Todt: "The 248 will be a great stimulus for us all"
Mugello, 24 January 2006 - This year too, the Scuderia Ferrari
Marlboro's Direttore Generale appeared at the launch of the
new F1 car. Jean Todt responded to the questions posed by
the international media at the press conference to present
the new 248 F1. "Seeing the new car", he began,
"with the new sponsor logos and, above all, the numbers
5 and 6, is a return for us to a distant past. It will be
a great incentive to improve.
The entire squad wants to get back to top spot". As to
the performance of the new car, Todt was quite cagey. He stated
that he was hopeful but, at the same time, waiting for the
real test against the other teams. Responding to a question
regarding his future with Ferrari after 2006, the Direttore
Generale preferred to stay on theme and discussed the team's
chances in the coming season.
Related to this, the detailed test programme was shown to
the press pack. Owing to the chilly conditions at Mugello,
the official drivers could get behind the wheel tomorrow with
Marc Genè in Barcelona and then Valencia, Bahrein and
Jerez before the start of the season. These tests will see
the 248 on track, a car that now only exists as a single example,
flanking last year's model. Todt had some words of praise
for Ferrari's new driver, Felipe Massa. It was revealed that
he was a very fast learner, a humble person and who displayed
a good work ethic in a team. Massa should be completely at
ease with the squad in a short space of time. As to Valentino
Rossi testing the new car at Valencia, Todt stated that this
may be possible, but not 100% definite".
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