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Stefano Domenicali: “I am happy with the performance of the team on a weekend that was not easy for us and on a day when unfortunately, it was the wrong Bull that stopped. Clearly, with yet another win for Vettel, to whom I send my congratulations, the Drivers’ Championship situation is becoming difficult, but until the outcome is a mathematical certainty, we will continue to push. I don’t think we could have picked up many more points today, which all the same have strengthened, albeit only slightly, our position in the Constructors’ Championship. A reasonably clear scenario emerged from Friday’s practice, in which apart from the leaders being very strong, we were also up against Mercedes and Lotus, who were also back to being very competitive here in Singapore. We finished ahead of them in unfavourable conditions and this should motivate us to give it our all over the last six races. We definitely have to be realistic about our chances, even if we have a duty to ourselves and those working in Maranello, to try and score as many points as possible, because we don’t want to give up on doing well in both classifications. We have seen how performance levels can change depending on the circuits and during the coming week we will prepare to tackle the Korea-Japan doubleheader in the best way possible”.

Fernando Alonso: “Today’s second place is like a victory for us, at the end of a difficult weekend on a track where it’s very tricky to overtake. The key points of this race were the start and the strategy and, in both cases, the decisions taken proved to be the right ones, even if they were aggressive choices. At the start, I managed to pass four cars, helped by having watched the starts from previous races here, but then I couldn’t pass Rosberg. The decision to pit when the Safety Car came out paid off, even if it wasn’t easy to get to the finish with the tyres on the limit. Fortunately, thanks to the advantage I had over Raikkonen and Webber, we were able to manage the situation over the final laps: if I’d been in a group, it would have been like the end of a horror movie! Now the gap to the championship leaders has increased and apart from congratulating them, because they deserve to be where they are, we must be realistic, because to win the title now, we would need a lot of luck. Sure, we cannot think of giving up right now because if that luck does show up, then we will be there to take it”.

Felipe Massa: “Given everything that happened in today’s race, sixth place is a really good result. After a fantastic start, at the first corner I found myself stuck inside the cars that had braked early and, at that point I lost places instead of making up some. From then on, I was always stuck behind other cars and we all know how hard it is to overtake at this track. When the Safety Car came out, we had two options: to fit the Medium tyres, with which we weren’t sure to go all the way to the end, or the Supersofts, to try and regain some places. We went for the second option, but Di Resta was ahead of me on the same tyres and so I was stuck behind him. In the final stint after the third stop, I managed to retake sixth place, making the most of the fact that many were struggling with their tyres. It was tough from start to finish and I am very happy to have brought home a good points haul”.

Pat Fry: “This weekend, even if we didn’t have the fastest car, we did manage to maximise our performance getting everything possible out of our driver-team package and the result is absolutely positive. With Fernando, the decision to stay out all the way to the end after the Safety Car paid off handsomely. Our competitiveness in the race was better than we had seen in the previous days, but even if we knew that things could change today, we must try to improve, especially in situations where the track characteristics don’t suit our car. Fernando pulled off an amazing start, as it’s really rare to make up four places at the start here in Singapore. Felipe also got away well, but then, his inside line meant he had to move over to avoid a collision. At Fernando’s first stop, we had to cover Webber’s early stop: we knew we would have found ourselves in traffic behind Di Resta, but the pit stop window was very limited and we preferred not to take the risk. When the Safety Car came out, we had half a lap to take a decision and, in the end we brought both drivers in, trying different strategies. We tried to play an ace with Fernando and luckily we did not have to go through a repeat of what happened in Canada in 2012. For the final six races, one group of engineers will still concentrate on the F138, because we want to continue to try and improve so that we can be more competitive”.
Read more…2013 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

Singapore, 22 September – Many believe Fernando Alonso is being fanciful when he says the Drivers’ championship is not decided yet. However, one has to admire his determination after tonight’s incredible drive to second place under the spotlights at Marina Bay. Felipe Massa also delivered a strong performance, taking the chequered flag in the same sixth place from which he started the race. Fernando’s race featured two tyre changes, the Brazilian’s three. The Spanish Ferrari driver also talked about being realistic earlier this weekend and sure enough, the need for realism took its usual form, as Sebastian Vettel was simply on a different planet taking another well-deserved victory for Red Bull. Joining them on the podium, having struggled with back pain for much of the weekend, was Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus.

As the lights went out, Rosberg briefly passed Vettel but the pole man got it back at the first chicane, while Fernando made a blistering start to go third at the first corner, by just driving along the wall, ahead of Grosjean and Webber and that was the move on which his second place was built. Felipe maintained his sixth place grid position, after briefly ceding it to Hamilton’s Mercedes. By this time leader Vettel in the Red Bull had already built up a gap of over 4 seconds to second placed Rosberg in the Mercedes. Fernando was 1.2s behind the German.

The gaps grew bigger so that by lap 4, Vettel led Rosberg by 6.2, with Fernando 2.2 behind and 1.2 ahead of Webber in the other Red Bull. Grosjean’s Lotus was under a second behind the Australian, with Felipe exactly 1.0 behind the Frenchman, with a 0.8 cushion over Hamilton in the Mercedes. The rest of the top ten was made up of Button, Hulkenberg and Perez. Raikkonen brought his Lotus down pit lane to start the first run of changes, rejoining with another set of Supersofts. Lap 11 saw Fernando put in a fastest race lap. Several cars at the lower end of the order came in for tyres on that same lap. Felipe made his first stop, fitting the harder tyre on lap 12, dropping to 13^th.

