Jean Todt, manager of Ferrari, is celebrating his sixth year with the Italian team. On that occasions, here is an interview with the man who currently runs the provisional constructors' champion for 1999:

Q: Jean, how far behind was Ferrari six years ago, further back than you thought?

Jean Todt: It's best to look at the qualifying time sheets and race results at that time. Very often we were fighting with very poor little teams and sometimes we dreamt of winning one point. So you can see how it was. Since then, things have changed a lot inside the team!

Q: Did you think it would take so long to win the World Championship?

Todt: I wouldn't talk so much about winning the World Championship. Since then, we've reached a level where we are in contention for the World Championship. If you're three seconds off the pace with an unreliable car, then you're just trying to see how you can finish a race or to be among the first six. Then, once you're competitive, you're trying to be amongst the first three. And then you're trying to win a race, and then working out how to win a championship.

And I would say that since the '97 season, we've been in the situation where we can hope to win races, and be in contention for the championship. Unfortunately, in '97 and '98 we couldn't quite clinch it at the last race but at least we were competitive up until then. In a way, it was frustrating to be so close; 15 minutes before the end of the last race of the championship in '97 we were there. We failed; then failed again at the last race in '98.

And in '99, after six races, we are fighting. But saying that, you never know which way it will go. Whatever, Ferrari is now back at the highest level of competition.

Q: We used to talk about the Big Four, is it now really the Big Two?

Todt: Exactly but the Big Two was Williams and Ferrari in '97 and in '98 and in '99 it's been McLaren and Ferrari, so in the last three years, only Ferrari has been consistent.

Q: How badly did you feel those failures? I use that word because you did

Todt: It was difficult but it's a job where you need strong nerves. It's like an obstacle race; somebody keeps putting new obstacles in the way and you just have to jump them.

Q: You work incredibly hard. You're always at the office; is there anything more you can do?

Todt: You know, if you have to deal with a problem, you have to be on hand to cope with it. You cannot cope if you're away. Even if there's nothing, you have to be there in case something happens. It would be very bad if somebody said 'I tried to see you but you weren't there.' You have to be available all the time. If I'm not there, I must be in contact and able to react.

I'm made like that. I wouldn't feel relaxed or comfortable if I wasn't there. It's the same if I have a list of ten people who have called me and I need to call them back. I couldn't look at that list and say 'I'll do it tomorrow.' I can't do things tomorrow. I want to make sure that things that have to be done the same day are done. It's energy-consuming, nerve-consuming, head-consuming, whatever, but that's the way it is.

Can I do more? We having a saying in French: only low level people can reach their maximum. You never reach your limit, you can always improve. Saying that, I feel that we have a very good team. I am proud of the people that I've gathered around me. I like the people, I trust them at all levels. It's just a question of putting in reinforcements at mid-level. But the foundations are still there and need to stay there. It would be a big big mistake to change the foundations. We have to try to reinforce at mid-level when we have the chance to bring in some good, new blood. To change, not to reinforce.

Q: Has your management style changed? Do you push people?

Todt: Yes. I need to be the catalyst if people need to be pushed but very often they push themselves. I make sure that they are working in the right conditions to achieve what they need to achieve. I give them the support that they need. I ask a lot from the people in the team, but I feel that we give them a lot.

Some problems are more managing problems than motor racing problems. We have a lot of motor racing issues. But I deal with it when it's a sponsor problem, a driver problem, an FIA problem, a technical problem, an engine problem; it's very varied. So it's important to have Ross deal with technical matters, Paolo Martinelli to deal with engine problems etc. It depends where it comes from.

Q: We've talked about you pushing people; is there much pressure on you from above?

Todt: I have pressure, definitely. I have a boss who is the president of Ferrari, Mr Montezemolo and he has his bosses who are the shareholders of Fiat and I definitely have to answer to him so that he can answer to them. That makes pressure, but having said that, we get on very well. I think everyone understands the work and what we have to achieve. They are quite supportive.

Q: What is Michael's position in all of this - is it achieveable without him?

Todt: A moment ago we were talking about my management style. Why should I complicate the situation? Why should I think what would happen if he wasn't at Ferrari? He has a contract with us until 2002, so I would rather say, how could we achieve it with him, rather than could we achieve it without him. He's with us so I don't have to think like that.

Michael's a great driver, a great guy. Thanks to the experience that we've gained, we've built up a very strong team. It's created a very strong link with some key people. We have a group of individuals who get on very well professionally and socially, which is very important. Michael is totally committed to the team as a driver.

He's very important for the team, a point of reference on the driver's side. His approach is very strong but I think the approach of the team is very strong for him as well. We are together for better or for worst - hopefully for the best, we supporting him and he supporting us. I think it's one of the great team-driver partnerships in motor racing. But he remains the driver.