Ferrari Rivals will Fight Back, Says Todt

Ferrari boss Jean Todt reckoned the Italian team are favourites to win this year's titles following four consecutive victories.

The Frenchman, however, said it's too early to believe the Championship is over.

"I would never say something like that," said Todt when asked if the Drivers' Championship was already over this year. "This is a sport that doesn't forgive you, many things can happen. At most we are favourites, after four victories."

World Champion Michael Schumacher has won the first four races of the season in dominant style and he leads the standings by 16 points over teammate Rubens Barrichello. Ferrari, meanwhile, head the Constructors' Championship by 33 points over Renault.

Despite their dominance so far, Todt believes their rivals will fight back.

"At Imola, only Ferrari and Renault got to the finish with both cars. Then there are Williams and BAR, but also McLaren will come back and they will battle," the Frenchman told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The F2004 has margins for improvement too. Only by improving you can stay at the top and, for this objective, we work with 800 people and have done 140 hours in the wind tunnel. Improving is hard, falling is very easy."

Ferrari's chief designed Rory Byrne agree with Todt, stating that the World Champions will eventually be caught.

"There are cycles in Formula One," said Byrne. "This is ours and I'm very glad about it. But they'll catch up, they won't let us keep going like this."