Ferrari Denies Irvine Sabotage.

Ferrari has denied attempting to ruin Eddie Irvine's title challenge, despite being soundly beaten by championship rivals McLaren at Monza.


Speaking to quash speculation in the aftermath of Irvine's sixth place at the Scuderia's home circuit, team boss Jean Todt said that the car and team would have been in the same position even if Michael Schumacher had still been driving. There have been rumours that the team had eased off its development programme once it became clear that the German would not be able to challenge for the title after breaking his leg at Silverstone in July, and is unhappy that Irvine may take the coveted number one to Jaguar next year.


Irvine, too, believes that there is little that could have been done to maintain his advantage ahead of McLaren's Mika Hakkinen, but is convinced that the worst is over. The Irishman reckons that the three remaining circuits - Nurburgring, Sepang and Suzuka - will be more user-friendly towards the Ferrari, and that he will be able to at least run with Hakkinen and team-mate David Coulthard.


"We put on downforce and we close the gap without doing anything," Irvine said, "The uphill part [of the season] is over and, while there is no downhill, at least we are now on the flat.


"We have aerodynamic improvements coming for the next race, but we have been basically in the same position for the last four or five races. Hopefully, we will make a step forward next time."


The aerodynamics of the current F399 have been at the root of the team's problems this season, with the car having to be set-up for either fast corners or chicanes. It is not able to run well at circuits where both types of corner feature prominently, and has lost out to the more adaptable McLaren, Jordan and Williams in recent races. The three remaining circuits are all of a medium-downforce nature - unlike the flat-out Monza - which should be more suitable for the Ferrari.