Williams Chiefs in Awe of 'Amazing' Ferrari Team

Williams team chiefs Frank Williams and Patrick Head paid tributed to Ferrari's reign at the top of the sport, complimenting the team for their achievements in the last few years.

"F1 is harder now - Ferrari have raised the game. They are such a formidable team," Williams told BBC, while Head stated: "I've never seen an act like that in all the time I've been in F1. This year there is the potential for them to be beaten, but if anyone does they will have done an amazing job."

Head went on to praise World Champion Michael Schumacher, giving him credit for the Italian squad's consistency in maintaining their top executives in place for so long.

"Usually in that situation someone pays the golden egg for someone to disappear, but they've all stayed there," Head said. "And one has to look to Michael for that.

"I don't think Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne would have stayed in that position for such a long time were it not for Michael - they know whatever work they do is going to have his total application and commitment.

"Our current drivers [Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya] are very good but they would know themselves that neither are as integrated in the development of the team as Michael is."

Ferrari have won the Constructors' Championship for the last five years in a row, and Michael Schumacher won the last four World Drivers' Championships. The German also has two Championship titles from 1994 and 1995, when he drove for Benetton, giving him a record total of six World Championship titles.