Brawn Warns Ferrari will Improve

Dominant Ferrari expect to run an even better car in front of their home fans at Imola this month after winning the first three races of the season, according to technical director Ross Brawn.

"We have a new package for Imola," Britain's Motorsport News quoted him as saying on Wednesday.

"There's no reason why we can't keep on improving - that's the great thing about the stability: you find these increments all the time."

Ferrari have been Formula One constructor's champions for the past five years and Michael Schumacher looks set for a seventh drivers' title after taking maximum points so far this year. The San Marino Grand Prix is on April 25 and Schumacher has won there four times in the last five years.

Brawn said Ferrari remained concerned about certain circuits, such as Hungary and Hockenheim, where rivals might still have a tyre advantage in hot weather. He recognised that the team could now have the most powerful engine and said Ferrari were wary of Jenson Button's BAR.

"BAR is going to be a threat," said Brawn.

"They look to be the coming men on Michelins because their main competitors are having a difficult time at the moment," added the Englishman. "They'll start to improve their consistency now and that will make them stronger."

Briton Button is third in the Drivers' Championship after the opening three races with third place finishes in both Malaysia and Bahrain. Honda-powered BAR are fourth in the constructors' championship, level on points with last year's runners-up Williams.

BAR team boss David Richards said, however, that Ferrari remained in a class of their own.

"We can fight with anyone except the Ferraris," said Richards. "Clearly they've got the edge on us all. But there will be a case where they make mistakes or things go wrong and things fall in our favour. We've got to be there to make the most of that opportunity. In a straight fight nobody can honestly claim that they're going to be as good as them."