Former Greek Ferrari chief designer Nicolas Tombazis was sacked at the end of last year after a troubled 2014 campaign, but Tombazis claims that the 2015 victories so far this season was the result of progress from work done by himself and other staff last year. He said that the use of an upgraded windtunnel was fundamental to the wins.

“I didn’t expect to be fired,” said Tombazis in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. “First of all I do not reject my responsibilities, but I worked less on the 2014 car than the other cars before it. Secondly, the car of 2015 car was the first one, since that of 2008, on which I was able to work with a lot of time on my hands.”

“It was also the first to exploit an up-to-date windtunnel. We wouldn’t have matched Mercedes this season, but we would have improved. But by view was not shared by those who came to Maranello.”

He said that the timing of his dismissal was illogical and a “shock”, adding that everyone had made mistakes and the 2015 rebirth was begun by the previous staff.

He said that he is not bitter about being sacked by Ferrari but regrets not delivering a world title for Fernando Alondo. “We never had a winning car for Fernando, which is bad. He was the best driver out there, and maybe he will be again. Ferrari should have kept him… and me.”