.png "os2 trasparenza (1)")
Giancarlo Fisichella's move from Sauber to Renault initiates the most important movements in the Formula 1 drivers' market. After the signing of the Italian driver by the team led by Flavio Briatore, another announcement is made on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at the same time: Mark Webber will leave Jaguar for Williams, which finds in the Australian driver the first replacement for Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya for 2005. Now next year's lineup, as far as the top teams are concerned, is clearer: Ferrari remains, of course, with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, McLaren changes half of its lineup with the unprecedented Raikkonen-Montoya pair, Renault relies on Alonso-Fisichella, BAR confirms Jenson Button and probably Takuma Satō as well. There remains a vacancy at Williams (there is increasing talk of Jacques Villeneuve, but surprises are not excluded), Trulli should move to Toyota and a David Coulthard's comeback is possible. Sauber should keep Felipe Massa and perhaps debut young Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi. Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi still have to decide. Fisichella, 31 and 135 races disputed (one win: in Brazil in 2003), welcomes Renault's decision with great enthusiasm:
"It is a return to the future. I'll find a group of people I left three years ago. The team has grown a lot, is more motivated and I will have a winning car. I have also made progress and today I finally feel mature for the big step. I made a choice on a technical level, but also with my heart. There was another prestigious name like Williams on the line, but I was not swayed by appetizing engagements. I chose those who will allow me to fight for the World Championship. I will not disappoint Briatore".
Renault will not have to pay a penalty to get him from Sauber. Enrico Zanarini, the Italian driver's attorney, had inserted a clause in the contract that Giancarlo could free himself by switching to a team ahead of the Swiss team in the standings. Fisichella, however, will no longer be able to test for Ferrari: now that he has signed with the competition, a test in Maranello would not be ethically right. Frank Williams explains the choice of hiring Webber:
"He is a talented driver. Tenacity, determination and motivation are qualities that are highly valued by our team; he possesses them all. We are not doing well because we worked poorly in the winter, but we will return to the top".
The Australian thanks:
"I signed the most significant deal of my career. I expect a lot from the new adventure".
Mark Webber is 27 years old and was born in Queanbeyan, South Wales. When he was eighteen years old, he left Australia for England where he left his mark in the minor formulas. He also raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Mercedes, in Formula 3 and in Formula 3000. His best finish with Jaguar was a fifth place. The Formula 1 drivers' market, after years of quiet, seems to have swallowed a good dose of adrenaline in recent weeks. After the sensational and announced move of Juan Pablo Montoya from Williams to McLaren, after the divorce between Renault and Jarno Trulli and the return of Giancarlo Fisichella to the French team headed by Flavio Briatore, on Wednesday, August 5, 2004, at midnight, Sir Frank Williams, major shareholder of the team of the same name, makes it known that he has signed a contract for 2005 with Jenson Button, a rising star in British motor racing. To tell the truth, the Grove-based constructor's statements immediately arouse a genuine case, with protests from BAR-Honda, the team for which the British driver races. David Richards, patron of the Anglo-Japanese stable, says:
"We are stunned. Jenson hasn't let us know anything. He has an agreement with us until the end of 2005. We will not let him leave. Our 400 employees who have worked hard for him are psychologically devastated. We were drinking champagne together, and the driver was thinking of abandoning us".
David Richard, of course, makes it known that the case will end up in court, that legal action will be taken to retain Jenson Button. At least if, in the urgent meeting he has asked the counterparts for next Monday, no agreement is reached. The affair is complicated: it seems that BAR had an option on the British driver, currently third in the World Championship standings behind Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, with 61 points, the only rival able to challenge - at least in theory - the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers. An option that, according to Richards' statements, the team would have exercised on Tuesday, July 20, 2004, that is, eleven days before its natural expiration date, communicating this to the driver. But there is more: a copy of the contract would have been filed with the FIA, as regulations dictate. Since then BAR has not been able to get in touch with the driver. It is quite likely that there are loopholes that allowed Jenson Button to change teams. Meanwhile, Frank Williams claims:
"There is a long-standing friendship between us and Button as he started his Formula 1 career with our team in 2000. We have maintained contact to this day, and I am very happy that one of the most talented drivers in the championship has taken the opportunity to come back to the team for which he made his debut".
