Bridgestone won't put skids on Ferrari sweep

Tyre supplier Bridgestone have set a goal of helping Ferrari win all five remaining races this season to set a new standard in Formula One dominance.

Michael Schumacher tied up the constructors’ championship with victory in Hungary – his 12th from 13 races – to put the seal on a dominant campaign by Ferrari, helped in no small part by Bridgestone.

Ferrari have benefited from being the only top team to run Bridgestone tyres and the Japanese company’s motorsport boss Hisao Suganuma wants to see the partnership claim an unprecedented 17 race wins this season.

“Our target is to win the remainder of the races and to keep strengthening the relationships between Bridgestone and our teams so we can develop a greater understanding of their needs,” he said.

“Ferrari has just won the constructors’ championship and we are now working towards the drivers’ championship.”

Bridgestone and Ferrari’s only defeat this season came in Monaco when Renault’s Jarno Trulli won on Michelin rubber.

Despite their dominance this year, that defeat still hurts Suganuma and he wants a clean sweep in 2005.

He added: “All the Bridgestone teams have benefited from our strengths this year. So far, I think our efforts have paid off and 12 wins from 13 races is an amazing achievement.

“We did lose Monaco which was disappointing but that just means we will try even harder in 2005.”