A SIMPLY SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE; Once again the Ferraris had it all.(News)

Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK

Maybe it wasn't until the Italian Grand Prix in September-the 15th race of the season-that we finally saw the true strength of the Ferrari F2004.

Consider: Six laps in, Rubens Barrichello, after briefly leading from the pole, had already been in for dry tires and was back in ninth, while Michael Schumacher, after a spin on the damp opening lap, was 11th, already more than half a minute behind the leader. An hour and 10 minutes later, matters had improved for Ferrari. Now Barrichello and Schumacher stood on the podium celebrating the team's eighth 1-2 of the season. Third-place Jenson Button looked a little dazed. "I thought we might win today,'' he said later. "I really didn't think the Ferraris would be so strong. Their performance in the dry was just staggering.''

Given that Button, third in the final championship standings, and his team, BAR-Honda, second only to Ferrari in constructors' points, were the revelation of the season, his words had weight.

That night Button parked his silver Porsche Carrera GT outside Monza's famed Hotel de la Ville and came in for dinner, where Barrichello was celebrating with his friends. They shook hands, and Button talked about a race he had led for a long way, a race he thought was his.

"Did you see the way Michael passed me? First of all, he was able to sit right behind me all the way through Parabolica, and that was hard to believe in itself-I mean, how much downforce does that thing have? Then we get onto the straight, and he just drives straight past! Didn't even bother to tow me.''

Ferrari's strength at Monza surprised even its drivers, and while Bridgestone's contribution should not be underestimated, it seemed this was a car with no vices.