Brawn: No Quick Fix for Ferrari's Woes

"It's unrealistic to expect (tyre partners) Bridgestone to turn a magic switch and solve the problem," technical director Ross Brawn said at the San Marino Grand Prix on Friday. "We've got to find solutions with the car as well.

"If we have more power and more downforce the car handles better and it uses the tyre better...we've got to have a better car, we've got to improve the handling and we've got to have more downforce," he added.

"It won't be an overnight change, it will be step by step and a hard slog."

Ferrari, winners of 15 of last year's 18 races as well as the last six Constructors' Championships, have been beaten in all three Grands Prix this season and are sixth in the standings.

Seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher has just two points, 24 behind Renault's title leader Fernando Alonso, after his worst start to a season but expects Ferrari to begin their comeback this weekend.

In Bahrain three weeks ago, with the new F2005 rushed into action two races ahead of schedule, neither Ferrari driver scored any points and Schumacher retired with his first mechanical failure since July 2001.

Race Difficulty

The Bridgestone tyres, in a class of their own last year when races were effectively a series of sprints between pitstops, have not been as effective as rivals Michelin under new rules forcing teams to use the same tyres for qualifying and the entire race.

"We've had some difficulty with the one race tyre," said Brawn. "Our concept of car and concept of tyre has not been correct for the one race tyre and we've been caught out. In Malaysia and Bahrain we suffered.

"We're beginning to change the concept of the car and the tyre to move much more towards what we now understand we need from the one race tyre. That will take a little time. You have to have the stomach for a tyre war, its a tough battle.

"That's the way it is and you have to live with that. We're not looking like heroes at the moment but we'll come out of it," he added.

"I've got every faith in our partners at Bridgestone and they've got faith in us. It's just a tough time at the moment but very interesting for Formula One."

Brawn remained optimistic about Schumacher's chances at Imola on Sunday after winning five times in the last six years.

"I was quite pleased with the performance today," he said after Schumacher was fourth fastest in first practice and sixth in the second session. "I think we'll be competitive."