Ferrari Remain Calm Despite Controversy

Ferrari team boss Jean Todt has said the Italian squad are calm despite the controversy that has arisen after they refused to agree to radical new measures for next season.

Ferrari's rivals attempted to place the fate of the threatened British and French Grands Prix in the hands of the Italian team on Saturday. A statement issued on behalf of nine teams, all except Ferrari, turned the heat on the champions at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

It said they had agreed measures to cut costs significantly and put on a better show for spectators that, if implemented, would permit a 19 race calendar next year.

However, unanimity was required and Ferrari, who were not present at a meeting with the nine teams and Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Saturday, had not agreed.

"We are very calm," Todt told Gazzetta dello Sport. "First of all we are thinking of winning this race and celebrate the titles that we have won this year. Then we will see. We don't forget what we have achieved over the last six years.

"And I think that when Ferrari wasn't winning, nobody was making coalitions."

The measures proposed were to seek the elimination of most, if not all, tyre testing as well as significantly reduce the amount of testing carried out during the course of a season.

Ferrari, Constructors' champions for six years in a row, have their own Fiorano test circuit and have repeatedly resisted any attempt in the past to reduce testing.