2015 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne, 15th March 2015

Posted: 15.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Maurizio Arrivabene: “I’m only half happy today, because the real joy comes when you win. I am happy about the podium and for Seb, but above all I am pleased for the team, because this is a good starting point, although it’s definitely not the end of the road. I am sorry for Kimi, because everyone could see how strong he was in the race. But at the second pit stop, there was a problem with a wheelnut on which the threads had already been crossed during the first one. We realised there was a possible problem and we decided to stop the car immediately, because safety is the number one priority. Looking to Malaysia, we will keep our feet on the ground, because the Albert Park is a rather unusual track. If the second Williams had also been racing today,there would have been a clearer picture of the opposition we face. But now we have realised we can do well, we must begin to stop thinking about being “second best” and start aiming higher.”

Kimi Raikkonen: “Shortly after the start, someone hit me from behind. Then I felt another contact on my right side, but I don’t think it was Sebastian’s car. The impact activated the anti-stall system and did some damage to the floor of the car. We were very quick in the race, able to catch the Williams and to fight for the podium: but then there were problems at both pit stops. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I know I lost something in terms of downforce. However, my team-mate’s podium is a great result for the team. Already in qualifying, despite my mistake on the quick lap, we knew we had a good car. And in the race, the gap to the Mercedes seemed less than on Saturday. It’s simply that, today, everything happened to me.”

Sebastian Vettel: “They did not play the Italian anthem on the podium, but we can be very pleased with this weekend. It’s a shame that a small mistake prevented Kimi from finishing the race but, in general, it was a very “clean” weekend. The most important thing is we have a good car, a real platform from which to carry on working. So thank you and congratulations also to the people who have worked hard in Maranello, as well as those here in Australia. Without them, this result would not have been possible. The start was not the best, there was too much wheelspin and when I tried to hold the inside line, my tyres were still too cold. We had a great race strategy, which allowed us to jump the Williams, which had a good top speed, at our one pit stop. Now we must confirm our performance in the coming races and then, one step at a time, let’s hope we can begin to close on the Mercedes. The gap is still big, but of all the teams, I think ours is the one that has improved the most over the winter. For a long time, I’ve dreamed of driving for Ferrari and it’s happened at the right time. I drank the champagne on the podium and I kept some for the guys in the team, because they told me they like it a lot… Thanks also to the fans. We have a great car, not just for qualifying but also for the race. Let’s hope we can get on the podium again and maybe even get a few wins!”

Australian Grand Prix – Race Report

Posted: 15.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 15 March – “Forza Ferrari!:” the Italian accent might still need some work, but this was Sebastian Vettel’s happy radio message to the team on his slowing down lap, as he made it to the podium in his debut race for the Prancing Horse. It was the Scuderia’s first podium since Fernando Alonso finished second in last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix and it was Vettel’s first since a third place in Japan, also in 2014.
The season started with a Safety Car, as Maldonado’s Lotus spun and crashed at Turn 2 on the opening lap, leaving plenty of debris to deal with. By then we had already lost Magnussen and Kvyat who had problems on the way to the grid and, of course the two Manor cars were not there either.
The Mercedes duo led off the front row, followed by Massa in the Williams. Kimi and Sebastian were behind the lead trio, but the Finn’s Ferrari found itself trapped behind Massa and dropped to eighth.
Once the Safety Car came in, Vettel managed his race to the end and thanks to a well planned strategy, he was able to get ahead of Massa at his pit stop on lap 24.
Kimi’s race was complicated by a problem with the left rear wheel, during his pit stop on lap 16. Trying to make up for lost time, he put in several fastest lap after fastest lap, passing Verstappen on lap 27, he was fifth and set off in pursuit of Massa. Unfortunately, there was a problem at his second pit stop, again with the left rear, which resulted in the Finn having to park his SF-15T at the side of the track.
Sebastian Vettel’s third place is a great reward for all the hard work over the winter and a great incentive to learn lessons from the weekend and mount an even stronger challenge in a fortnight’s time in the heat of Malaysia.
 

Australian Grand Prix – Race

Posted: 15.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 15 March – Scuderia Ferrari secured a podium finish in the Australian Grand Prix, courtesy of a third place for Sebastian Vettel, after the 58 laps of the first round of the season. Starting from fourth, the German finished behind the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. In the other SF15-T, Kimi Raikkonen had to retire on lap 40, because of a problem during his second pit stop. There is now a two week break before the next round in Sepang over the weekend of 29th March.