After a few hours of silence, Jenson Button confirms his decision:
"I'm glad I got the chance to come back at Williams-BMW. While waiting, I will focus on the 2004 season. I am convinced that the resources and talent of Williams and BMW will offer me a springboard to become World Champion".
The story does not end there. While awaiting court decisions, BAR appears to have prepared for the news by contacting Mika Häkkinen. Thirty-six years old and stationary for three seasons, the driver, who had won two world titles with McLaren in 1998 and 1999, confirms that he has negotiations under way, but without specifying them:
"There is no smoke without fire".
At this point if all this news becomes reality, some questions arise concerning Jarno Trulli, who according to rumors could have ended up at Williams alongside Mark Webber (another sudden move, from Jaguar). The Italian would be left with only two possibilities: Toyota or BAR. The Italian driver's manager, Lucio Cavuto, simply says:
"We are calm, we are fine".
The rebus will be solved within a short time: and then it will also become clear whether BAR will have a chance to retain Jenson Button or whether instead to please Honda it will really have to hire Mika Häkkinen. On Sunday, August 8, 2004, Jenson Button and David Richards meet in Brackley, headquarters of British American Racing. And, at the end of the meeting, the British driver says:
"It was a constructive meeting. I reiterate that I want to go to Williams. Not for money. I think it is the best choice to aim for the world title, the goal of my career".
For the time being, the manager of the Anglo-Japanese team does not answer, but appears to be intent on taking legal action, although evidently Jenson Button to act this way must have found some clause in the contract that allows him to free himself. At this point, perhaps it is best to break up. Jenson Button has promised maximum commitment in the six remaining races. But with what support from his now former team? Honda, supplier not only of engines but also of technology and men, probably didn’t liked it. And that is why Richards reportedly entered into immediate negotiations with Mika Häkkinen, who wants to return racing, after some sabbatical seasons, as Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and even Alan Jones, all three World Champions, did in their time. Certainly, the situation is strange for Ferrari's rivals. At McLaren there is only Kimi Raikkonen since David Coulthard is busy looking for a place for next year. Juan Pablo Montoya races for Williams but is already in McLaren, Jenson Button will not find a relaxed atmosphere in the team. Jarno Trulli - Toyota or BAR, it will be known soon - leaves Renault, which is obviously betting on Fernando Alonso. Toyota replaces Cristiano Da Matta with test-driver Riccardo Zonta; Williams in the enforced absence of Ralf Schumacher - he too, however, already settled with the Japanese team - continues with Antonio Pizzonia. In short, there is no great serenity in the environment. But a driver would always want to do everything possible to put himself in the spotlight, perhaps to make himself regretted. As long as his team puts him in the best condition to fight.
"Jarno Truffi [in Italian the word truffa is used when someone betrays another person, ndt], he is a gentleman".
BAR patron David Richards has a succinct way of putting things. His statement means that Jenson Button is not a gentleman and will abandon him next year to get behind the wheel of a Williams, and that Jarno Trulli has graciously turned down an offer of his own to keep his word to Toyota, which will have him on the track in 2005. On Thursday, August 12, 2004, in Budapest, where the Hungarian Grand Prix will be run on Sunday, August 15, 2004, the case that has stirred the Formula 1 market in August ends. The lawyers will take care of the details: Williams will reach an agreement with BAR and Button will return to the team that launched him in 2000. Sir Frank Williams confirms:
"I am absolutely sure of it. There was no need to convince him: he came. A nice gift that I would have preferred to open at Christmas, however, the news spread earlier".
Richards says he learned of his driver's betrayal while enjoying the Sardinian sun:
"I called Trulli, who had announced a few days earlier his divorce from Renault. I hoped to convince him to come to us. He said he was interested in the offer, however, although he had not yet signed with Toyota, he explained to me that he had given his word and did not feel like reneging on a commitment because he is a fair person".
Allusion: at least he is. Jenson Button replies:
"No comment".
While Jarno Trulli says:
"I am serene, but I cannot talk about my future yet. I will do it in early September, maybe at the Italian Grand Prix".
Are you worried about starting over in a less competitive team?
"The only way to take a step forward today is to go to Ferrari. But be careful: next year many rules will change and the values on the field will be different. For now, I'm thinking about keeping fourth place in the championship".
