Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned their rivals not to underestimate the reigning champions.
”No one has fallen asleep over these past months,” Montezemolo said on Friday when the world champions launched what they said is their best car to date, but which will not be raced for the first four grands prix of 2005.
The team will start the season in Australia next week with a development of their 2004 car but insist the new machine, which will begin testing next week, should push them well ahead of their rivals when it reaches the racetrack.
”We have great competitors who have not been winning, but I remember the years of 1997 to 1999 when we lost the drivers’ championship at the last race,” Montezemolo added.
”After six world championships, our target is to remain there. We know in sport you cannot always win and the time will come, but we want to stay at the top. To win is easy to say, but it is much more difficult to do.
”This year I believe it is right to begin with the modified car. It will be tough in the beginning, but we are confident and you can be sure we will be doing our best to keep the championships at Maranello.”
The Italian team have won the constructors’ championship every year since 1999 and Michael Schumacher won his seventh world title thanks to 13 wins from 18 races last year.
”I am very proud of this car,” said technical director Ross Brawn. ”I believe it is the best car we have produced. We are going into one of the most competitive seasons but we will try our best to come out as winners.
”We have decided to start with the modified version of the 2004 car and bring in the new car at a later date. We believe it is the right decision, although at the beginning of the season it will be tough.”
The new car, which has a unique front wing design, was unveiled at the team’s Maranello base in Italy but is not planned to race until the fifth grand prix of the season in Spain.
The team have looked slower than their rivals McLaren and Renault in pre-season testing and could introduce the new machine sooner if it proves reliable in the next month of testing.
Schumacher is confident his team have made the right decision to start with the development car.
”After nine seasons, I’m always happy but nervous for the new season. I hope the car will be good but what is important is that we have a strong team. We have had much success and I am hoping for the best this year,” he said.
New aerodynamic regulations, long-life engine rules that force teams to use one engine for two full race weekends and the allowance of just one set of tyres for qualifying and the race should shake the pack up this season. — Sapa-AFP