European GP Low Point for Ferrari, Says Todt

Today's European Grand Prix was Ferrari's worst performance of the season, team boss Jean Todt said.

"It's probably the worst result of the season because, even if we have had more difficult races, it's the first time that we are not in a position to compete to win the Grand Prix," said the Frenchman.

Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello finished third while Championship leader Michael Schumacher came fifth after a collision with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya sent him spinning into the gravel.

The champions have scored fewer points in other races this year, with Schumacher fourth in Australia while Barrichello did not finish. In Brazil neither driver finished. But they could have won both races.

At the Nurburgring, neither led at any stage, with World Champion Schumacher starting on the front row but running third at the end of the first lap with Barrichello fourth. Ralf Schumacher led teammate Montoya for a Williams one-two instead after McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen led the early stages from pole.

"We need to analyse, to understand. We have already quite a good idea of the situation," said Todt.

"We just have to work very hard with our technical partners and mainly for Bridgestone. We know the importance of the tyres, thanks to them we had an outstanding season last year, this year is more difficult.

"The others have made some good steps. Saying that, we are still in both championships, notwithstanding a very difficult start," he said.

"We were quite far behind after three Grands Prix, now we don't have a big gap but seven points (ahead) in the drivers and 13 in the manufacturers. It's a very open championship."

Schumacher leads McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen in the Drivers' Championship, while Ferrari are ahead of Williams in the constructors' standings.