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Italian driver will make a brief stop at home, then on Tuesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 18, 2004, he will go to Athens to say hello to his friend Rosolino and to watch some of the Italian fencing and basketball teams compete. The Hungaroring is a circuit that Renault likes: slow and twisty, very similar to Monte Carlo. In 2003, the Hungarian circuit exalted Fernando Alonso, the youngest winner in Formula 1, who even managed to lap Michael Schumacher. Old story. Scuderia Ferrari is preparing to celebrate the win of two World Championships a couple of months ahead of schedule. The Constructors' World Championship has become a formality: the Maranello team's lead is such that Renault needs to score at least ten more points to stay in the fight, a hypothesis that is currently science fiction. More subtle is the matter of the drivers' standings: if Michael Schumacher wins just one more point than Jenson Button, he will not guarantee victory, but he will limit the fight to himself and teammate Rubens Barrichello. In short, it will be a party inside the Maranello team anyway. Michael Schumacher is as calm as can be. The German driver, who spent the vacation at his Swiss residence in Vufflens-le-Chateau, says:
"After Hockenheim I was excited by the victory and I was sorry about this three-week break. Then I was fine. I recharged my batteries, recovered from a cold and now I'm more aggressive than before. The problems of last year are over and we will fight as always for victory. The Olympics? Well, of course I am rooting for my compatriots. There is no athlete or discipline that interests me more than the others; I will follow the competitions quietly on television".
On Friday, August 13, 2004, Scuderia Ferrari begins the technical tests for the big party. Michael Schumacher's first lap at the Hungaroring, around 11:20 a.m., is already a track record: 1'21"552. In the second session the German improves again, but it is Kimi Raikkonen who is the fastest: 1'20"884. The rivals who are still fighting for the World Championship do not seem competitive. The Renaults are in tenth place with Fernando Alonso and in seventeenth with Jarno Trulli. Jenson Button sets the eighth fastest time of the day, Rubens Barrichello the ninth. All easy, then, for the Maranello team, which in this Hungarian Grand Prix is likely to win its sixth consecutive constructors' title and fifth drivers' title.
"I'm happy, it was a good day's work".
Michael Schumacher comments for the thirteenth time out of thirteen this year. Inevitably, by dint of asking him the same things, some questions transcend into something surreal. Like this one:
"Raikkonen just got married, is it true that weddings slow down a driver?"
Considering that he, having married Corinna, has won five of his six titles, it is inevitable that the answer is quite abrupt:
"There is a lot of nonsense going around".
Enzo Ferrari advocated a different concept: a driver would lose 0.2 seconds per lap for each child. But Enzo Ferrari was talking about a very dangerous Formula 1, which almost every year counted a victim and whose protagonists risked at every Grand Prix not to re-embrace their children. Another big question for Michael Schumacher: Ferrari has stopped the F2004 development and is already working on a 2005 perspective. Will this be a handicap?
"I think our opponents would be very happy with a handicap like ours. However, it is not accurate to say that the work is finished. It is true that we no longer spend much energy on this single-seater, however, we still experiment and develop new components that will be used next season. At Ferrari we never stop working".
Rubens Barrichello also speaks of nonsense about his alleged contact with BAR to replace Jenson Button in 2005.
"I was on vacation in Brazil and no one called me to propose changing teams. Ferrari is happy with me and I am happy with Ferrari. It will certainly not be a bad race like Hockenheim that will change our relationship. My contract expires at the end of 2006".
Yet contracts are made to be torn up: Jenson Button has canceled the one that bound him to BAR, Trulli even trusts a parole pact with Toyota. The Italian driver's signing will be made official in September. Men from the Japanese team are almost certain about his arrival, but with some doubts:
"I'd be ready to bet money on it, but I wouldn't bet the house".
The world of Formula 1 is pure business, and trusting too much is dangerous. At worst, Jarno will be left with BAR's offer, this one confirmed by patron David Richards. Technical news for Williams, which has tested a more traditional nose that makes it lose its walrus look, while McLaren is living a good moment. Kimi Raikkonen improves, driving the single-seater that debuted at Magny-Cours.
"Friday's result should not deceive, but it is always better to be first than tenth".
On Saturday, August 14, 2004, the last red show is dedicated to Enzo Ferrari.
"This is a nice way to remember our founder".
