Ferrari say farewell to Giovannini.

The Japanese Grand Prix is not only the final round of the 2001 season, but also the last for Ferrari mechanic Oreste Giovannini.

At the end of this season, Giovannini can look forward to a well deserved retirement after many years of work, including thirty with the Prancing Horse. As a send off the team has organised a double surprise.

The first is a model of the race car transporter that Giovannini drove up to the Italian Grand Prix, while the second was a party organised in the Suzuka pits to hand over the gift. The moment he was handed the present, the entire team stripped off their shirts to reveal special T-shirts emblazoned with the message "Grazie Oreste," (thank you Oreste).

"It was a great surprise," said Giovannini, who was really overwhelmed. "I was not expecting it and it was a very moving moment, which will live with me for ever. The lads did a great job to organise it all. It was nice to get the gift from the two drivers and to see Michael (Schumacher) doing a television interview wearing the T-shirt with my name on it. For someone like me, that was really special."

Giovannini has been with the team since 1980, so he has lived through all the good and the bad times with the Scuderia. "I prefer to only remember the good times," he said. "For example, the first win with the turbo, when (Gilles) Villeneuve triumphed in Monaco on 1981. Then there have been the celebrations for the titles with Michael for the past three years."

Giovannini had some specific comments about Michael: "He has brought something extra to the team and he is a special person. For example, he never gets angry, whatever happens. He is a true professional. However, he is also very approachable. This year, he remembered my birthday and gave me a present, to me, Oreste Giovannini, a present from the world champion....."