Ferrari Could Start 2003 with Old Car, Says Brawn

Ferrari could start next season with their current Formula One car, technical director Ross Brawn said on Thursday.

"We obviously have the option of using the current car next year," he told a news conference organised by tyremaker Bridgestone at the German Grand Prix.

"Our plan at the moment is not to but then we did have that plan at the same time last year and despite that we did use the old car for the first few races and that's something we could do again next year."

Ferrari made substantial modifications to their F2001 car towards the end of last year and ran the 'hybrid' for the first three rounds of this season after reliability problems surfaced with the new F2002.

Asked whether the champions, completely dominant this season with nine wins in 11 races, had any plans to introduce a similar 'hybrid' before the end of this year, Brawn replied:

"No I don't think so. Next year's engine is quite different to what we have this year, it's quite a different configuration. So therefore it's something we can't fit into the existing car. There will be developments on this car...but it's a more distinct jump in some areas.

"The transmission will be an evolution but a transmission that will only fit the new car."

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has already won the Drivers' Championship with six races to spare and the team are 62 points clear of Williams in the constructors' standings with a maximum of 96 remaining to be won.