Jean Todt comments. It was August 14, 1988, when Enzo Ferrari passed away. On the Hungaroring circuit, it takes Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello to make the Maranello team's symbol shine. Pole position for the German, the seventh of the year, number 52 since he has been at Maranello, number 62 of his career, and number 174 for Scuderia Ferrari. For the 17th time, the two drivers will start side by side on the front row.
Behind them follow the BAR-Hondas of Takuma Satō and Jenson Button, 0.5 seconds apart. The two drivers, dishartened, admit:
"There's nothing to be done, we have to make do. Bridgestone and Ferrari are from another planet".
Yep, the Bridgestones. Who remembers Hiroshi Yasukawa's tense face in August a year ago? The tyres were melting under the Budapest sun and the Japanese boss trembled every time he was called to report by Jean Todt. Today there is not even a taste for winning anymore, so easy is it. Michael Schumacher explains:
"The secret? Work, work and more work. In the last tests in Jerez, we found the right compound for the races in Hockenheim and Budapest. I am not surprised by this result".
Scuderia Ferrari and Bridgestone have grown and, more importantly, have regained the understanding of 2002. The superiority goes beyond the single lap advantage in qualifying. Fernando Alonso in the Renault is 0.8 seconds away; Antonio Pizzonia and Juan Pablo Montoya follow at over a second apart. But adding to Ferrari's advantage is the consistent performance of the Bridgestones. During free practice, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello ran very fast times for six to seven consecutive laps. The Michelins, on the other hand, kept the pace for only one lap before their performance dropped off. So, let's enjoy the suspense of the start: Rubens Barrichello risks losing positions because he starts on the dirty side of the track.
"It is the worst circuit from this point of view, but Ferrari's starting system has improved so much".
There is the unknown of Takuma Satō behind Michael Schumacher. And we know very well what flying start the Japanese man so dear to Honda is capable of, especially when he can exploit the potential of the new Michelins. And rain falls on the Hungarian circuit during the Formula 3000 race. Other obstacles do not exist in Ferrari's path. Overtaking here is a rare commodity because the track is narrow and twisty. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello would only need to manage the situation and run very precisely to bring home the two world titles, but the German doesn't want to hear about it:
"I will run my usual race".
So far he has won 11 out of 12, thus it is likely that he is not referring to the one defeat. Two more records await him in the race: the seventh consecutive seasonal success and the twelfth in total. Meanwhile, there is the case of Jenson Button, who is racing as separated but living under the same roof with his team. His teammate, Takuma Satō calms him down:
"We are all professionals, from the bosses to the mechanics. The atmosphere is not the same, but on the track we only think about going fast with the best means available".
Jarno Trulli, who is the other market man, encountered some rain during the qualifying lap:
"In the second sector the asphalt was wet and the car was skidding. The ninth position on the grid leaves me very disappointed".
The nose of the Williams has changed, but the performance has not. Worth mentioning is that former test driver Antonio Pizzonia, sixth, precedes former phenomenon Juan Pablo Montoya, seventh. In McLaren the situation is even worse, after Friday's encouraging best time: Kimi Raikkonen is 10th, David Coulthard 12th. Let's talk about it again next year.
On Sunday, August 15, 2004, at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello get off to a good start, holding the first two positions. However, the Brazilian driver has to defend himself from Fernando Alonso, who started well from fifth position. Juan Pablo Montoya also starts well, moving up behind the Spaniard, while Takuma Satō slips to eighth. At the end of the first lap, Michael Schumacher leads the race ahead of Rubens Barrichello, Fernando Alonso, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli, Kimi Räikkönen and Takuma Satō; no overtaking is recorded until the first series of refueling. The first to refuel is Fernando Alonso, on lap 10. Two laps later, Kimi Räikkönen also pits. The Finn, however, is forced to retire, on lap 13, due to a Mercedes engine failure. Thanks to the McLaren driver's retirement, Antonio Pizzonia climbs to eighth. No further changes of position occur and the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers continue to lead with an increasing gap over Fernando Alonso. The top positions remain like this; the race is enlivened only by the duel for seventh place between Takuma Satō and Antonio Pizzonia and that between David Coulthard and Mark Webber for tenth place, which ends with a spin by the Australian on lap 25. On lap 28 Takuma Satō is the first driver to make his second pit stop; the second series of stops also brings no changes, except for Jarno Trulli, who moves from sixth to eighth position to the benefit of Takuma Satō and Antonio Pizzonia, who continue their fight. Halfway through the race, Michael Schumacher enjoys a lead of about 40 seconds over Fernando Alonso and 50 seconds over Juan Pablo Montoya, fourth. Virtually nothing happens until lap 42, when Jarno Trulli makes his third stop; shortly thereafter the Italian driver retires with a broken Renault engine. Giancarlo Fisichella takes advantage of this, moving up to eighth; refueling brings no other changes and Michael Schumacher wins the Hungarian Grand Prix, taking his 12th triumph of the season ahead of his teammate, Rubens Barrichello, and followed by Fernando Alonso, Montoya, Jenson Button, Takuma Satō, Antonio Pizzonia and Giancarlo Fisichella.
