Irvine: Ferrari will be better next year

Speaking at Indianapolis, Irvine said he believes next year's F2003 could be more dominant than this year's Ferrari, which has already won 12 races out of the 13 its entered (Ferrari started the season with an updated version of its 2001 car).

"The guys there (at Ferrari) are telling me that they've made bigger steps for next year than they've made between last year and this, already," he told the BBC. "It's kind of scary.

"Williams are unreliable. They don't do a job anywhere near the level of Ferrari, that's quite clear. Ferrari finish races while everyone else is breaking down. And you can't really stop them having a one-two if you're parked on the verge after 28 laps."

Ferrari number one Michael Schumacher wrapped up his fifth title after the season was barely half way through, while the team claimed a fourth straight constructors' championship soon afterwards. Its sole remaining goal in 2002, to get Rubens Barrichello to finish second in the drivers' standings, can be achieved this weekend if the Brazilian finishes ahead of the Williams drivers.