At the start of their test session ...
Published on 20 August 1998 by Verstappen Info Page
At the start of their test session yesterday at Monza Ferrari team chef Jean Todt admitted that Ferrari is still not as good as the Mclaren's are this year. Todt said: "We are trying to get the car right in terms of speed. There are two fast circuits ahead of us and the Ferrari is still inferior to our direct rival, especially in terms of the distribution of weight and the aerodynamic set-up of the car."
One thing in which Ferrari is undeniably best is stirring emotions in people since more than 10.000 people have turned up at Monza despite the rain just to see a test session. Todt: "Ferrari are a unique team. To see 10.000 people at Monza is important for us - it's proof that the fans believe in us. This team can create emotions in people which no other team can."
To amplify Todt's statement about McLaren being superior David Coulthard set the fastest time today at Monza with 1:24.263. Michael Schumacher set a time of 1:25.693 and Eddie Irvine clocked a 1:26.197. Too bad for Fiat (and Ferrari) boss Gianni Agnelli who visited today. Ralf Schumacher was slowest with 1:26.740.