Australian Grand Prix – A Red Parade

Posted: 15.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 15 March – Among the many activities that serve as a curtain raiser to the Australian Grand Prix this Sunday, was a special parade of Ferrari cars, organised by the local dealer. Over thirty models took part. Among the vehicles that paraded round the track were a Testa Rossa, F40, La Ferrari, Ferrari 458 and Ferrari California, all driven by their owners. Not long now until this same track hosts the first race of the season, at a venue where there has always been plenty of support for the Prancing Horse Team.

Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne, 14th March 2015

Posted: 14.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen: “On my quick lap, I lost around three tenths at turn 3 and then I made a couple of mistakes in the next two corners. We knew we couldn’t fight the Mercedes, at least not in today’s qualifying, but third place on the grid was possible. In any case, during free practice, we saw that our long runs are pretty good, so we can be confident of having a good race. All we need to do is get a good start and then give it our best, but I think we can fight for a good position. As a team, we are working well together and we have a pretty clear picture of the situation. We know we are quick, but we need to improve in all sectors and, as for myself, I have to drive better.”

Sebastian Vettel: “Let’s keep our feet on the ground. So far this weekend, it’s gone well and we’ve had no problems with the car. It’s a shame that third place escaped us, as that would have made us the first team behind Mercedes, but it wasn’t by much and, after all the race is tomorrow. We lost third place because my first run wasn’t quick enough: I’m not very pleased with myself, because there was still some performance to be found, which would have meant I’d have qualified one place higher. In terms of strategy, maybe we could have done something different, but basically the result is down to me. First and second are a long way in front, but the race is tomorrow and anything can happen during the Grand Prix. A podium? There’s not much of a gap between third and fourth on the grid, so I think the podium is a realistic goal and that’s what we have to aim for.”

Australian Grand Prix – Qualifying

Posted: 14.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 14 March –Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will start the first race of the year from the second and third rows of the grid. Dominating today’s qualifying at Melbourne’s Albert Park was the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton (1.26.327,) with the top three completed by the Englishman’s team-mate, Nico Rosberg (1.26.921) and Felipe Massa for Williams (1.27.718.) Vettel was fourth in his SF15-T, posting a 1.27.757, followed by Raikkonen who did a 1.27.790.

Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 3

Posted: 14.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 14 March – Sebastian Vettel was second fastest in the third free practice for the Australian Grand Prix, the final session before the all-important qualifying. Vettel posted a 1.28.563 to split the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton (1.27.867) and Nico Rosberg (1.28.821.) In the other SF15-T, Kimi Raikkonen was sixth with a 1.29.017, as he and his team-mated worked on a qualifying set-up. Both Ferrari men completed 13 laps, running two sets of Medium tyres and one set of Softs.

Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne, 13th March 2015

Posted: 13.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen: “It was a typical Friday of free practice. In the first session I could not drive very well and it was difficult to put a good lap together. So, for the second session, we made some changes to the car before the long-runs and, in the end, the feeling was better. Now if we can put everything together and find a good lap, we should be OK. It was a positive day overall, and the feeling hasn’t changed since winter testing: I think the whole package has improved. On the other hand, it’s only Friday, and we know we still have a lot of work to do”.

Sebastian Vettel: “It was a good day with no problems on the car. It looks like the hard work done during the winter, both on track and at the factory at Maranello, is paying off. Our positive trend goes on, notably as far as reliability is concerned. I can’t think of such a trouble-free Friday session in a long time. As for performance, the higher you are in the timesheets, the better: but then it’s only Friday and I’ve been in Formula 1 long enough to know that today’s lap times are not so important. Mercedes are out of reach, we must be realistic: but every team and driver strives for being eventually on top, and we can be pleased with the work we’ve done today”.

Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 2

Posted: 13.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 13 March – Nico Rosberg was fastest in the second free practice session just ended at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit, home to the first round of the Formula 1 World Championship. Behind the German Mercedes driver, who posted a 1.27.697, came his team-mate Lewis Hamilton (1.27.797) and the two SF15-T of Sebastian Vettel (1.28.412) and Kimi Raikkonen (1.28.842.) Both Scuderia Ferrari drivers worked on set-up, running different aero downforce levels and comparing the Medium and Soft compounds chosen by Pirelli for this track.

Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1

Posted: 13.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 13 March – The Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen finished the opening free practice session of the Australian Grand Prix in fifth and eighth places respectively, to get the 2015 season underway. Vettel completed 13 laps in his SF15-T with a best of 1.31.029, while Raikkonen did 14, the fastest being a 1.31.310. Both drivers used the Medium tyres, working on a programme featuring aero testing and set-up work to suit the car to the semi-permanent Albert Park circuit, which was still too dirty for any more in depth work.

