Ferrari is F1's superstar - Todt

Ferrari managing director Jean Todt believes his team deserve the biggest slice of the Formula One cake.

The Italian outfit have dominated the sport since 1999, winning six constructors’ crowns and five drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher at the wheel.

But Todt thinks the marque is synonymous with the sport and likens them to a Hollywood star.

He said: “Ferrari has always been special and is tied to F1 just as F1 is tied to Ferrari.

“It helped to create what F1 is today. It is like in the movies where the stars get paid more – Ferrari is a star and wants to be paid like a star.

“The others might be frustrated but they would demand the same if they were in our situation.”

Frustration has built on and off the track after a soporific season’s racing in 2004.

Ferrari’s dominance has led to the sport being derided as predictable and in the winter Todt’s team unilaterally signed up to stay in F1 until 2012.

They had been a key player in the plans formulated by disgruntled teams to set up a breakaway Grand Prix World Championship [GPWC] by 2008.

But Todt says that Ferrari were always keen on staying in the sport they currently bestride.

He said: “First I would point out that it was Paolo Cantarella [former Fiat president] who initiated the GPWC.

“We always said that, if we could reach an agreement with the FIA, with (Bernie) Ecclestone, with the banks, we would do so.

“Only after reaching this agreement did we step out of the GPWC.”

With Ferrari out on a lucrative limb, the rest of the teams in the sport remain committed to the GPWC, adding extra spice to the new season.

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn believes new rules for 2005 should fix some of the on-track problems, though.

Tyres have been hardened to make them last through qualifying and the race while aerodynamics have been cut to reduce cornering speeds.

“It will revive something of the old Formula One,” Brawn said at yesterday’s launch of Ferrari’s 2005 car.

“The ability to run a set of tyres for the whole race will be a key factor and make for fascinating and spectacular racing.”

The tyre factor may prove the most interesting change to the regulations, forcing even the best into rethinking their tactics.

Brawn said: “One thing Michael does supremely is drive in stints – say, 20 laps flat out – then come in and change the tyres and start again.

“This year, with only being allowed one set of tyres per race, he will have to adapt.

“What is interesting is that he has always been harder on tyres than [team-mate] Rubens Barrichello, so he is going to have to be much more measured.”

Ferrari are starting the first four races of the season with a modified version of last year’s car, giving the rest of the grid hope that their new machines will allow them to steal a march.

Renault and McLaren have set the benchmark times in winter testing and although they can be notoriously unreliable guides to early season form, there is hope that 2005 will provide a more competitive spectacle.