions will be made."
Asked if he thinks the format will be changed, he replies: "According to the information that we have, there has been a drop in the TV audience, media, television have been complaining that there is no spectacle when it comes to qualifying, so we are going to wait until we have more facts in view of the October 24th meeting before taking decisions."
Would the re-introduction of tyre-changes benefit Ferrari? "It will be different," he replies. "It's obvious that we need to know as soon as possible, so it will be October 24th when we know what the rules will be. I don't want to make any kind of statement before it's decided but this year we have seen some situations which were very unsafe, with this rule to use one set of tyres for qualifying and the race.
"Saying that," he continues, "it will be a decision which has to be taken with a majority vote from the F1 Commission and we will see what comes out. You know as well as me, the agenda - which I checked through some press documents - so it's quite a lot of points we need to discuss. I hear that a lot of people want to change qualifying because there is no interest from the media, from the spectators so we will see what comes out of all that."
"The car won't be in its latest specification for the beginning of the season, however, considering the introduction of the new V8, 2.4, we decided to introduce the car as early as possible which is why we will introduce it by mid-January '06."
Asked if he supports the proposals from the FIA, the Frenchman says: "I want to have internal meetings first, to see what is in favour and what is against, compared to the actual situation."
Is there anything in particular that 'catches his eye'? "It all depends what you want to achieve," he replies. "If you want to achieve action for one hour then you will achieve action for one hour. We will see."
Is he concerned that things could be changed for the benefit of Saturday to the detriment of Sunday? "I don't want to talk about speculation," he responds. "I think it would be more wise to comment on the decisions that will be taken."
Reflecting on the Suzuka race, did Todt expect Ferrari to be more competitive?
"Yup," he admits. "Mainly qualifying went to our disadvantage but it's better to get all the shit in one year and start better for next year, but it happens. We have been so successful, so fortunate in the past so it's just a bad cycle. For us, we just have to learn out of it and improve where we have to improve."
Would it be fair to say that he wants the season over as quickly as possible? "It's OK," he smiles. "Do I seem so impatient?"
"Kimi and Fernando both produceds fantastic drives on Sunday; which of them impressed Todt most?
"I won't answer that," he says, ever the diplomat. "You know very well why I don't want to answer.
"Both are very good, both are extremely good," he continues, "and one had more success than the other because he is world Champion since Brazil. Racing is difficult. Raikkonen lost the championship against Michael in 2003 in the last race. He lost two races before the end of the championship against Alonso. He's a very quick driver. Today he finished first because he had the best package. Again, I keep repeating that motor racing depends on the team for whom you drive and the car you are driving and the tyres you use, such a combination. Clearly, at the moment, they have the best combination. So does it mean that Alonso with this combination would have won today? Maybe Raikkonen with Alonso's package would be World Champion. So that's the way it is, but I would stop myself and forbid myself to say this… I don't know. I don't know.
"The only point of comparison is a teammate. I would never believe that both cars are different, both cars are the same. Maybe the only difference is the set-up, which is chosen by the driver with the team, and maybe one engine, which is two or three horsepower less which means nothing. Otherwise the cars are the same. Why a team would put so much effort on one car only when there are two cars and they must put the effort into two cars."
Ignoring the irony of what Todt has just said, he is asked if Ferrari did enough testing with Bridgestone during the winter.
"We did a lot of testing with Bridgestone," he hits back. "This year was a problem, but maybe it was an advantage in past years, because we had the best tyres and we were the only ones to get advantage of them. This year, a few teams had a better package and we lost that but we must be fair players."
Would a young driver (no names) coming into the team in a few years' time add fire to Michael?, he's asked.
"Again, it's speculation," he replies, clearly weary. "So let's wait until next year, because Massa is coming and he's young, he's 24. You know Michael is not looking at someone's identity card to see if it's worth fighting; he will fight whoever's in the team. His direct challenger was Rubens for many years. Before that it was Irvine, before that it was someone else and next year it will be Massa."