Exclusive: We will be Stronger, Warns Byrne

Ferrari's chief designer Rory Byrne sent a warning to his team's rivals, stating the World Champions will be even stronger in 2003.

"I am sure we will do a better job next year," Byrne told Atlas F1 in an exclusive interview with Will Gray. "I am sure the car will be better and we will perform to our normal standard. I can tell you I have got the hammer down as hard as I can go to make the fastest car we can next year - because that's my job.

"We have made a decent step every year and I expect we are going to make a similar step this year to next year," the South African added.

However, Byrne admitted he is not expecting the Maranello-based squad to enjoy another season like 2002, where - according to Byrne - Ferrari's domination has been accentuated by their rivals' lacklustre performance.

"I expect they are going to be closing the gap so I am honestly not expecting to have another season like this, that's for sure," Byrne said. "You only get a season like this once a decade or maybe even less often than that, so to say we can beat it next year is a bit presumptuous."

The full interview - where Byrne explain what made his car so good, how the team held through the various controversies in the season, and why they are so reliable - can be found in this week's Atlas F1 Magazine issue