'Badoer was an option' admits Todt

The Italian, who is also the Ferrari test driver, was rejected in favour of Mika Salo because the team felt that the Finn would be better at handling the pressure of deputising for the fastest man in Formula One. Only Salo and Badoer were ever in the frame.

Italian newspapers had speculated a CART driver could get the nod or
Ferrari might even try to lure someone from a rival team.

'It was not an easy choice because we already had a very good test driver
in Luca Badoer who drives for Minardi as well,' said team manager Jean
Todt.

'In our opinion we had two choices: to take Luca from Minardi or to ask for
another who we felt could do a good job and was available.

'Considering the pressure and the tension we will be living at the moment
we felt it would be better to ask Mika Salo to drive the car.'

Todt said the team will focus on winning both championships rather than
making the driver's title the priority as was the case before Schumacher was injured.

'We will concentrate on both. Eddie is second equal to Michael, eight
points behind Mika, so it's very open,' Todt continued.

'In the constructors we are leading by two points. Losing one key element
of the team does not help but we do not have a choice so we just have to
make the car even better.'