Bridgestone: Ferrari to do Better

"Bridgestone has had a very productive test with Ferrari this week running a number of tyre specifications on the F2005 car," technical manager Hisao Suganuma said in a statement on Thursday. "We are pleased with the team's decision to take the new car to Bahrain."

Rivals Renault have won the first two Grands Prix of the season, a turn of events that has forced Ferrari to take their new car to Bahrain two races earlier than planned after starting the season with a version of last year's F2004.

"We have been working hard with Ferrari to accelerate our tyre development programme for Bahrain and look forward to an improved performance at the grand prix," said Suganuma. "We anticipate that following further testing in the coming weeks, the car/tyre package will continue to gain in performance."

Bridgestone technical director Hirohide Hamashima told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport after Sepang last weekend that "in this race the responsibility for such a negative result is undoubtedly down to our tyres."

Seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher finished seventh in Malaysia and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello retired.