Began to play an important role in Formula One in the early 1950s and Froilan Gonzalez secured the team's first victory on July 14, 1951. Alberto Ascari won six Grands Prix
in a row to become the first Ferrari world champion in 1952 before retaining the crown the following year. Won their first constructors' championship title in 1961 and a second
followed in 1963 when John Surtees won the drivers' title. Niki Lauda's emergence in the mid-70s saw Ferrari recover from a lengthy slump to take consecutive constructors' titles
in 1975 and 1976. Unreliability hampered the team in the 80s as rivals McLaren went from strength to strength, but Michael Schumacher restored the glory days with his drivers' title
in 1998. The constructors' title also returned one year later as Schumacher, with Rubens Barrichello in support, took the Formula One world by the scruff of the neck.
Were able last year to celebrate another record-breaking season of Formula One triumph, in both the drivers' and the constructors' world championships. Michael
Schumacher drove to his fourth drivers' title in eight years -- and second in as many seasons -- while Ferrari, through Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, lifted the
constructors' championship for the second straight year. Schumacher posted a remarkable nine individual wins after triumphing in the season-ending Japanese Grand
Prix, as well as piling up a record 123 points and the greatest number of fastest laps. With Brazilian Barrichello finishing third on 56 points, Ferrari totally dominated the
constructors' championship as their haul of 179 points left Mclaren well behind in second place with 102. Last December, Ferrari were named world team of the year
by French newspaper L'Equipe.
Frank Williams, boss of the Formula One team that bears his name, has publicly insisted that Jenson Button will be driving for the team next year, despite BAR's claims that the English racer is still contracted to them.
"We are of the firm opinion on strong legal advice that BAR have lost the opportunity to retain Jenson", Williams said, "I have no doubt that he will be with the BMW Williams F1 team for 2005".
Williams said that he wanted to settle the dispute between the two teams amicably and quietly, but felt compelled to respond to the claims made by BAR team boss, Dave Richards. He admits that the dispute between the two teams might end up going to arbitration, or even to the courts.
"Whatever I said about contractual details, one fact is not contestable", Williams added, "Jenson wishes and expects to drive for the BMW Williams F1 team in 2005 and 2006, he has made this intention clear".
The argument apparently revolves around whether Williams' or BAR's contractual 'option' for Button's services takes precedence and the legal wrangling could continue for some time to come.
"I called David Richards approximately five minutes after I knew he had received that letter [from Button's manager, John Byfield, to Richards explaining Button's intention to depart BAR]," Williams told the BBC, "and said that we wanted to handle it privately, and that if there was disagreement then the first step would be the contracts recognition board. I had no intention of going public".
Williams asserted that he only released news of the Button deal after learning that Richards had spoken to 'The Times' newspaper.