Maurizio Arrivabene: “My biggest challenge”

Posted: 13.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 13 March – This afternoon at the Albert Park circuit, Maurizio Arrivabene took part in his first ever FIA Press Conference, when he joined five of his peers on the panel. One of the first questions asked to the Gestione Sportiva Managing Director and Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal, one of concerned the many changes that have occurred in Ferrari since the end of last season: “ I don’t want to talk about the past. We made changes, but I would like to thank the people that were there before. Thinking about the future and the actual situation, I was working a lot with the guys, as I said many, many times, to put them together for a common goal and to work concentrated, with feet on the ground, with the same objective. If we lose, we lose together and if we are going to win we are going to win together. That’s my mantra. This is what I said to the team and I saw them calm, committed and motivated. That’s important for me.”

Approaching technical matters is the biggest challenge for Maurizio: “You have to know a lot about that, you have to be curious, you have to go around the factory asking questions, meeting people but especially listening to the engineers, learning from them, because you know the engineers they are talking a very special language, they are able to use 1,000 words to tell you what normally they are going to say in 10 words. So you have to extrapolate and to summarise and to make it simple sometimes”.

About Manor, Maurizio explained the reasons behind the case: “They got the licence to take part on the championship quite late, so we are working together with the best effort to make sure these guys can run as soon as possible. it’s not only a problem about the software. With the engine, even last year’s engine, they are quite complicated to set up. We have a list of things to do but we are going through the list and we are really pushing very hard altogether to make sure that these guys, they will be able to run”.

Asked about his expectations afterseen Ferrari running second only to Mercedes: “If Claire (Williams) and Toto (Wolff), they give order to the team to stop somehow Sunday I think we will appreciate that! They don’t do it for sure. We closed the season last year in the fourth position. To think about the first you have to overhaul the guys that are nearby you, first, that is Claire, then there is the Red Bull, and afterwards, if you are able to go there, and I think these guys they are fighting to make sure we are not going there, then the other programme is Mercedes. We need to go step by step and try to be realistic and to do all our best to get nearby the guys of Toto as soon as possible. But it is not easy, of course.”

About cost control options his point of view is very simple: “We are all working together to try to somehow solve the situation but it’s also important to remember that we are talking about Formula One that is considered the pinnacle of motor sport competition. So we need to keep up that concept, to work in a way that will enhance the show. I’ve said many many times to take Formula One closer to the people but I think the group is working very well in this direction. It’s not an easy compromise because somehow you have to work on saving certain costs but on the other hand, you want to preserve the development, in some words I want to say that if you want to play in the Premier League, you have to prepare to do so, otherwise you play in another championship. If you look at football, they have a kind of financial fair play; this is acceptable but they are not transforming the Champions League into the Europa League”.

Vettel: “An honour to race for Ferrari”

Posted: 12.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 12 March – On his first race weekend with Scuderia Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel took part in FIA press conference, his first meeting with the specialist media here at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit.

“The atmosphere is very positive,” began the German when asked about his new environment. “Obviously there’s been a lot of change over the winter, with everyone working very hard and we’ve definitely improved as a team. Now we must wait until everyone is on track, so we can see where the others are, because over the winter tests, it’s been a bit tricky to understand everything.”

The Scuderia is the longest serving team in the sport and that’s always part of its appeal for drivers, including Vettel. “There is a lot of history in this team and for me it’s an honour to race for Ferrari and at this stage, I’m very happy” he said. “Now, I can’t wait to get in the car and start racing with this team. But we know we have to work hard because our ambition is set very high and we want to make sure that Ferrari gets back to the top.”

As to whether that return to form could feature wins in 2015, Vettel gave a cautiously optimistic reply: “It depends on the form of the other teams, but we have made a step forward, although we have yet to find out how big it is. We saw last year that it’s not just Mercedes who can win races, so if you put yourself in a very strong position and now at the start of the season, we are right behind, if something happens, then you are there.”

A journalist asked if Seb’s relationship with Kimi might suffer now they are team-mates. “I have known Kimi for a while now and we respect each other,” he responded. “He is very straightforward and honest. We will be trying to beat one another on the track, which is normal and if there are ever some issues we will be able to sort them out.”

Raikkonen: “Positive feeling”

Posted: 12.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 10 March – For a Formula 1 team, taking part in the Australian Grand Prix is like the first night for a theatre company: there’s tension, adrenalin, a great desire to get on with it, but also a lot of aspects that need checking. It’s with this determination and the realisation that testing is now over, that Sebastian and Kimi are preparing for their weekend in Albert Park.

