27.01.2004 'THIS SINGLE SEATER IS THE PRODUCT OF A GREAT TEAM': JEAN TODT ON THE FERRARI F2004
This is the car
that will compete in the Formula 1 championship this year, the F2004. It is a
car that combines years of Ferrari F1 experience and success and is the fruit of
the excellence of the technical group supervised by Ross Brawn and the project
head, Rory Byrne.'
This was how the General Director of the Gestione Sportiva, Jean Todt,
introduced to the newly-revealed F2004 yesterday.
'A short while
ago I was with the President and the drivers discussing our objectives for the
coming season and the feeling during our conversation was one of great
impatience, a real desire to do well’, revealed Todt.
‘It’s like starting from zero all over again, as if we have forgotten the five
consecutive Constructors’ titles we have won since 1999, a record in automobile
history, and the four consecutive Drivers’ championships collected since 2000 by
Michael Schumacher, allowing him to become the most successful driver in F1
history. This says everything about our motivation.'
Todt went on to underline how important the partners and sponsors were to Ferrari: ‘Bridgestone, Shell, the contribution of the Group head, Fiat, with its research centre and Magneti Marelli, Alenia Aeronautica and all the other partners are fundamental’, stressed Todt. ‘This single-seater is the result of the important contributions of long term sponsors like Philip Morris, Vodafone and others like AMD and Olympus. Thanks to them we have achieved extraordinary results in the past and thanks to them we have great expectations for 2004.
'This year we
will have eighteen Grands Prix including the two new ones and the return of
Spa’, explained Todt. ‘The competition will be tough because they can’t put up
with Ferrari always being ahead of the pack any longer. We have a strong squad,
a winning one.
'Stability is our strong point. Luca Badoer has been at Ferrari for seven years
and his role as a test driver is a difficult but crucial one. Rubens, after five
years with us, has recently signed until 2006. Michael is in his ninth year at
Maranello. He has won four Drivers’ crowns and is also contracted to stay until
2006. The whole team is well drilled and extremely motivated, so there is not
much left to say but: Forza Ferrari!'
Jean Todt concluded by inviting Ross Brawn to the stage. He was followed by Rory Byrne and Paolo Martinelli who gave a technical rundown of the F2004.