Webber, Button and Hulkenberg all pitted on lap 13, the Australian taking on Mediums. Fernando came in next time round, also fitting the Medium tyre, dropping to sixth behind Di Resta’ Force India. Rosberg came in from second on lap 15, as did Grosjean and the German’s team-mate Hamilton. With Vettel yet to pit, the order behind him was Rosberg, Di Resta, also on zero stops, with Fernando fourth, right on the Scotsman’s gearbox, losing precious time to the two leaders. Vettel changed to the Mediums on lap 17, keeing the lead, while Fernando was still trying all he could to pass Di Resta, the only driver not to have pitted at this stage.

Finally, on lap 20 of the 61 lap race, Fernando had some clean air ahead of him as Di Resta came down pit lane and the Ferrari man set about cutting back the 7.5s gap to second placed Rosberg. The Spaniard trailed the leader by over 16 seconds, while Felipe was seventh, 3.4 behind Hamilton and 1.5 ahead of Button. The race was settling into a pattern until lap 24 when Ricciardo crashed the Toro Rosso into the barriers which brought out the most familiar site at the Marina Bay Circuit, the Safety Car. Fernando, Felipe, Grosjean, Button, Raikkonen, Perez, Hulkenberg and Gutierez and Maldonado all dived into the pits to take advantage of the race being neutralised. Fernando was now on another set of Mediums, but Felipe returned to the Supersofts. The Spaniard rejoined in fifth place behind the Safety Car, the highest runner to have made a second tyre change at this point, with Felipe eighth. In fact, the SC helped Fernando a little bit, as it cancelled out much of the time lost behind the Force India.

The race was live again on lap 30 and it was a repeat of the opening scenario, with Vettel immediately pulling out a lead of over 3 seconds on Rosberg, with the rest of the field tightly packed behind the Mercedes, in the order, Webber, Hamilton, Fernando in fifth, Grosjean, Di Resta, with Felipe eighth, now held up by the Force India and Button and Raikkonen completing the top ten. Grosjean had a long pit stop with a technical issue on lap 33. He then pitted again to retire, which promoted Felipe to sixth. Webber and Sutil made their second stops on lap 40, so Fernando was now fourth. Next time round Rosberg changed tyres, so Fernando was back in a podium position again, with 20 laps remaining.

Felipe and Di Resta came in together on lap 42, the Brazilian dropping to twelfth. Lap 43 and Hamilton switched to another set of Mediums, so that Fernando was now second, half a minute behind Vettel on older Primes, but the German brought the Red Bull in on lap 44 for a final change, with enough of a margin over the Ferrari man to maintain his lead. Lap 54 saw Raikkonen pass Button to secure a trip to the bottom step of the podium. At this point Felipe was ninth, but with Di Resta crashing out, the McLarens spiralling down the order and Webber’s car expiring, the last handful of laps meant Felipe was back where he started in sixth to give a welcome boost to the Scuderia’s points fund.

In an amusing post-race moment, Fernando was not alone when he returned to parc ferme on his slowing down lap, as he stopped to give Webber a lift home, the Australian perched on the side pod of the F138! Now there’s a two week break until Korea – Japan, the first of three sets of back-to-back races.

A great fightback but nothing more.

Maranello, 22 September – Yesterday afternoon didn’t turn out to be a particularly great day for the two 458 GT cars entered in the American Le Mans Series at the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas, the eighth round of the season. The American West/AJR/Boadwalk team’s entry, in the hands of Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell, started from twentieth place overall, tenth in the GT class, while the RIsi Competizione car, with its experienced crew of Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli, having set the eighth fastest time in class was relegated to the back of the grid, for failing to conform to the rule regarding minimum driving time for the two drivers. In this situation, it was going to be difficult to achieve a good result in what was the home race for the Houston team, especially as the two and three quarter hour race went off without a single safety car period which might have jumbled up the order. However, the AF Corse duo put on a great display, moving up the order so that they ended the race in eighteenth place overall, sixth in class, one lap off the winners, Magnussen-Garcia (Corvette.) Malucelli starred, managing to even get into the lead of the class at the first run of pit stops. Unfortunately, Beretta’s second stint was not as fast and the third, again with the Italian at the wheel, was too short to aspire to a higher placing, even if it was the best since the start of the season in Sebring. Bell and Sweedler took the chequered flag in twentieth place overall, eighth in class.

Fernando Alonso: “Today’s result isn’t surprising, because from the start of the season, on average we have always started from between sixth and eighth place and then made up ground in the race, which we will try and do again tomorrow. The updates brought to this race have gained us a tenth of a second on our competitors, a result which matches our expectations. Even if the gap to the leader is still significant and the improvement might not be that evident, we cannot say our engineers have not put in the effort, because everyone has done a super job. Expectations for tomorrow are still high, even if in the meantime, our rivals have not wasted their time and along with other teams like Mercedes and Lotus have made a further step forward. Faced with this, we must be realistic and try to make the most of any errors they might make. I think the podium can be within our grasp tomorrow, if we have a perfect race and make the best choices in terms of strategy, tyres and the right number of stops. Here in Singapore, in five years there has always been a safety car and for that reason, here more than anywhere else, luck can make the difference”.

Felipe Massa: “Having struggled so much yesterday and in the third free practice session, today in qualifying, we finally managed to put together a good lap, completely changing the set-up on the car. Certainly the gap to the quickest cars is still big, but today, doing a time that is close to that of the Red Bulls or Mercedes was really difficult, partly because they have not suffered as much as us from a lack of grip and because we find ourselves on a high downforce circuit. I am expecting a difficult race because anything can happen here and tyre degradation is particularly high, even if I hope we have a good race pace and can be competitive. It’s tomorrow’s race that counts and we will do our utmost to improve our position in the Championship. My effort over the next seven races will be the maximum, because I would like to end my time with Ferrari in the best way possible”.

