Todt: Quickest driver gets priority at Ferrari

The Ferrari team principal was defending his team's actions in ordering Rubens Barrichello to give way to the world champion at the last race in Austria a fortnight ago.

Todt also says the two drivers' new contracts signed this week are no different to the ones they already have. He denied Barrichello had negotiated new terms after being ordered to move over for Schumacher in Austria.

And he rubbished suggestions that the world champion will always have priority over his team mates as long as he is with the Italian team.

"Rubens is not number two at Ferrari," said Todt, ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. "It is just that Michael is generally in front so he gets priority.

"If, in the future, Rubens or Michael's team mate is consistently in front of Michael, Michael will have to help the team and his team mate. That is the way it has been and that's the way it will be in the future.

"Rubens is good for the team," he added.

Todt also was adamant that no amendments have been made to Barrichello's contract, which was extended for another year this week, despite the Brazilian's public display of frustration with Ferrari in Austria when team orders came into play.

"There was nothing rewritten in Rubens' contract," he said. "He had a two-year contract until 2001 with an option for 2002. Therefore, all we had to do was confirm the option. Nothing has changed."