Can Ferrari Cope Without Both?

[davewilson]

The departure of Ross Brawn is "more serious" than Ferrari's loss of the retiring Michael Schumacher, according to triple champion Niki Lauda.

While the Austrian veteran is concerned that Kimi Raikkonen might struggle to ably fill Schumacher's boots at the Maranello based team, he said the hole left by Brawn in 2007 could tempt Ferrari back into bad old habits.

"For years Ferrari has shaped itself around Schumacher's style," Lauda said in an interview with Sport Bild.

"Whether the Raikkonen system functions with Ferrari, we will have to find out."

Lauda, however, estimates that Briton Brawn, whose Ferrari departure is for the time being a 'sabbatical', brought crucial stability to the famous marque.

"He made Ferrari strictly organised, oversaw quick reactions and was not influenced by politics," Lauda said.

Brawn's successor as technical director is Mario Almondo, the pit wall will be run by Luca Baldisseri, and Aldo Costa designs the cars.

Lauda warned: "If the old Italian mentality comes back, it won't be good -- I know this from my own experience."

The Stig