"Yes, we can finally say it: we are World Champions".
Jean Todt renews the dedication to Enzo Ferrari. Scuderia Ferrari's single seaters win the Constructors' Championship for the fourteenth time in Formula 1 history, the sixth consecutive time. The Drivers' Championship could also be celebrated, were it not for a little procedural problem: it is obvious that it will be Michael Schumacher's turn, but arithmetic still leaves Rubens Barrichello with a few chances. A family derby that will end in Belgium or in Italy, Monza, at the latest. In Budapest, the Maranello team dominated, almost as if it wanted to avenge the bad performance of 2003. Zero overtakes, about 30 lapping. Fernando Alonso, third, cheers as if for a victory. The others accumulate more than a minute's gap.
"We are a myth, a symbol of motorsport".
Jean Todt, recalling only one critical moment this year, adds:
"The Monte Carlo tunnel".
Where Juan Pablo Montoya rear-ended Michael Schumacher. The rest is glory. Six consecutive titles are a record. After a long interlude between the 1980s and 1990s, Scuderia Ferrari has returned to winning since 1999, first suffering, then increasingly sharply even though its opponents have the biggest automotive groups behind them, from Mercedes to BMW, from Toyota to Honda, and from Renault to Ford. The historic rivals - Williams and McLaren - have lost their way, the emerging ones - Renault and BAR - are still not scary enough. This time Michael Schumacher puts himself aside:
"Ferrari won, now we celebrate the World Constructors' Championship".
In Hungary, the German driver only breaks two records: twelve seasonal victories, including seven consecutive ones. But it's the Maranello team's day. We will have to wait for the next Grands Prix for his title. Preferences?
"It's nice to be in a position to win so far in advance. The place matters little. I will try to succeed as soon as possible, because Rubens is still able to make a comeback".
Poor Rubens Barrichello continues to live in the shadows. Were it not for his teammate, he would win the title with his eyes closed. Instead...
"Instead I'm luckier, because since I've been at Ferrari I've always won the constructors' title. There are five races to go, I will try to win them all. Especially the last one, the one in Sao Paulo in front of my public".
Michael Schumacher permitting. The German driver doesn't really seem to be in the mood for gifts. From record to record, he's aiming for seventeen seasonal wins, the pole position record, and a hundred career wins. The others are having less and less fun.
"It is an extraordinary feeling to live this period with Ferrari. I wish it would never end. We will have difficult moments, but now it is pure joy".
Tell us a secret of your success. At least one.
"Hard discipline. Despite the three-week break, I only took two days off. I immediately went back training for this race, which is very demanding from a physical point of view"
Is luck involved?
"Yes, but we work hard to be lucky."
In 2003, in Hungary, it went wrong: Schumacher was lapped by Alonso.
"In fact, this year we were looking for redemption. We prepared very well during the tests in Jerez. Bridgestone provided us with tyres that were perfect for this circuit and the one in Hockenheim".
For once he will admit that it was an easy victory: pole position, fastest lap, leading from the first to the last lap.
"The last part was easy. But first I had to push to the limit".
Are you kidding?
"Barrichello was pushing, and I had to work hard to keep the gap. We were driving against each other - a good race. The car behaved superbly, maybe that's what impresses the spectators. Everything is a little more complex behind the wheel".
Any problems on the track?
"No problems, no abnormal situations. It's a tiring race, I knew that and I've been training to be in top form".
Zero overtaking. At least he must have enjoyed lapping the others.
