Brawn Defends F2005 Designer Costa
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn has thrown his support behind designer Aldo Costa, despite the disappointing performance of the F2005 this season
This year's Ferrari is the first to be designed by Costa, with former chief designer Rory Byrne only overseeing the project, and has easily been the least competitive produced by the Maranello team for several years.
Brawn believes, however, it is purely coincidence that Ferrari's fall from form has come at the same time that Costa has taken over design at the team.
When asked whether he believed Costa should take some of the blame for Ferrari's situation, Brawn told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Absolutely not.
"Costa and Rory Byrne have always worked together and they carry on confronting each other in every decisional process. There hasn't been a change of policy.
"The philosophy behind the F2005 isn't Costa's: it's the one employed by Ferrari over the last years. Aldo is the continuation of that philosophy.
"Byrne wouldn't have made a car different from the F2005, which is an excellent car and I say that on the basis of comparative tests we've done.
"The F2005's working group is the one that created the F2004, winner of 15 Grands Prix out of 18. Is it possible that all these engineers have all become idiots?"
He added: "Costa is one of the most gifted designers in F1 nowadays. He'll also be responsible for the 2006 car and, I hope for the good of Ferrari, for many other cars to come. Have faith: both us and Bridgestone know we'll come out of this situation. And I hope that will happen very soon."
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