Pat Fry: “Today we managed to improve both cars, finding the right compromise between performance over a single lap and also on a long run. Even if this was not enough to put our drivers on equal terms with those in the top places, we worked well as a team to extract the most from the package we had available to us. There were definitely some external factors that didn’t do us any favours, such as the stop-start nature of the track and the lack of grip that seemed to affect us more than our rivals. Here, only those with the best traction manage to be comfortable when tackling the numerous chicanes and that explains the difference in performance between us and the cars at the front and the size of the gaps compared to those at Monza. Historically in Singapore, there is an almost hundred percent chance of seeing the race neutralised and this year too, we will have to be ready in case the Safety Car comes into play. In some instances this could be a help, in others it can destroy your race and so we need to think about having a flexible strategy. Here, reliability also plays a very important role, because the high temperatures put the cars under a lot of strain, also from a mechanical point of view. Ahead of us we now face one of the most difficult Grands Prix of the year and many variables could affect the outcome: we will try and push to the maximum, making the most of any opportunity”.
Read more…2013 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

Maranello, 21 September –It was a day of important qualifying sessions for the 458 GT in various GT championships.

The Nurburgring was the scene of the final session of the season, which would decide the starting grid for the 1000 Kilometres, which brings the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series to an end. It was not a great day for the Kessel Racing team, as the accident involving Brazilian driver Cesar Ramos in the morning’s free practice session, knocked out the Swiss team’s 458 GT3, which was leading the Drivers’ classification, with the aforementioned Ramos teamed up with Scuderia Ferrari test driver Davide Rigon and Daniele Zampieri. Only an amazing job from the mechanics ensured the car was able to get out for the final session, allowing the championship leader to secure fifteenth place. Pole position went to the Mercedes of Buhk-Schneider-Gotz, who will be joined on the front row by the Esta Motorsport 458 GT2, in the hands of Alessandro Pier Guidi, Matteo Bobbi and Alexander Skryabin. In the Pro-Am class, the best time was set by the Russian SMP team, with the trio of K. Ladygin-Shaitar-A.Ladygin while the sister car of the French SOFREV team took pole in the Gentlemen category with an all transalpine crew of Ricci-Balthazard-Policand. Tomorrow for Rigon and his team-mates, it will be a difficult task to achieve their goal of taking the title, but in six hours of racing, anything can happen.

This weekend in Austin sees the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship and this afternoon, qualifying was on the agenda. In the GT-Pro category, the two AF Corse 458 GT2 cars finished fourth with Vilander-Kobayashi and seventh with Fisichella-Bruni. Pole position went to the Aston Martin of Senna-Makowiecki. A top spot for Ferrari came in the GTE-Am class, with Aguas-Potolicchio-Malucelli (8 Stars Motorsport) while the AF Corse car with Gerber-Griffin-Cioci came third.

Fernando Alonso: “We can’t say this was a good start, because we weren’t competitive, but if we consider that last year, at the end of a difficult weekend we managed to get on the podium, we definitely aren’t throwing in the towel yet. We have yet to analyse the data, but we certainly have to be realistic, because when you have one car in sixth place and the other in fifteenth, it’s clearly not the result we were hoping for, without taking into consideration the updates we have brought for this race. Now, we have a lot of work to do to find the right set-up and the best strategy. Then we will need to put in a very good qualifying lap and attack from start to finish in the race. However, we know that won’t be easy because on tracks which require high downforce, we suffer more and, just as in Hungary, apart from the fact that Mercedes seem to be on a par with Red Bull here, there are others who also look strong, like Lotus and McLaren”.

Felipe Massa: “This was a difficult day, because I struggled to find the right way to move forward in both sessions. In the first session, we concentrated on evaluating various aerodynamic components, while in the second one, we managed to complete the programme, doing a long run, starting on the Supersofts and ending on the Mediums. Along with the team we decided to go in another direction to try and find a set-up with which I was more comfortable on this track. Unfortunately this did not produce the results we were expecting. I think that for tomorrow’s qualifying we need to retrace our steps, trying to improve the balance of the car. I am sure it will be better and that I will manage to once again find the car I’m used to driving”.

Pat Fry: “As usually happens on a street circuit, the evolution of track conditions is a key factor, especially when you are working on finding the most suitable set-up and aerodynamic configuration. Therefore, we mustn’t get caught out by the track improvement, but rather concentrate on what the drivers are feeling. Today we tried to get a good understanding of the car’s handling and turned most of our attention to the behaviour of the Medium and Supersoft tyres, which come under a lot of strain because of the temperatures here. As has been the case for the past few Grands Prix, in both sessions, Fernando and Felipe worked on different programmes, so as to acquire as much information as possible, to get the most out of the package we have this weekend. It will be important to have good front end grip, while optimising traction from the rear to tackle the sequence of corners that make up this high downforce circuit. On Friday, it’s never easy to understand where one is compared to the others, but certainly our main rivals seem to have something extra”.

There are so many aspects of this Singapore Grand Prix that are completely different to the other rounds of the championship and today, Scuderia Ferrari also jumbled up the usual order of things: instead of bringing in its two drivers to face the media one at a time, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa shared the floor together and were also joined by Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali. It was a genuine show of unity after the announcement that Felipe Massa will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen from the start of next season.

