Ferrari still worried about engine reliability

While most teams elected to decrease the amount of cooling to their cars for the Belgian Grand Prix, it has emerged that concerns over the longevity of their engine forced Ferrari to do the opposite.

After a spate of recent failures, the Italian marque elected to add further ventilation at the top of the side pods of the F2008 in an effort to preserve the engine.

McLaren also changed their cooling system for Spa Francorchamps, but as they were more confident about their Mercedes-Benz power plant, the radiator opening was decreased to make the car more aerodynamically efficient.

Ferrari was also nervous about Felipe Massa's engine after qualifying in Belgium, electing to change a spark plug and the entire wiring loom, with the consent of the FIA, while the car was in parc ferme.


Meanwhile, as he used the same engine that powered him to victory at Valencia, the Brazilian driver did not stretch his unit to its full 19,000rpm throughout the Grand Prix.

Since the engine freeze came into effect at the start of the season, Ferrari is rumoured to have added as much as 30bhp.

 

this is probably the fact why Massa did not have the speed to challenge both Hammi and Kimi since the start of the race.