Ferrari launch: Team's 'best ever car'

The new car, which is strikingly different in appearance from the ultra-successful F2002, has been designated the 'GA' in honour of the late Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli who died last week.

"It is a beautiful car and I can't wait to see it on the track," said Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt. "It has a very big responsibility but we will be starting the season with the F2002 and then deciding the right moment to put this on the track.

"Rory Byrne said last year that last year's car was the most beautiful Ferrari since he joined in the mid-90s and I know that the whole group has made the same comments about this car."

Despite a 2002 season in which Ferrari enjoyed total domination, Todt is keen to point out that the Italian firm has lost none of its drive and believes that F2003-GA has the potential to be even better than its predecessor. This comes at a time when the FIA has changed the regulations to spice up the racing and WilliamsF1 BMW and McLaren-Mercedes are hoping to close the gap to Ferrari.

"We have the same motivation as if we had never won before and have a real desire for more wins," said Todt. "Our competitors don't want to see Ferrari ahead of them but we will do everything we can to be ahead of them."

The creator of the F2003-GA, Rory Byrne, is just as confident in the car's potential to deliver to new heights: "Last year I said the F2002 was the most beautiful F1 car ever made and it proved so and was also the most successful. But now we have the F2003 GA and all our performance objectives have been met or exceeded so I am confident that F2003-GA is the best Ferrari ever."