The Finn is no stranger to the team, but for our Spanish driver, this will be a brand new relationship and Fernando was immediately asked how he found out about the change. “I was always informed about the team’s movements, even at a time when the decision had not yet been taken, he said. “However, once they decided not to keep Felipe, they asked me what I thought and I told them that in my opinion, Kimi was the best out there in the market, especially when next year’s championship will see many changes and will require a lot of car development work in January and February. I told the team it was important therefore to have a team-mate with a lot of Formula 1 experience and I am happy with the choice.”

Fernando saw only positives with the new pairing, brushing aside suggestions that two world champions in one team could make for a difficult working relationship. “My motivation will be the same, always doing my best and sometimes that will deliver the results expected of me and sometimes not, but I don’t believe any team-mate can push me more than I push myself,” he maintained. “Having two champions will make no difference. Even when I came here, people said that it would be a difficult relationship with Felipe who had been here for many years. After four years together, I can say he is one of the best friends I have here. Anyway, I consider Felipe like a world champion as well. Remember, he was a world champion when he crossed the line in 2008, so it’s not like he’s a rookie driver!”

Felipe has faced every question imaginable from the press over his years with Ferrari, but even he looked shocked when a journalist asked if he had really told a Brazilian TV company he would no longer help Fernando this year in his bid for the title. “I don’t help Fernando, I don’t help Ferrari, I don’t help anyone, I just help myself!” he exclaimed, finding it hard not to join in the laughter that came from the audience. Back in the real world, he outlined his short term aims: “I plan to do the best I can for the last seven races, coming at the end of what has been a fantastic and very long career with Ferrari. This team is part of my history, where I have spent the majority of my career, including eight years as a race driver and others as a young driver. In 2003 I lived mostly within the team and I know everyone and have many friends, so I will be trying the hardest for the rest of this year and would love to leave with at least one more win. As for Fernando and Kimi, they are both great drivers and I know both of them very well. With the two of them, Ferrari has a top quality driver pairing. They are very different in terms of personality, as am I, because we all have our own character and I hope it all works out well for both of them and the team.”

As for the long term, or at least 2014, the Brazilian reiterated that he would not be prepared to simply make up the numbers in Formula 1. “We are talking to some teams and we hope we can find the best direction for me and to find the best possible car,” he revealed. “I’ve said before I don’t want to be in Formula 1 just to be on the grid and part of the picture. I want to be fighting for the best possible results. I want to find the best opportunity to fight for wins, for the championship and for the best for me. I know I have a lot to give to a team.”

The final comments in today’s press conference came from the man tasked with ensuring that news on the driver front does not disrupt the Scuderia’s efforts over the rest of this year. Asked if having two former world champions in the team would represent a change of philosophy for the Scuderia, Domenicali explained why that was not the case. “I don’t think it’s a change of philosophy because I agree with Fernando’s comments about Felipe, in that all drivers who work for Ferrari know that the interests of the team are the priority,” he began. “It’s normal that each driver wants to do the best for himself, because it is in the nature of all drivers to want to beat everyone. That has been the way we have always operated and it will continue like this in the future.” Changing a driver is not like changing the front wing of a race car, it involves very human emotions and Domenicali admitted that the decision to replace Felipe had been tough. “It was very difficult, from the emotional point of view because I’ve known him since he was a little boy in shorts!” joked Domenicali. “I was 19,” interjected the Brazilian. “We grew up together, spending some intense moments both professionally and personally,” continued the Team Principal. And in this instance, I learned something from him, from the serenity with which he accepted the decision, something which is not so common in this world. Once again, he showed his true qualities as a human being.”
Read more…2013 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

A new home for Ferrari in Ireland

Posted: 19.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Belfast, 19 September –As of today, Ferrari in Ireland has a new look. Charles Hurst, the only dealership on the Emerald Isle, has given its Belfast showroom a total makeover according to the corporate identity guidelines set out by the Maranello marque.
Visitors to the showroom will be able to get a feel for the essence of the strongest brand in the world, while admiring the cars in a welcoming environment which reflects its key attributes, through the elegance and style of the materials used, in conjunction with artisanal techniques and the use of light colours, from white to grey, combined with spotlighting to highlight the shape of the cars on show. Within the showroom, there is an even more exclusive area called the Atelier, where customers can create and see, through the use of a sophisticated configurator, their dream Ferrari, choosing materials and colours in exactly the same was as can be done in the Maranello factory.
“The aim of implementing the use of the new corporate identity of the company in all dealerships around the world is to get our customers to live the experience of buying and owning a Ferrari in a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere,” commented Matteo Torre, Regional Manager for Ferrari North Europe. “We are pleased to have revealed it today at the Charles Hurst showroom, because we know that there are many enthusiastic customers for the Ferrari brand in Ireland and they will be happy to have new surroundings in which to meet our staff.”

