Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa, eleventh, was  the only other Michelin shod car to take the chequered flag. For Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director, the race was one where it was the superiority f the whole Ferrari package that saw them take victory. He responded to various questions.

A difficult wet/dry race… another Ferrari demonstration. What did you make of it?

“They weren’t just three to four seconds per lap than our cars, they were that much faster than everybody – including Villeneuve, Heidfeld and Fisichella who are all exceptionally good drivers in the rain - but they were on the same tyres and were all three to four seconds per lap slower. Juan Pablo did a really good race, with a correct strategy, finishing at 31 seconds from the winner. ”

What did you learn about your own wet and intermediate tyres during the race?

“There were some very positive aspects. Our intermediate tyres have been much maligned in the past, but if you look at the lap times David Coulthard was doing they stood up very well in today’s conditions. McLaren was a bit unfortunate today: the weather conditions were unpredictable and although the team’s tyre gambles didn’t pay off, they could well have done. It was a risk worth taking.”

Did we see both of your dry-weather compounds in the race?

“Yes. Some partner teams, including McLaren and Williams, ran our primary (A) tyre, while Renault was one of those that selected our option (B) tyre.”

Within three weeks, we will be at the much-revised Hockenheim. Have you had chance to take a look at the new, shorter track?

“Yes – but we haven’t finalised our tyre compounds yet because we are still analysing the layout. It really will be a step into the unknown. It is so new that there haven’t been any races at all there yet – the first will be the Formula 3000 event that act s as a curtain-raiser to the German GP two weeks from now. I have good memories of the venue, though, because our tyres were very effective on the old track last year, when Ralf Schumacher won for Williams and BMW.”