A special track. For Sebastian Vettel, this is also his debut with Scuderia Ferrari and a return to the number 5 with which he won his first world title. “Over the winter, we managed to complete the majority of the programme we had set ourselves,” the German told Ferrari.com. “Now it’s time to take to the track in Australia and see just how competitive we are. The Melbourne track is very nice, but being made up of public roads it’s very difficult, because the surface is very bumpy and therefore very tricky.”

The set-up. It’s usually said that Albert Park is unique on the calendar because of its characteristics, something Sebastian agrees with: “Because of the uneven surface, in Australia you need to opt for a softer configuration to the one you’d use at many other circuits, because you have to try and absorb the car’s jumps as much as possible. On top of that, it’s the first race of the season and it will be difficult for everyone to work out the perfect set-up and the best way to fine tune the car, because everything is still quite new. However, this is all part of the challenge. That’s why we go testing in the winter, so as to get to the track as well prepared as possible.”

A positive atmosphere. Kimi Raikkonen is also pleased with the work done this winter: “I’ve known the team for a few years now, but I have to say, this year the atmosphere is very good, the people are happy and are working together in a very close-knit way. I think that’s a good sign and on top of that, it seems that a good car has been produced over the winter period. Now the time’s come to go racing, which is when we will really understand where we are,” affirms Kimi.

Team work. Raikkonen has great memories of Melbourne: he won here twice, the first in 2007 at the start of his time with Scuderia Ferrari. “It’s a good place to start, even if it’s a long way for everyone. The journey is long, but once here, it’s nice to be in Melbourne. Usually the weather is nice and there’s a good atmosphere around us.” Kimi is therefore ready to give it his best shot: “I think that compared with last year, we have done a great job as a team. We are pleased with what we achieved over the winter and with the level of competitiveness that we expect to have reached, even if we will have to wait until we’re on track to get the real verdict. Anyhow, we will continue to push to improve all the time. I am confident that we will manage to achieve the results we deserve and want.”

Australian Grand Prix – Full of energy

Posted: 12.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Melbourne, 12 March – There was a truly exceptional setting for this morning’s special event, put on by Shell for the first Grand Prix of the season and featuring special guests, the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. Kimi and Sebastian took on the unaccustomed role of assistant chefs at a well known Melbourne restaurant. There, they helped chef Guy Grossi create a special dish, intended to reflect similarities with the ingredients used in the Shell V-Power fuel.

Sebastian and Kimi ready for the off

Posted: 10.03.2015
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 10 March – For a Formula 1 team, taking part in the Australian Grand Prix is like the first night for a theatre company: there’s tension, adrenalin, a great desire to get on with it, but also a lot of aspects that need checking. It’s with this determination and the realisation that testing is now over, that Sebastian and Kimi are preparing for their weekend in Albert Park.

A special track. For Sebastian Vettel, this is also his debut with Scuderia Ferrari and a return to the number 5 with which he won his first world title. “Over the winter, we managed to complete the majority of the programme we had set ourselves,” the German told Ferrari.com. “Now it’s time to take to the track in Australia and see just how competitive we are. The Melbourne track is very nice, but being made up of public roads it’s very difficult, because the surface is very bumpy and therefore very tricky.”

The set-up. It’s usually said that Albert Park is unique on the calendar because of its characteristics, something Sebastian agrees with: “Because of the uneven surface, in Australia you need to opt for a softer configuration to the one you’d use at many other circuits, because you have to try and absorb the car’s jumps as much as possible. On top of that, it’s the first race of the season and it will be difficult for everyone to work out the perfect set-up and the best way to fine tune the car, because everything is still quite new. However, this is all part of the challenge. That’s why we go testing in the winter, so as to get to the track as well prepared as possible.”

A positive atmosphere. Kimi Raikkonen is also pleased with the work done this winter: “I’ve known the team for a few years now, but I have to say, this year the atmosphere is very good, the people are happy and are working together in a very close-knit way. I think that’s a good sign and on top of that, it seems that a good car has been produced over the winter period. Now the time’s come to go racing, which is when we will really understand where we are,” affirms Kimi.

Team work. Raikkonen has great memories of Melbourne: he won here twice, the first in 2007 at the start of his time with Scuderia Ferrari. “It’s a good place to start, even if it’s a long way for everyone. The journey is long, but once here, it’s nice to be in Melbourne. Usually the weather is nice and there’s a good atmosphere around us.” Kimi is therefore ready to give it his best shot: “I think that compared with last year, we have done a great job as a team. We are pleased with what we achieved over the winter and with the level of competitiveness that we expect to have reached, even if we will have to wait until we’re on track to get the real verdict. Anyhow, we will continue to push to improve all the time. I am confident that we will manage to achieve the results we deserve and want.”