 

“The team is ready to start winning again” Montezemolo speaks to Gazzetta dello Sport

Posted: 17.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 17 September – The whys and wherefores of a choice, a review of the current situation and a look ahead to the near future, the Scuderia’s top man covered all these points in an interview with the doyen of Italian journalists, Pino Allievi. The story was published in today’s edition of Italian daily sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport, as Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo took an overall look at the current state of the Maranello team and its prospects for 2014.
The President began with another appreciation of Felipe Massa. “He’s an exceptional guy and a wonderful person,” he said when explaining the reasons that led to the decision to end the relationship with the Brazilian and start another one with Kimi Raikkonen. “The relationship (with Felipe, Editor’s note) was clear. “He needed results and so did we. He did get some, but he was inconsistent, having some good races but not on a regular basis. In 2012, we felt the lack of his points in the Constructors’. It will be good for him to have a change of scenery. We are not masochistic enough to take on a driver without informing Alonso. Fernando was always in the picture regarding the choice of Raikkonen, taken partly because the alternative, that of employing a youngster, in what will be a complex 2014 season, did not inspire confidence. Today, Raikkonen is one of the best, along with Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton and Alonso is the first to be happy that he is coming here. Raikkonen’s situation is identical to the one we had with Lauda. At one point, even Niki had had enough. I spoke about having his twin brother because the guy racing for us was not the one we had employed. The break did him good and he returned in great form, he won and finished a lot of races. In a nutshell, I wanted a driver who would not make me regret Massa. What I ask of Raikkonen is wins, a consistent performance level and podiums and Alonso will be the first to benefit. I am pleased he is back with us and the Ferrari staff greeted the news enthusiastically, as they had good memories of him. Going back to Lauda, when he returned with a different energy level, he won the title, beating Prost…” Montezemolo strenuously reiterated that the 2013 game was absolutely not over yet. “I am expecting updates that will bring improvements. We should bear in mind that there’s only one Red Bull getting the results…The team will support Alonso until the very last metre and on top of that, I am also expecting Massa to have a great end to the season. Felipe is an exceptional guy and a wonderful person. They say he won’t help Fernando? Please! He will definitely do so, giving us a hand for the Constructors’ and Alonso for the Drivers’.
The President didn’t shirk from the question regarding what percentage chance he would give Ferrari of taking the title in 2013: “I would not talk about percentages, but I would bet on Ferrari in order to win a lot of money, given that we are apparently outsiders. Looking to 2014, I would say however that we can no longer afford to be the contender beaten in a photo-finish. I can’t wait to be winning again. The time is now, believe me…” Time for two potentially delicate topics, the suggestion that Alonso is dissatisfied and Raikkonen’s PR skills, which Montezemolo dismissed with these words. “I am the first to understand his (Alonso’s, Editor’s note) discontent. Let’s say his dissatisfaction is like the anger of a footballer who is called to the bench and tells the manager to get stuffed. But I’d rather deal with someone like that than a wuss! The PR business is ever more mediatised. I hope that his (Raikkonen’s, Editor’s note) public relations will consist of wins, as well as a contribution to the team and a diligent presence in Maranello. Alonso cannot take all the work on his shoulders alone.”
The interview was also an opportunity to talk about the man who heads up the Scuderia and the team’s new technical organisation. Asked if Domenicali’s position was ever in doubt, Montezemolo had a clear response: “Never, he would be missed. He was the first to advocate the choice of Kimi. He has worked well, preparing for the future and now I expect to see results in the present. But, over the past three years, we have lost two World titles at the last race and it was not his fault. I’ve been around a long time, from the point eleven years on from Surtees’ title. Then as President, with Schumacher and the Todt-Brawn-Byrne triumvirate, we created a golden era and now the team is ready to start winning again. The void since the Schumacher era was caused by delays on the simulation front and with the aerodynamics. However, in all but three years, Ferrari has always been in the title fight right to the last race. I am counting a lot on James Allison. With him came the head of aerodynamics from Lotus and other new faces. Finally, we will have the creativity we were lacking. Allison knows the team and the men and he speaks Italian. Others wanted him, but he preferred us and his arrival will also bring a change in working methods in many areas. Pat Fry will concentrate on improving our on-track operations, our methodology and the simulator.”
Finally, Montezemolo also spoke about two topics that always get plenty of attention, the costs of Formula 1 and an eventual future without Ecclestone. The President had this to say when asked if costs had effectively been reduced over the past five years. “No, they’ve not been reduced. The rate of increase has reduced, but the level is still too high. We would have to return to the less sophisticated F1 of the mid-Nineties, resuming testing to give youngsters a run, because today, GP2 is a laughingstock with no value. And the few tests we do have, well naturally the race drivers do them.” There was also a question about FIAT’s contribution to Ferrari’s Formula 1 programme: “Zero,” explained Montezemolo. “We get no financial contribution from them and Ferrari survives on its sponsorship, prize money and the cars it sells.”
As for Formula 1 without Ecclestone, Montezemolo repeated his view, which he has expressed several times in the past: “We will need to rethink everything, with a structure that provides for a head of administration and finance, a commercial director and a Number 1 for technical matters. The work can no longer be centralised around just one man.”

 

Singapore GP – The Night Shift

Posted: 17.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 17 September – Having said farewell to Europe at the high speed Monza circuit, the Formula 1 circus now faces an equally rapid dash from Singapore to Sao Paolo, fitting the final seven races into just ten weeks. It’s a hectic schedule and a logistical challenge, as the championship takes us first to the Far East and then to the Americas via the Middle East. There are only 2.142,189 racing kilometres left on the calendar, but the teams will cover a vast distance to get to them.

