Can anyone challenge Ferrari?

"We've been very fortunate in the stability we've had with (engine chief) Paolo Martinelli and with Rory Byrne (the chief designer) and the people we've had," Brawn admitted. "We've managed to evolve an organisation over the last six or seven years or even longer than that, before I arrived at Ferrari, and we're seeing its true reward now.

"Williams are going through a learning phase - they've got a new partner with the engine and some young, very talented engineers who are gaining in experience. And you've got McLaren, who seem to be going through a reorganisation at the moment with their design staff. So perhaps we're benefiting from the stability we have - something we talk about quite often.

"That stability enables us to keep building on what we have. It's a logical progression from each step to the next, or we try to be logical. So what we know how to do, we do the best we can. If the other teams don't match that in a particular year, then that's down to them.

"You do respond to the situation, and I'm proud of the fact that in 1998 we were getting our butts kicked by McLaren, and here we are doing a bit of the other. They'll come back and kick our butts again, I'm sure, but you respond to the situation. And everyone at Ferrari has responded fantastically well."

Brawn was not being complacent, however, and is sure that Ferrari can be caught relatively quickly.

"We know that can be done," he added, "because we did it ourselves in 1998. We went to Melbourne and it was embarrassing. But by the end of the year we were making a championship out of it. So we know it can be done, and we're very conscious of it. Everyone is doing what they can to avoid it happening."