Ferrari Never Lacked Confidence, Says Todt

Ferrari boss Jean Todt said that the Italian team never doubted they could come back from their three race losses this season after Michael Schumacher scored their first victory of the year in the San Marino Grand Prix.

Schumacher coolly put aside his emotions after his mother's death just hours before the race to put the scarlet Scuderia's Championship hopes back on course in front of their home crowds at Imola.

"We have never lacked confidence but we had a strong car we have a lot of Formula One experience," said Todt. "We had a very good Bridgestone tyre and it was a case of putting it all together."

But the Frenchman, who has steered Ferrari to four consecutive constructors' world titles since he joined the team, admitted victory this weekend was crucial for the title race. With just two points separating first and second places this year after a rule change at the start of the season, Todt knows that it would have been difficult to play catch-up if they had dropped further behind.

"It was a very important win for us today because we want to fight to win the Championship," he added. "If we had not won here it would be very difficult for us. The win is very important for us, for the Tifosi and for our employees."

Ferrari are now in second place in the Constructors' Championship on 32 points but McLaren are still 19 points ahead after picking up 12 points for Kimi Raikkonen's second and David Coulthard's fifth place finishes.

Rubens Barrichello made sure Ferrari gained four points on their rivals with his third place finish, but there is still a significant gap between Ferrari and the Championship leaders.