The constant travelling is something the Scuderia Ferrari driver pairing is well used to. “The calendar gets quite stressful now with all these races outside Europe,” confirms Fernando Alonso. “I have prepared very well and strongly during the August holiday. I worked very hard to be well prepared physically in order to have a good end to the championship without any problems, given that with all the changes of time zone, it’s going to be very demanding.” Felipe Massa takes a different approach to his team-mate: “I haven’t done any special training for this final part of the season,” says the Brazilian. “I train every day, either at home, or on a journey, or in a hotel – everywhere except on a plane! It’s important to exercise regularly and it also helps to keep your mind sharp. In my opinion Singapore is one of the most tiring races on the calendar, or maybe the most tiring, because it is the longest race of the year, going the full two hours. Conditions are very humid even if we actually race at night. You sweat a lot in the car and you don’t get much air coming through the cockpit as the speeds are low. All in all, it’s the toughest race physically, but also psychologically, with it taking place at night, so that you see less, combined with the fact you are always so close to the barriers. Visibility is good under the lights but it’s not the same as driving in sunlight, which adds to the difficulty. But it’s fun and different to be there at night and makes for a great spectacle for the fans and an interesting event for us drivers.”

Fernando has a good record at the Marina Bay circuit and is looking forward to the weekend, a weekend with an unusual timetable, when breakfast is eaten at one in the afternoon and dinner is served after midnight. “This is a very demanding race from the physical point of view and also mentally, because as it takes place at night, it changes your rhythm a bit over the weekend,” he explains. “It’s a very special race with no room for mistakes, but it’s a track I like and where I have usually gone quite well, getting four podiums from five starts, so again this year, I’m tackling the weekend in a positive frame of mind, with great confidence that I can do well again. As a street circuit, it’s a track with a high risk factor, so the possibility is always there to make a mistake. I’d say the last sector, with Turns 18 and 19 that pass under a grandstand where you can easily make a mistake, is the most critical point on the track, where a small loss of concentration can end your race.”

As with all street circuits, there is no part of the track where drivers can pause for breath. “That means you can’t single out one aspect of the circuit which is more important than another,” reckons Felipe. “Everything counts here. If you make the slightest mistake at a corner, then you pay a high price. You have to take care at every corner and it’s a long track – one lap here is like two at Monaco, so precision and consistency are important, especially in qualifying when you have to put everything together perfectly. In fact, I’d say it’s harder to win at Singapore than Monaco. The track is longer and more complicated, a lap is around 1m 48s while Monaco is much shorter.”

Like its more famous Monegasque cousin, this venue is also tough on brakes, gearbox and suspension and more significantly, the 61 laps of Marina Bay require maximum aerodynamic downforce levels. Therefore, as Fernando said in Monza a fortnight ago, the Singapore Grand Prix will provide a more accurate litmus test than Spa or Monza of how much progress has been made on the F138 development front.
Read more…2013 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

 

Ferrari perfumes the air of Singapore

Posted: 16.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Singapore, 16 September – Fernando Alonso is currently on his way to Singapore for the thirteenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, but an effigy of the Spanish driver is already on duty in the Asian city state. Fernando’s face is keeping an eye on things in a special exhibition which opened yesterday and runs to 29 September, in a shop window at the Marina Bay Sands mall’s Ferrari Store. Fernando is endorsing the Scuderia Ferrari Club fragrance, created by Perfume Holding, an Official Ferrari Licensee, in recognition of the Scuderia being the most successful team in the history of the highest level of motor sport.

 

Alonso lights up Singapore for the Prancing Horse

Posted: 16.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

The event that lights up the still short history of the Singapore Grand Prix, at least as far as Scuderia Ferrari is concerned, was Fernando Alonso’s win in 2010. That year, hot off a win in Monza, Fernando had to dig deep, using all his talent to fend off Vettel, first in qualifying and then all race long, with the Red Bull a constant presence in the Spaniard’s mirrors, even during the only pit stop. The man from Oviedo thus got the Grand Slam, taking the win, pole position and also the fastest race lap, leading from the start to the chequered flag.

Historically, the Singapore track has suited the Ferrari man. From five starts, Alonso has made it to the podium four times: apart from the 2010 win, he was also victorious in 2008 and came third in 2009 and 2012, with a fourth place in 2011 as his worst result. Felipe Massa’s Singapore tally is much sparser. His best result in Formula 1’s first ever night race is an eighth place, which he managed twice, in 2010 and 2012, while he was ninth in 2011. In the first edition of the race he finished outside the points. And yet, Felipe’s first encounter with this track got off to the best possible start. In 2008, the Brazilian took a fantastic pole position, with a lap six tenths quicker than second placed Hamilton and eight better than his team-mate, Raikkonen. He got away very well and had a clear lead, but then Felipe was embroiled in one of Formula 1’s darkest hour of recent times and the darkness was not due to a failure of the artificial lights. A Safety Car period provoked by a euphemistically naughty spin from Nelsinho Piquet, led to the Ferrari drivers having to go for a double pit stop: during the refuelling on Felipe’s car, human error meant that Felipe pulled away before the work was done and he drove away before the fuel line had been removed. The disaster, under the glare of the world’s TV cameras, ruined the Brazilian’s race, when he looked to be heading for a win, with all that would have entailed in terms of the points standings. Since then, the curse of Singapore has followed Felipe over the past years: in 2010 a gearbox failure in qualifying meant he had to start from the back of the grid, in 2011, a puncture following a collision with Hamilton after 12 laps, dropped him to the back of the pack and another puncture, this time in the exciting moments after the start also ruined last year’s race for the Brazilian, although a strong fight up the order saw him end up back in the points.

If one considers that Raikkonen and Fisichella, the other two drivers who have driven a Ferrari at this event have never managed to pick up even a single point, one can understand how much the outcome of this race for Ferrari, at least in statistical terms, is linked to Fernando Alonso. Anyway, it’s the role of great leaders to light the way and Fernando is certainly one of those, as he has shown so often in these four seasons in red.

