DOMENICALI: Ferrari Must Solve Reliability Issues, Speed Not The Problem

(from autosport)

(curious why only Kimi's mistakes were mentioned in this interview)


Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has said his team's biggest concern is lack of reliability rather than the speed of their car or drivers after a disastrous Australian Grand Prix.

The Maranello-outfit had headed into the season-opener as favourites to continue the run of form that had helped Kimi Raikkonen win last year's drivers' championship.

But a series of problems through practice and qualifying, allied to spins by both drivers in the race, left them struggling to take the fight to rivals McLaren - before engine failures ultimately put them out for good.

However, a disappointed Domenicali has vowed that the team will react to the Melbourne events in time for Malaysia this weekend.

"We said it at the start: reliability is a fundamental element and to have had the engine breaking down for both drivers obviously doesn't give us peace of mind," said the Italian, who took over from Jean Todt at the end of last season.

"We must understand everything but this is obviously the most worrying thing. We must react."

Ferrari used to be the most reliable team in the pitlane but that trait has fallen away over the last two years.

Domenicali said he did not know why that was the case, although suggested the switch to a standard ECU could have played a factor in the latest troubles.

"Reliability counts for plenty," he said. "Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, we started 2006 with two DNFs, but then our working method, our never-give-up attitude took us down to the wire.

"Today we had engine trouble, but with this rule-book the gearbox is another element to keep in check. Let's not forget that with MES (the standard ECU) we can have some problems in understanding the system, and how to integrate it with the car. We must still discover it in full.

"So I repeat: there is still plenty to do from this aspect, and this will make the difference. It's clear that we weren't phenomenal guys before and we haven't turned stupid now.

"Obviously we need to analyze step by step everything that has happened, because it's been a really bad weekend under every aspect."

And although Raikkonen's two mistakes, running off the track once and then spinning later on, did not help matters, Domenicali is not critical of the Finn's approach.

"A driver must always attack," he said. "We absolutely don't feel like criticising him under that aspect...He was right to attack him because he felt he was faster than him."