Mugello: Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said he expected his team to return to winning ways as their new car for the 2006 Formula One season was unveiled at their private track on Tuesday.
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was again at the wheel, officially presenting the car to the press at the Mugello circuit.
"We had six years of continued success," said Montezemolo, but he admitted there had been difficulties in 2005.
Last year Ferrari relinquished the constructors' title for the first time since 1999 and the drivers' crown for the first time since 2000.
"But I don't want to give the impression that it's the end of an era," he said.
And Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt said: "We are going to confront the 2006 season with a lot of humility but also with great determination to get back to our former heights. We have the car, the drivers, the financial means, so there is no excuse not to get back to where we were."
Todt said he had great faith in Ferrari's new second driver Felipe Massa of Brazil but said nothing had been decided on the possible arrival of world motorcycling champion Valentino Rossi.
Todt said: "Massa is a young driver with a lot of experience, talent and motivation and has everything needed to bring success to the team."
On Rossi, Todt continued: "Nothing has been decided. Valentino Rossi will have further testing in Formula One. It's not 100 percent certain but he could soon be doing more testing in Valencia."
And on the future of Schumacher whose contract runs till the end of 2006, Montezemolo added: "It will be for Michael to decide. I personally think he is more than capable of doing two more years in Formula One."
"If he decides to continue, we'll be happy. If he decides to go, we will be disappointed but will understand, because motivation is the most important thing in life as in sport."
Team engineer Aldo Costa said the new Ferrari was lighter, more compact and shorter in length than any of its predecessors. "We are very happy with the way it is performing."
"It is lighter and the suspension has been completely changed. The aerodynamics have also been reworked and we will continue to make small changes if need be before the first race of the season."
The car has already been seen having made an unexpectedly early debut at Fiorano on January 16 where Schumacher drove it for 51 laps.
The early performances of the new car has raised Ferrari's hopes of being more competitive this season, while an additional boost comes from the return of tyre changes after a year's absence.
Bridgestone supplied Ferrari's tyres in 2004 when changes were last allowed and the Italian team dominated.
In another rule change aimed at reducing costs and improving safety, engines of all the cars have been reduced in size from the previous 3-litre V10s to 2.4-litre V8s.
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