Brawn: Rivals Not as Strong as in the Past

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said that the impressive performance of the ultra-dominant Italian team has been accentuated by the difficulties their rivals are suffering.

Ferrari have won all but two of the ten races so far this year and, with 118 points on the Constructors' Championship scoreboard they now have nearly double that of their closest rivals Williams-BMW, who are on 61.

The Italian team took their fourth one-two finish of the year on Sunday to send Michael Schumacher closer to a fifth world title, which could be completed at the next race, in Magny-Cours, France.

But Brawn admitted that his favourite German driver's supreme performances this year have been made even more impressive by the fact his rivals are not quite up to scratch.

"The results you get are a reflection of both the job you are doing and the job your rivals are doing," said Brawn. "We have been very lucky but you do make your own luck to some degree and Michael does seem to avoid problems.

"But our opposition have not been as strong as they have been in recent years. They've had a few problems and it seems to have worked in our favour."