"Quite a bit. A couple of colleagues did not respect the blue flags [obligation to give way, ndr], but to be honest on this circuit it is difficult to find the right spot to overtake. The Hungaroring is like that: it’s useless to expect any overtaking manoeuvres".
How about your rivals?
"Ferrari managed to express 100 percent of its potential more often than they did, thanks to an absolute concentration in all circumstances. The guys in the pits are very motivated and our pit stops come close to perfection".
Tell the truth: you are like a little king at Maranello.
"Everyone at Maranello must feel like kings. Even the fans. We must be proud of what we are achieving. It's a phenomenal period: there is little left to add to the history of Formula 1, yet we continue to strive to improve."
In sport’s history, perhaps only Eddy Merckx has won as much as you. Do you accept the comparison?
"No, no comparison. I do not care, neither with the drivers of the past nor with other sportsmen".
Do the motivations remain unchanged after so many triumphs?
"I’ve been receiving this question for a few years now. Look at the results and judge yourselves".
An adjective for today’s Ferrari?
"Perfect".
The phone of Luca Montezemolo, president of Fiat and Confindustria - but these days president of Ferrari above all - after the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix becomes hot. Immediately after the success of Budapest came the congratulations of Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the first citizen of Italy, those of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a thousand other authoritative friends and supporters. Then another avalanche of messages: Adolfo D'Urso, Deputy Minister of Productive Activities, Vasco Errani in charge of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Giorgio Pighi, Mayor of Modena. The president of Ferrari couldn’t wait to interrupt the short rest period in Cortina d'Ampezzo and rush to Maranello. Double-breasted blue jacket and white shirt, tanned and radiant. Luca Montezemolo joins his men, from Jean Todt to Ross Brawn, from Paolo Martinelli to Stefano Domenicali, the mechanics, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Luca Badoer.
All gathered, Monday evening, inside the track of Fiorano. The Sports Management is complete, for a celebratory dinner, behind closed doors. Intimate and happy. Without interrupting work for too long. Already in the morning there was the usual technical meeting to evaluate the data collected in Hungary and from Tuesday they think about the next race, the Belgian Grand Prix. Montezemolo had already talked to Ciampi before arriving at the Ferrari sanctuary:
"I was very happy to be able to dedicate the victory to the Head of State, for what he represents; and to dedicate it to Italy and to the optimism that must pervade us all. Ferrari’s affirmation is also a great victory of Made in Italy, it is the victory of a country that has the resources, the men, the ability to excel. The important thing is that we are all convinced of it to look ahead with determination. This is the spirit of the President of the Republic, the desire to think about the future, to be optimistic. The challenge is in Ferrari’s DNA, along with technological innovation, research. The secret is an extraordinary team, an exceptional spirit, determination and humility. Winning is hard, and doing it again is even harder".
The man who today has in his hands the national motoring does not miss the opportunity to remind everyone the potential and quality of the Italian industry:
"Ferrari’s victory is an invitation to buy Italian things. We work with tenacity and commitment, we will have a very demanding autumn, we hope to get positive results from the commitment and tenacity that we demonstrate. With our team we intend to create a school: we hope to keep the men we have today, but we want to improve the skills of those around us, a fantastic group. We are very proud of what we are doing. I saw perfection once again and thought about the many years of work and suffering. When I arrived in 1991, I had two goals: to bring Ferrari back to winning and to bring it back to the top as a car company. But I would never have thought of winning six consecutive World Championships".
Isn’t the team too dependent on Michael Schumacher?
"He is a champion, but he is also the driver who has always been the best to integrate into the Scuderia. One who wants to win, but who also knows how to work for the team. His contract will expire in 2006. We didn’t ask him anything, if he wants to continue we won’t stop him. If he feels like racing and winning with Ferrari, he will certainly stay with us".
And while talking about drivers, Montezemolo meets Luca Badoer, the test-driver who carries on most tests for the single-seaters of Maranello, which at the end of the year will have covered at least 30.000 kilometers of tests.
"Luca, will we have good tyres for the race in Belgium?"
The answer of Badoer is ready:
"President, we will also win on the rims".
Not even Ferrari fans are satisfied: they continue to follow the feats of the Maranello cars with an implacable hunger. In Italy the Hungarian Grand Prix gathers 5.500.000 spectators, over 54% share, on a day of celebration and the Olympics.