Ferrari believes Felipe Massa's impressive victory in Turkey this weekend could help reinvigorate team-mate Michael Schumacher's stuttering bid for the title.
The idea in the Ferrari camp was that the Brazilian will be so fired up by his first Formula 1 win that he and his more famous partner will chalk up one-two victories in all four remaining grand prix races.
At this point in the title contest, that sort of perfect performance seems the only way Schumacher can make up the 12 points that separate him from standings leader Fernando Alonso of Renault.
If Alonso's car broke down or if he crashed, that would also give Schumacher a powerful boost. But the Spaniard has finished all 14 races so far this year and only failed to score points once.
Ferrari team chief Jean Todt acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead but saw Massa's win as a sign it could be done.
"I'm very pleased about Felipe's victory because now he will be even more motivated to help the team and Schumacher," Todt said.
Massa, who wept on the winner's podium, drove an almost perfect race in Istanbul while his German team-mate looked slightly below par and had to settle for third. Alonso was second.
German daily Bild Zeitung was merciless in its appraisal of Schumacher, saying he was now a "Champion of mistakes" and had little hope of taking his eighth title in his current form.
Todt made light of Schumacher's mistakes, such as a poor choice of tires that slowed him down in Hungary three weeks ago and an ill-judged curve in Istanbul that cost him four seconds.
Ferrari are now only two points behind Renault in the constructors' championship and look the stronger team.
But as commentators in the Italian sports press admitted on Monday, the chances of Ferrari also snatching the driver's championship title with Schumacher looked slimmer after Turkey.
Massa Wins But Alonso Celebrates, headlined La Gazzetta dello Sport, which showed pictures of mistakes by Schumacher during Sunday's race and added in an editorial that he now seemed "fragile".
If Schumacher were to win every remaining race, with Massa coming second and Alonso finishing third, the German would win the title by four points.
Todt said he believed that objective was still within reach. "We have a fast car, with two great drivers and Bridgestone tires which are performing very well. It's important to be aware of this." He also promised changes to the aerodynamics of the Ferrari cars which he said would improve their performance even further.
Despite the arduous task ahead of him, Schumacher was also in no mood to throw in the towel on Monday.
"I can still do it. The championship isn't over until you see the last chequered flag," he said.
He also snappily rebuffed suggestions that his retirement from Formula 1 racing was now a foregone conclusion. On being told by a journalist that F1 patron Bernie Ecclestone had expressed certainty on the matter, he replied testily:
"How can he be sure of that when I myself don't even know yet?"
But, one way or another, Schumacher will know soon. Ferrari is scheduled to unveil its team of drivers for 2007 at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 3. It has been rumoured for months that McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen is certain to become a Ferrari driver. It remains to be seen whether he will be partnered by Schumacher or the steadily improving Massa.
Despite Todt's obvious preference for the German, he was highly complimentary of the "excellent" Brazilian driver. He said Massa had settled in very well at Ferrari and was a great team player. But he gave no hint of what the future held for the rising star.
