Ferrari Thankful to Bridgestone

"Bridgestone is one of the team's most important technical partners in Formula One," said Todt. "We have enjoyed great successes because we have had the best package, the best car and the best tyres. On behalf of Ferrari I would like to thank Bridgestone for all the effort they put into F1.

"This year has been a tough year but we are sure that together we can return to success in the future."

Todt, as well as driver Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello visited Bridgestone's worldwide headquarters in Tokyo ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix for a "meet and greet" event for Bridgestone employees.

To honour his contribution to Bridgestone's successes in Formula One, the company's CEO Shigeo Watanabe presented Barrichello with a commemorative silver plate engraved with a message of thanks from Bridgestone.

"This is an emotional moment for me," said the Brazilian, who will drive for the Michelin-shod BAR team next season. "I am the driver who has raced for the longest time on Bridgestone's tyres in F1 and we have had some fantastic times.

"There has been a lot of hard work together but that has produced some good times. All of my victories have been on Bridgestone tyres and I shall miss what we have done together over the past nine years. This will be my last Japanese Grand Prix with Bridgestone and Ferrari."

Schumacher added: "It is fantastic to have this crowd behind us and we shall be trying our best to be successful for you. We have had many years of success and although we have had a difficult time this year it is during these moments that you show what you can do.

"Can we fight or not? Are we motivated or not? With a lot of effort together and with your support I look forward to winning many more races in the future. There is a saying: `When the going gets tough, the tough get going'."