 

Malaysia hosts the Penultimate race of the 2013 Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific

Posted: 12.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Sepang, Malaysia, September 12th – Two weeks ago the Malaysian circuit of Sepang hosted the fifth round of the 2013 Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific alongside the iconic 12 hours Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race. The Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific race will remain in Malaysia for its six and penultimate round, to take place this weekend, making this the first time this event has been held twice in Malaysia.

In Round 5, Max Blancardi won, unchallenged, in the International class. Thailand’s Pasin Lathouras scored double wins in Trofeo Pirelli while Japan’s Francis Hideki Onda and Canada’s Eric Cheung were triumphant in one race each in the Coppa Shell after a gruelling battle between the contenders, who also had to overcome the challenge of the changeable weather in Sepang.

The battle will resume in Sepang this weekend with vital championship points at stake. In Trofeo Pirelli Thailand’s young challenger Pasin Lathouras currently leads the championship with 174 points from Philippe Prette who stands second with 136. Third place man is Singapore’s Ringo Chong who has 130 points.

In the Coppa Shell championship Eric Cheung holds a clear lead with 173 points over Gregory Teo with 125, waiting in the wings however is David Tjiptobiantaro who currently has 114 points.

Each category will take part in two races together with action that spans three days starting with one day for Open Practice and Free Practice, following with the Qualifying Practice which leads to race day on September 15th.

The much anticipated Grand Finale of Ferrari Challenge race will take place in Mugello, Italy this coming November 7th – 10th.

 

Domenicali looking back and ahead

Posted: 11.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 11 September –It’s been a busy time today in Maranello. Yesterday evening, Felipe Massa tweeted his farewell to the Scuderia, which will come at the end of a twelve year saga and this lunchtime, it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen, who has already played a significant part in the history of the most successful team in Formula 1, is on his way back.
We asked Stefano Domenicali to explain exclusively to www.ferrari.com the reasons for the change.
“When you make a change, it’s always with the aim of improving and that is what we are trying to achieve by bringing back to Maranello a very experienced, talented and determined driver like Kimi. For a few years now, we have been working on a refurbishment programme in all areas- our buildings, organisation, work methods – and now we have in place another building block, in the structure of the Ferrari of the future. For the first time, we will have a driver pairing made up of two world champions, which in itself is already significant, as they are the sort to always try and win and they can help each other by aking valuable points off our rivals. Having said that, we are well aware that without a competitive car, not even Superman can win. So our priority on a daily basis is always the same, namely to give our drivers a car capable of always fighting for the top place.”
Some say that the Alonso-Raikkonen pairing is a Dream Team, while others reckon that it won’t work having two cockerels in the same hen house. Will something change in the way the team is run or in its relationship with Fernando?
Nothing will change in the way the team is run. Since the world began, our drivers have always started on equal terms. It’s always been that way and always will. Then, during the course of the season, if the situation is such that one driver can help the other based on the points table, it’s logical and right that it should happen. It’s happened in the past and will happen in the future, as all drivers who have driven a Ferrari have demonstrated. It occurred at the time of Fangio and Collins and more recently with Salo and Irvine, when the Finn gave up on his only chance of a win in Formula 1 to help his team-mate, as Raikkonen was helped by Felipe, before repaying the compliment and again with Felipe and Fernando. As for the Dream Team, I’m not in the habit of dreaming with my eyes open, as it’s not in my nature to do so. I would only say that the combination of Fernando and Kimi is the best one could have today in Formula 1, in terms of talent, experience, competitive spirit and the ability to move car development forward. As for the “poultry” question, it brings to mind football fans who are scared of rival teams because they have so many strong forwards and so they hope they will fight each other for the ball… For anyone thinking that the choice of Kimi is somehow an anti-Alonso choice, I can put their minds at rest: at Ferrari, everyone knows the interests of the team come first and only then those of the individual. Fernando is a key asset for this team and he will be for a long time. I’m sure he is the first to be happy with a choice made to strengthen the group, because he is too intelligent not to realise that a stronger team can only be an advantage.” Other commonly held concerns about Kimi revolve around his ability to work with people in a Formula 1 world where communications are ever more important and also his talents when it comes to moving forward the technical development of the car.
“Some cliches refuse to die! We worked with Kimi for three years from 2007 to 2009 and we never had a problem. Sure, everyone has their own ways and you can’t expect a Finn to start telling jokes in Italian or playing the clown! Honestly, I think the combination of Fernando’s expressive and passionate latin character and the cool style, to call it that, of someone like Kimi, seems to appeal to many, including the youngsters and our partners are also in agreement with this. As for the technical side of things, not only do we know full well how much Kimi can contribute at an important time like this, when the technical framework is changing so significantly, but we also have first hand information from James Allison, as to how much the Finn has also progressed in this area over the past two years.”
A twelve year era with Felipe at Ferrari is coming to an end. Can you tell us how the relationship has worked out over the past few months?
“At the start of the summer, we had a meeting to assess the situation and I reiterated that renewing our agreement was one of the options on the table, maybe it was even the most likely. Then came a series of difficult races, for him and for the team and in the end, we realised the best choice, for both parties, was to make a change. I think that, even for Felipe, the time had come to look outside what had become his home for twelve years and which, to a certain extent, will always be his home. You see, I saw Felipe arrive in Maranello when he was just a kid and I will see him walk out of here a grown man. Together we have lived through some great moments and some dramatic times, which has made the personal rapport between us something special. Obviously, the biggest disappointment is that I didn’t get to see him become world champion, which he almost did in 2008. That day and indeed that whole year, there were some incredible incidents which went against him. The lesson in sporting dignity he gave the world that day on the Interlagos podium and also the maturity he displayed while talking to me last night will always stay with me. I am proud to have worked with him in our team for so many years and I’m sure he will know how to do some great things outside the Maranello environment.”

