Domenicali defends Fisichella Tue, 20 Oct 11:04:22 2009 F1Live.com Ferrari's 2009 car is "extremely difficult to drive" and explains why its occupants have struggled to keep up since Felipe Massa crashed in late July, according to team principal Stefano Domenicali. Luca Badoer was ridiculed by the media and replaced after just two races by Giancarlo Fisichella, who had stunned the Formula One world with his pole position and runner-up position on race day in the Force India at Spa Francorchamps. But the highly experienced Roman has also notably struggled and team boss Domenicali claims that the Maranello built design is a challenging car to drive. "The drivers simply don't have the confidence about how the car is going to react, so they brake earlier and go back onto the gas later," he is quoted as saying by Auto Bild. "I would like to say something about Luca Badoer, because everyone put him down, he continued. Giancarlo did a fantastic result in Belgium before he came to us and now also he is struggling. It would therefore be wrong to push all the blame onto the drivers. However, since Felipe Massas crash in Hungary, Kimi Raikkonen has scored an impressive 38 points, an average of 5.4 per race. Badoer failed to score in his two appearances; while Fisichellas best position to date from his four starts is a ninth position.
The many adjustments possible with the steering wheel mounted controls leaves little time to actually drive the car it seems. As GF noted; at Force India all I did was drive the car... CH
I don't think its because of that, all the cars have many different controls on the steering wheel. I think he said that because he was naturally used to the Force India. He also said every time I brake I need to remind myself that I am in a Ferrari.. It's just a completely different animal.
Gianfranco has reported that the Ferrari is a much more complex car than the Force India and not just because of the Kers system. It's alot more sensitve to changes in mechanical and aerodynamic set up which has been causing him problems getting a good balance. Without a good balance he's lacking confidence in the car and therefore can't drive as fast as he wants to.
Good communication job at Ferrari, makes excuses for the 2 drivers unable to do anything with the f60, but not a word saying that with such a bad car Raikkonen has been hable to score an amazing number of points, and make look that f60 somehow fast.
Hopefully they will learn from their mistakes-and Fred and Phil will have a competitive ride next year.
Between the F60 and the F2005, i think the F2005 was much more difficult to driver. Neither Schumi or Rubens looked like they were podium challengers, let alone win challengers. The F60, at least, in Kimi's hands, IMO is still fast....I'm quite sure he could have fin 2nd at least at Brazil if it weren't his wing and puncture issues.
