27.04.2004 "It’s true that to win the San Marino Grand Prix in front of all the fans is something that warms the heart”, Jean Todt reflects on Imola

Ferrari’s Jean Todt revelled in Michael Schumacher’s sixth win in the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday, his fourth victory in four races this year, but dismissed accusations of Ferrari favouritism and unfair driving by rival Juan Pablo Montoya.

The Ferrari team principal said that Schumacher’s win was “a lovely moment."

"Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari took charge of the race on the ninth lap and it’s true that to win the San Marino Grand Prix, on the Imola circuit, in front of all the fans and a special stand reserved for all those associated with the Ferrari-Maserati Group and their families, is something that warms the heart.”

But tiny factors at Imola make Todt cautious. “We saw today that little things can make a big difference. I would say Michael managed to pull away from the field but it wasn’t the case for Rubens (Barrichello), who didn’t manage to escape.

"He was overtaken at the start but couldn’t fight back. It shows how important it is to be quick on one lap, not to make a mistake on one lap, to make the right strategy choice and then get it right all through the race. Little things can change quite a lot, as I said.”

Slightly souring Ferrari’s victory were Montoya’s accusations, but Todt was dismissive, also emphasising the dilemma that drivers find themselves in. “He needs to have a few minutes to reflect on what he’s saying before making such comments,” Todt said.

“We all know that it’s difficult being a driver, very demanding and sometimes it’s important to wait a while before making such comments. Between climbing out of his car and speaking to the press, there hasn’t really been enough time for him to think about the incident.

“But there’s a dilemma, because on the one hand that there isn’t enough spectacle in Formula One, enough overtaking manoeuvres and when there are, we talk of incidents. Quite simply, Michael defended his position and I think that if one day Michael or someone else didn’t defend their position, they should find another job.

“If it was the other way round, do you think Montoya would just put his arm out of the car to let Michael pass? No way. It’s racing. I can understand that a driver is defending his position.”

Todt again paid tribute to his number one driver, but also said that he benefited from a confidence in his equipment. “He has a car that is probably easier to drive at the moment than the one he had last year. It’s well balanced with a good engine, good tyres, so he basically has a good combination. When you see on-board shots, you can see that the car is better balance than most of the others.

“I have a particularly friendly relationship with Michael and we speak a lot, as he probably speaks with nobody else. I know what he feels. I think he likes the car, when I say he likes the car, he feels comfortable with the car which is important, so he’s able to get the best out of it more easily. Probably he has more space to enjoy and to deliver, even if what he has delivered is unique, so all that means he’s probably slightly more relaxed, but in a good way, because he’s so focused, so concentrated how to do things well, but probably enjoying the situation better.”

Despite all the plus points on his side, Todt admits to being worried. “I’m scared when I see who we are fighting against. BAR (for whom Jenson Button finished second at Imola) is the surprise of the season, even though I’m only half surprised, because if you have a company like Honda involved in this business, it’s not just to be part of the race.

"They want to be competitive and I’m sure that what they are getting at the moment is probably pleasing them, but it is not enough. If you take all the other manufacturers, you know better than me that it is a situation which cannot stay like that. That’s why it’s such big competition.

“If I am surprised, honestly, it’s more by Ferrari. I keep saying this, but I live day by day in the Ferrari environment. We are a legendary company, but we are very small, lost in the middle of nowhere, a little province, and we have to face many more problems than all our other competitors. I really feel that it’s outstanding to see what Ferrari is able to do since a few years now, and I simply hope that it can stay like that, but I’m scared when I see who we are fighting against.”

And a new problem seems to have emerged, that the Michelins are better on the opening laps than Ferrari’s Bridgestones. “We can say that maybe their first lap is a bit quicker, second lap is not bad either because if you take Button’s best lap, he did it after the pit stop, on the second lap, because the first one is not a normal, proper timed lap. But what is very important is that Bridgestone is definitely doing a great job throughout the stint. Of course, we would like them to be quick on the first lap, quicker on the second, quicker on all.

“We realised that our tyres were probably too cold at the beginning. Michael was commenting that he was sliding quite a lot, but after the first lap, he was back on the pace and slowly, slowly caught up with Button. We were hoping and thinking that Jenson was a bit lighter, which was the case, and then I think Michael took four seconds in two laps and that was it. It’s easy to say, difficult to do, but still, that was the result.”