Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has presented the struggling F1 champions with a penitent's hood while warning them not to become a laughing stock.

"It would be a euphemism to say people here were very angry, but these same people are also very determined to react," the team quoted him as saying after a 2-1/2 hour crisis meeting in Maranello on Tuesday afternoon.

"I brought with me a monk's hood to make everyone understand that we have to tackle this season with humility, and made the point that I don't want to find us on some sort of TV comedy video programme after each race," he added.

"Joking apart, I know that this group is known for its strong sense of pride and that will help us get out of this situation.

"The team remains united and I have every confidence in it."

Ferrari, winners of eight of the last 10 constructors' titles, have yet to score a point after the first two races of the season in Australia and Malaysia.

The team are paying the price of fighting right down to the wire for both championships last year while others, such as Honda's replacement Brawn GP and Toyota, devoted considerable resources to 2009 and the heavily revised new regulations.

Brawn, with a controversial rear diffuser that Ferrari say is illegal, have won the first two races with Britain's Jenson Button.

(Reuters via China Daily April 9, 2009)