Former Ferrari World Champion Niki Lauda has indicated that Ferrari are in need of an overhaul if they want to win the championship next season. "In Japan we saw that there is something not quite right in the team," said the Ferrari advisor. "I could not say what it is that does not fit, but it surprises me that a company such as Fiat continues to invest something like $140 million to chase the championship which Ferrari has not won for 20 years."

The 49-year-old Austrian, who won 25 Grands Prix for Ferrari, also feels it would have been better to have been comprehensively beaten by McLaren this year, than finishing such a close second. "In that way the team would have to understand that there is still a lot of work to do. I know how it will be now in Maranello. For a few days they will be sad, but as soon as they get over the initial bitterness they will begin to say that we nearly did it, but that is not right. It is time that those in charge should look to the bottom of it in order to clear up these problems."

Gary Anderson, Stewart's new chief designer, warned his team not to expect a fast turnaround, after the team's 8th place finish in the Constructors Championship standings this year. "We're definitely aiming for a step forward," said Anderson, "And I want to be competitive. But iff McLaren and Ferrari run away with it again next year, I would prefer us to be closer to them and outside the top six than miles away and inside the top six."