Jean Todt wants to boost the moral of the Ferrari team after two races without being real compettative.

He said: "We have to raise our heads, even during the difficult times. There are three races left to the end of the season and Michael is still top, albeit by one small point. We have to remember, though, that we had only had a narrow lead of three points after the Hungarian Grand Prix, but that lead then increased in the following races. What I'm getting at is that anything can happen.

"People have told me that a one-point lead is important psychologically, but I'm saying it could be even more important mathematically, it could be worth the whole season. As for the constructors title, we lost 13 points to Williams at Zeltweg and that's a lot of points. There, the situation is a lot more difficult."

He praised Michael Schumacher's performance in the last race: "Despite the fact that he started from back in ninth position, he was one of the key figures in the race. The car went very well, as you can see from the fact that he had the second fastest lap time -- barely three tenths of a second behind Villeneuve. Unfortunately, there was the problem of the yellow flag, which denied the driver and the team an excellent result. But there's no point complaining there's nothing to be done about it. The flags were there, others saw them but not Michael because he was concentrating on Frentzen."

Todt commented on the next race in Luxembourg: "I know that it's a track for the Williams, and Villeneuve. But let's wait for the race. Whether it goes well or not, we'll see afterwards. All I want to say is, I repeat, a one-point lead may not be much but at least it's something. There are three races to go and I think they are all wide open and we will do everything we possibly can. We knew at the start of the season that the Williams was the car to beat, and Ferrari didn't expect to be in such a good position with three left to go in the season."

He also added: "We know full well that our F310B is not on the same level as the rival car. But my hope is that in 1998 we can have a more competitive machine right from the start of the season. It's true that Frentzen has yielded more than Irvine. But it also has to be said that Villeneuve didn't need his team-mate to get 10 points on Sunday."

Alain Prost wants to wait until the end of October before announcing the team line-up for next season report say. It's even possible that Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve moves there if he doesn't become champion.

Frank Williams has stated that it is 'very unlikely' that Villeneuve will leave his team but it's not sure yet.

If Villeneuve joins Prost then Gerhard Berger may sign with Williams. If not Jarno Trulli will get the Prost seat.