New Ferrari after four races

"We want to find the proper technical solution and give ourselves time," Brawn said. "You could do the new car in time for the start of the new season but you would not produce an optimised car. The situation is the same with the engine."

In 2005, engines will be required to last for two races, increasing the required life to something like 1000 miles, and Brawn explained: "We had started work on the engine for next year but that has been scrapped and we will have an evolution of the engine that we already have."

Brawn explained that Ferrari has already been running a test muletta with modifications aimed at simulating the expected 2005 specifications. He has concluded that the changes to the cars are on target to achieve the FIA's aims of slowing down the cars by around 3s per lap, although Michael Schumacher found the car difficult to drive at first acquaintance (see separate story).