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Ferrari vow to cure reliability problems

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by kraftwerk, Nov 6, 2008.

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  1. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 12, 2007
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    #1 kraftwerk, Nov 6, 2008
    By Jonathan Noble Thursday, November 6th 2008, 10:22 GMT


    Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has promised Felipe Massa that the team will conduct a calm analysis of the reliability problems that cost him the drivers' championship this year to ensure there is no repeat in 2009.

    Massa lost the crown to Lewis Hamilton by just one point this season - having seen his rival grab the fifth place he needed at the penultimate corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

    And speaking at an end of season party at Maranello, Domenicali said the title was not lost in Brazil - but in earlier races due to a number of problems including Massa's engine failure in Hungary and the pit stop dramas in Singapore.

    "We're sorry for Felipe, who had an incredible season," said Domenicali as he addressed the team at the 'Nuova Logistica' department during the end of season event.

    "We didn't lose the championship in Brazil but before, when we had problems with reliability and made mistakes. We have to analyse the causes, with tranquillity but decisively, to be sure that it will not happen again in the next year. Now we have to congratulate our competitors, because they were really strong and they earned what they achieved."

    Domenicali praised the efforts of Ferrari's workforce for helping deliver the team the Constructors' Championship – their eighth in 10 years.

    "I want to congratulate you all for what you have done this year: we earned this title, because we never gave up," said Domenicali. "It was a complicated season, where many things happened, but we always knew how to react.

    "I remember that last summer we asked you for another effort as far as your work was concerned, to try to reconquer the leadership in terms of performance: we made it and I have to acknowledge that. We had the best possible car and all credit belongs to you."

    Domenicali also made special reference to his predecessor Jean Todt and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.

    "Our president was always close to us and he always supported us," he said. "He asked us eight out of ten at the end of last year and we made it. Todt, who had a new role this year, followed us step by step, helping us with his experience and his knowledge.

    "I can assure you that in this position the pressure is really high and it's important for me to know that they support me and that I can count on your work and your passion."

    To round off the celebrations at Maranello, Domenicali received a phone call from di Montezemolo, who is in New York.

    He said: "We managed to save Hamilton from being sent to the psychiatric ward.... But seriously, I want to congratulate you and your boss Stefano Domenicali.

    "You can be proud of this championship, which means a lot, considering all that happened. I'm sorry that I can't be there with you today, but I hope to see you very soon, on Sunday at Mugello."

    Thanks to Autosport!!
     
  2. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #2 Bas, Nov 6, 2008
    about bloody time. arguably japan 06 cost schumacher another title, 07 saw plenty of retirements from the red car and again this year.
     
  3. 1_can_dream

    1_can_dream F1 Veteran

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    #3 1_can_dream, Nov 6, 2008
    Arguably his Monaco parking spot didn't hurt.
     
  4. robert_c

    robert_c F1 Rookie

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    #4 robert_c, Nov 6, 2008
    Here's the irony. I think Ferrari made changes to the engine to increase reliability after the engine freeze, which required FIA/F1 approval. I guess more HP is synonymous with more reliable.
     
  5. rmani

    rmani F1 Veteran
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    #5 rmani, Nov 6, 2008
    weird i noticed the same thing. ferrari was bulletproof for the longest time and mclaren could never finish a race, now it's the other way around!
     
  6. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 DGS, Nov 7, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2008
    They also need to figure out how to do pit strategies in the wet and at street circuits: Pit fiascos at Monaco, Canada, Silverstone, Valencia, Singapore.

    Monaco: Kimi's grid penalty, over-fueling Massa.
    Canada: I'm talking about double-pitting Massa, not Kimi being hit by a runaway car. ;)
    Silverstone: Double-stinting inters for rain.
    Valencia: pit lights and over-fueling Massa again.
    Singapore: the obvious, plus its impact on kimi's stop. Plus: they had that hose on a loong time: over-fueling again?

    I just hope the gross insanity at Canada and Singapore doesn't mask the pit mistakes made by the team, at those and other circuits.

    :D

    But at China we saw that Ferrari weren't the only ones finding more "reliable" speed.

    The speed channel announcers were saying that the cars for all the top teams were about 2 sec a lap faster at the end of the year than at the start. I have no idea where they got that figure, and that's speed channel, so take it FWIW.
     
  7. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
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    #7 bigodino, Nov 7, 2008
    Ferrari also needs to work on the driveability and road handling of the car. I read somewhere (probably here!) that Kimi and Massa complained about the on/off character of the F2008.
     
  8. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #8 Remy Zero, Nov 7, 2008
    the most important thing is they realise their mistakes and owning up to it. i noticed that each time it rained, Ferrari simply throw away the races this season. they need to work out on a lot of stuff for next season.
     
  9. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #9 kraftwerk, Nov 7, 2008
    Yep probably because of the reshuffle of key staff.
     
  10. Ambassiatore

    Ambassiatore Formula Junior

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    #10 Ambassiatore, Nov 7, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2008
    Spot on

    ...in the BBC interview with Schumi like a Month ago, he said the car was very "sharp", it had a very narrow window in which is perfectly balanced and you can set the pace and the time instead of correcting it, and that was one of the main problems with he car... finding that spot, with so many new parts arriving for each circuit through the year made it really hard to drive and set up...

    ...on a Side note, he also went on to say that Massa learns and adjusts to the car faster than Kimmi, and that Kimmi is still adapting to the team (meaning he is still a loose wheel) and that he´s got a much more closed aproach to understanding the car, and that the whole team could help him more IF he lets them...(meaning he doesnt let anybody tell him what´s wrong and where and what he can do to improve)...

    WE NEED BETTER MANAGMENT!!!...and forget about the rain circus..."Le Circ De la Pluie" instead of the "Circ du Soleil"

    ...reliability sucked in the worst moments but those pit stop lights, and those rainy races were...I mean...Who`s on first?
     

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