Q & A with Jean Todt

Jean Todt: We had a different strategy.

Q. Can you outline the characteristics of the next four Grands Prix, and whether they will be suitable for your car?

JT: We have just had the debriefing, and the discussion with out engineers, and definitely we have not been competitive this year on circuits where we need a lot of mechanical grip, and where there is a lot of importance on the kerbs.

The worst circuits for us this year have been Monte Carlo, Canada, Spa, Budapest in qualifying, and Monza. There is a question mark about Fuji because we have not been there, but we feel that otherwise Spa, Shanghai and Brazil, there is no evidence that we could not be competitive.

Q. Did today feel like a psychological blow for the drivers to have been beaten by the McLarens?

JT: It is a very tough championship, mainly with the fight amongst the two teams. It's enough to see the difference since the beginning of the season in the lap times, and sometimes they have been quicker than us, like today, and sometime we have been quicker than them. And here, since the beginning of the weekend, they have been more competitive. And more reliable.

Q. With the current points positions of your drivers, what are your plans for the remaining races? Is one driver going to be supported or can they race?

JT: At the moment, they will race.

Q. The suspension breakage on Massa's car - was that on the left or the right?

JT: We will investigate it. We have found where the problem was, now we will disassemble the part to determine exactly what the problem was. It was the first time that we have had this kind of problem occurring.

Q. Is there any chance that we will see an agreement between Ferrari and McLaren between now and Thursday?

JT: It has nothing to do with an agreement between Ferrari and McLaren. It is a case which is going to be taken in front of the World Council, and the World Council ... we know that it was meant to be a hearing in front of the international court of appeal. Then the FIA decided to stop this international court of appeal in the light of new evidence and to bring it back to the World Council.

Q. How do you think the spy scandal will affect the image of the sport and of Ferrari?

JT: I mean, it's a taint on the sport. Every time that there is a bad controversy, and it can happen in athletics, it can happen with gold medal winners, it can happen with cycling, it can happen with football, and now it is something that is happening in Formula One.

I think that we are sorry that it is happening in Formula One, but we are in the position where we want the truth to appear. And that's all that we want, and all that we have been working on and doing, and we are confident that the truth will come through.

Q. If McLaren are exonerated again on Thursday, will you continue the process through the Court of Appeal and the civil courts, or will you accept that the World Council decision is final?

JT: No, I mean really, for us it is something which is too important and we will move forward in Italy. With the FIA, I'm not going to comment on what the decisions will be because I don't know what the decisions will be, and [will] outline what can happen once the decision has been taken. And we will move on with the civil case in the UK as well.

Q. What happened to Kimi's car yesterday?

JT: Yesterday ... I think Kimi explained better than I will be able to explain it. But in braking, he locked the rear wheels and he lost the car.

Q. What would you consider a just outcome of the spy scandal? Would you like to see McLaren disqualified from this year and next year?

JT: It's not a menu, where you go 'would you prefer number one or number two?' I mean, the FIA and the World Council will have to decide with the evidence that they have in hand. And our duty is to provide as many evidence as possible for the World Council to understand exactly what has happened.

Q. You had a decision in July and you didn't accept it, so obviously there is a menu...

JT: We didn't accept it because we found proof the decision was not appropriate. And then if you see the wording of the decision - in case of new evidence, things will be different. So, we have new evidence. I mean, we will be able to produce new evidence.

Q. In July Ferrari complained that they did not have an opportunity to present their case. Will you get that opportunity on Thursday?

JT: We will be able to do so.