Exclusive for Atlas F1: Ferrari Launch News Round-Up

Rubens Barrichello revealed he would leave the Ferrari team if the Maranello-based squad asked him to constantly do things that he was not ready to do. The Brazilian was asked to move over for teammate Michael Schumacher last year at the Austrian Grand Prix, and he later admitted he was not happy about it.

Asked if to get his contract renewed next year it was more important to win races or to be a good number two driver to Schumacher, Barrichello replied: "I don't know, I'll just keep my mind open. Of course, if I was told to do what I don't like all the time, I would start looking elsewhere."

Barrichello also said that the team had promised him he would not be asked to give way to Schumacher if they are both fighting for a race victory.

Ex-Formula One driver Andrea de Adamich, now a TV presenter for Italia 1 channel, believed that Ferrari were not showing all their cards during the launch. The former McLaren driver suggested that the Italian team could be hiding something from their rivals.

"Well, besides the fact that there are lots of Vodafone stickers and a very nice rear, I don't think we've seen it all," de Adamich told Atlas F1. "What's missing? I'm sure something is missing; with [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis taking pictures and making allegations, Ferrari is obviously keeping some stuff close to their chest."

Mauro Forghieri, Ferrari's technical director from 1962 to 1985, was also present at the launch of his former employer, and the Italian was pleased with the looks of the new F2002, although he reserved his judgement before seeing how it performs on the track.

"The new car looks very slick," Forghieri told Atlas F1. "From an aerodynamic point of view, everything has been pushed to the limit. We shall see whether it will fare on track as well as it seems to do in the wind tunnel. However, I've seen the Ferrari people looking very optimistic about their chances, so that bodes well."

Piero Ferrari, Ferrari Vice Chairman and son of Ferrari's founder Enzo, also praised the new machine: "The car looks very pretty, we'll see how it goes on the track. If it improves as much as Schumacher's grasp of Italian did, it's going to be excellent!"

Giorgio Piola, a well-known technical expert for Italian television RAI and Gazzetta dello Sport, agreed with the technical team when labeling the F2002 as a complete new design: "The new car is very different, especially the rear," he said.