Magny-Cours (France), July 06: Ferrari team chief Jean Todt is celebrating ten years in charge of the Italian giants this week and he has no doubts over the highlight of his decade at the helm.
It came in 2000 when Michael Schumacher put an end to a 21 year wait for the drivers title which their passionate army of worldwide fans had demanded.
"Everybody talks about the best, the worst. But when I joined Ferrari, they had not had success in the constructors or in the drivers championship for so many years," said Todt.
"After 21 years, Michael got it in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in 2000. It was what we wanted and why he came to Ferrari.
"I always try to have fantastic times and i feel that it is not yet time to stop. We have the reward of working for Ferrari. If you like motor racing, if you like motor cars, Ferrari is the best brand in history. So why stop?



"There will be time to stop later. The only thing I hope is that we can maintain the level of results."



However, with a new qualifying and points system in operation aimed at preventing Ferrari having too much of things their own way, the battle for the title in 2003 is a lot tougher than last year when the drivers crown was wrapped up by the time of the French Grand Prix.



"I was talking to Max Mosley (FIA boss) and I said that if you see the starting order for the second round of qualifying here (with a Minardi and a Jordan on the provisional front row) it's what you would have preferred.



"Things are more unpredictable. The other teams have made a very big effort on the car side and on the engine side."


Bureau Report