 

Felipe Massa – a place in Ferrari’s history

Posted: 11.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 11 September – When he first joined Ferrari, he was little more than a kid and he will leave at the end of this season as a man, after twelve years in which the relationship between the two parties was not just professional, but became ever stronger and closer on the personal front. There were times of great joy and disappointment in racing terms, while there were also moments of drama and gestures of mutual respect and loyalty.
At the end of 2001, Felipe Massa was seen by Ferrari as a youngster to bank on for the future, to be given a chance to evolve under the wing of a master like Michael Schumacher and of another Brazilian, Rubens Barrichello, who was tasked with flying the green and yellow flag in a Formula 1 that was bereft of the legend that was Ayrton Senna. Felipe had just won the European F3000 Championship and was seen as one of the best talents of his generation. The next step in the relationship saw him make his Formula 1 debut just a few months later, at the wheel of a Ferrari-powered Sauber. Indeed, engines built in Maranello have been a constant factor as, in every single one of the 185 Grands Prix in which he has competed, he has had one installed behind the cockpit. From 2002 to 2005, he raced for Sauber, apart from 2003 when spent the year as a test driver for the Prancing Horse. Since then, the Brazilian has spent the past eight years racing for the Scuderia. The dream, one he shares with all drivers, of becoming World Champion has not happened, but Felipe has earned his place as part of Ferrari’s history. This isn’t just an emotional appraisal, which would be natural at a time like this when announcing his departure, because the numbers confirm the fact irrefutably. Only Michael Schumacher on 179, has taken part in more Grands Prix for the team than Felipe who has driven in 132; only three drivers, again Schumacher (72,) Lauda (15) and Ascari (13,) have won more times than Felipe and only two, Schumacher of course (58) and Lauda (23,) have secured more pole positions than the Brazilian (15.) He has stood on the podium 36 times, set 14 fastest race laps and scored a total of 756 points. None of these numbers are set in stone yet: there are still seven Grands Prix to go this season in which he can increase those figures and you can be sure that Felipe and the entire Scuderia will be doing everything to succeed in that.

 

Welcome back Kimi!”

Posted: 11.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 11 September 2013 – Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the driver line-up for the next two racing seasons.

 

Raikkonen: “Happy to be returning to Maranello”

Posted: 11.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 11 September – Kimi Raikkonen is gearing up to return to a life in Red after a four year break and he did not hide his delight when talking to www.ferrari.com. “I am really happy to be returning to Maranello where I previously spent three fantastic and very successful years,” said Kimi. I have so many memories of my time at Ferrari, memories which have stayed with me these past years, first and foremost, winning the World Championship title in 2007, which was really unforgettable. I can’t wait to be driving a Prancing Horse car again and to reacquaint myself with so many people with whom I had such close links, as well as working with Fernando, whom I consider a great driver, in order to bring the team the success it deserves.”

 

Domenicali: “Felipe, a real team player. Welcome back Kimi!”

Posted: 11.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 11 September – Stefano Domenicali has stood alongside Felipe Massa for all twelve years that the Brazilian has been involved with Scuderia Ferrari and what he had to say on the day after the announcement that this long chapter was coming to a close was hearfelt.
“I wish to thank Felipe with all my heart and also on behalf of all our fans around the world, for the extraordinary job he has done for the team over so many years,” commented Domenicali on www.ferrari.com. “Felipe has always behaved like a real team player. Together we have lived through some great times and also a few dramatic moments, which have helped to cement a truly unique relationship on both a professional and personal level. He will always be part of our family and we wish him all the very best for the future. Now we must concentrate all our efforts on the remaining seven races of the season and we know that, as always, we can count on Felipe’s contribution, while we work together to reach our goals. Our determination will not waver one iota right to the very end.”
As one chapter comes to a close, another one resumes after a break. “I am pleased to welcome Kimi back to the Scuderia, the team with which he won his World Championship title,” concluded Domenicali. “I sense he is very happy to be returning to Maranello and very determined to tackle the work that awaits him in the best way possible.”

 

Alonso: “Thanks Feli!”

Posted: 11.09.2013
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 11 September – In Formula 1, having to change team-mates is part of the job. For four seasons, Fernando Alonso has shared the Scuderia Ferrari garage with Felipe Massa and the day after news broke that the Brazilian would be leaving, the Spaniard had this to say: “I want to thank Felipe for all the support he has given me and the team during this journey we have made together over all these years. Come the end of the season, it will not be easy to say goodbye to a team-mate like him. He has always been truly professional and loyal to the team and I am sure that right to the end, he will do his utmost for the Scuderia that he loves so much.” Through www.ferrari.com, he also had a word for Kimi Raikkonen. “I’d like to welcome my new travelling companion: together, starting next year, we will have to tackle a very demanding technical and racing challenge.”

 

Felipe Massa will not race for Ferrari in 2014

Posted: 10.09.2013
Source: Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa on his Twitter feed:
“From 2014 I will no longer be driving for Ferrari.
“I would like to thank the team for all the victories and incredible moments experienced together.
“Thank you also to my wife and all of my family, to my fans and all my sponsors. From each one of you I have always received a great support!
“Right now I want to push as hard as possible with Ferrari for the remaining seven races.
“For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the championship, which remains my greatest objective.”