Todt: "Our ambitions for 2006 are high"
Maranello, 13th January - Ferrari's general manager, Jean
Todt announced the schedule for the team's 2006 Grand Prix
challenger at Madonna di Campiglio on Thursday evening, and
once again emphasised that the team was more immediately concerned
with the 2006 season than the possible departure of Michael
Schumacher. He also pointed out that the team and company
is profitable, and explained the situation with partners present
and future.
"We started the car today for the first time and at
the beginning of next week we are going to start private testing
at Fiorano," said Todt, "not with a black car but
with a red car with no writing on it, so something different
in comparison to what we have done in the past. There is a
possibility that we will run this Monday and then we will
do some tests for a few days with Michael in Fiorano.
"After that, we are going to do some tests in our workshops
and then on Tuesday the 24th, we are going to present the
car in Mugello during some testing and we are going to present
it with our partners and the press."
Todt went on to explain that the team is not financially
challenged as some members of the press believe. "I do
realise that many of you may not have noticed that as of 2006,
thanks to the agreements that we have signed, we are going
to have some greater revenues as against what we've had in
the past.
"Unfortunately, we had to accept the departure of Vodafone,
because Vodafone wanted to stay with Ferrari but we could
not keep Vodafone with Ferrari and we're going to announce,
in the next few days, some further agreements that have been
reached. But I insist that I've read on many many occasions
that Ferrari was financially in dire straits and we might
not be able to support our programmes in the future. Well,
all this is false and does not correspond to reality, to the
truth.
"Some of our competitors may like to insist on these
problems, but unfortunately for them it's not going to be
so, and so we are going to have the means necessary to tackle
future championships and of course this also means that we
cannot use this as an excuse for lack of resources because
we do have the resources."
Todt then explained positive elements from last year's disappointing
season. "2005 was an important year for Ferrari in spite
of all this because Ferrari has been profitable, our cars
have sold well and we have presented some new cars which have
been successful in the market and are still looking good for
the future. We have renewed some very important contracts
for Formula One. We were the first to renew the Concorde Agreement
with the FIA up to the year 2012 so something positive did
take place during 2005. Perhaps it was not easy to see but
they are surely important for the future of our firm."
Todt once again emphasised that the team was focusing on
2006 rather than 2007 and potential changes within the team
"I have seen and I have read that many teams are already
thinking about 2007. We are thinking, for the time being,
on 2006, so for 2006, we have two very motivated drivers.
We have Michael and I spoke to him before coming here, on
the mobile phone, and he was telling me that before seeing
me, before dinner, he was going to train. He's motivated,
he wanted to try the car before Christmas because, just like
all of us, he was very displeased about the 2005 season and
really he wants to do something in 2006.
"Then, and he said so clearly this morning, during the
year he's going to decide whether he's going to continue or
not. He does not know, so if he doesn't know, I know even
less about what he is going to do in the future.
"Concerning the date when he announces it. He has no
pressure. He has no pressure from the team. I let you give
him pressure but he has no pressure from team. When he feels
happy to decide which direction he wants to take in his career
it will be convenient for us. It is up to us to organise ourselves
in order to respond to the situation and to make sure that
Ferrari is not penalised and can have all the elements in
hand to be a winning team."
In conclusion, Todt explained that the team's hopes are high
but they are certainly not deluding themselves. "Our
ambitions for 2006 are high. I never said that we are going
to win everything in 2006, this is not part of my nature even
if I would like to see Ferrari win everything. But what I
can say is that we are going to make greatest possible effort,
we are going to do our best, we have the determination, we
have the motivation so as to try to have a great season in
2006. Of course, we do know it's going to be difficult as
in all years. It is not going to be easy, but as I mentioned,
it has never been easy and it's part of the rules of the game.
If it was easy, we would not be interested in racing. "
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