Todt Remains Cautious as he Reflects Ahead of Japan

Ferrari's sporting director, Jean Todt, has played down the Italian team's position, going into the penultimate round of the World Championship, and said the team simply must win in Japan.

With eight points in the lead of the drivers' World Championship and ten in the constructors', Todt said: "We had been pronounced dead. But we weren't dead, and therefore now we have also not been resurrected.

"Ferrari has been competitve since the beginning of the year. We have experienced highs and lows. Now, another high pase has begun, and we want to extend it. We want to win in Japan. A lead of eight points is nothing."

Todt, however, admitted to be relieved that the championship has turned around in the team's favour. "Before Monza we had been suffering for a number of races," the Frenchman reflected. "When I look back at what happened at Monte Carlo, when we were leading by over 30 seconds; to Magny Cours, where Michael was second; Austria's first lap; Hockenheim, where he could not race - we have had some difficult times. But the last two races have been better. Now let's concentrate on the next two."

Speaking of the upcoming two races at Japan and Malaysia, Todt said: "I think it will be close. It's been close throughout the whole season. We've had eight poles out of 15 races; that's how close it has been. It's terrifying to see that the third team has only 34 points. It shows that it is a battle between two teams. Malaysia might have been good for us last year, for instance, but the car is different this year. And that doesn't mean that we will be good or bad there.

"But if we achieve what we want, we will laugh about Monte Carlo, the start in Austria, Hockenheim. If we don't get what we want, we will cry! Let's hope we laugh."