(from autosport) Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has rejected suggestions that the Italian squad are in a crisis following the disappointing results of the last two races. The Maranello-based outfit dominated the French Grand Prix but then saw rivals McLaren emerge as the team to beat in Britain and Germany, where Ferrari managed a third place as their best result. Their performance in the last two outings has meant Lewis Hamilton now leads the drivers' championship by four points from Felipe Massa and seven from Kimi Raikkonen. But despite their poor run of results, Domenicali insists the team are still in a very strong position and claims the standings reflect that. "Despite the fact the last two races have been negative for us, the Scuderia is definitely not in crisis," said Domenicali. "The team is still leading the constructors' championship and theoretically, one of our drivers could again be back at the top of the drivers' classification on Sunday night. "We are on a similar points tally to last year, we have won half the races so far and indeed, taken half the pole positions. Just as we never felt we were unbeatable after our French GP victory, so too, we do not feel all is lost after the British and German events. "The entire squad is doing its best to overturn this situation. We have come from behind before and in fact, we have emerged as the top team at the end of the season, having been in much greater difficulty than we are now. "If we look at where Ferrari was in 2007 after ten races, today we are in a much better position and this year, there is one more race than last, which gives us even more opportunities to fight back."
I didn't think there was one. They had a couple of bad races with both drivers rather than one driver having a bad one and one having a great one. Consolidate points and keep improving the car to catch up. We're just over half way for the season. A lot can still happen. They must be feeling a lot of heat from the Italian press.
Yes, what's more worrying is the fact he is having to say it. In fact I would say they are in a better position than last year. A combination of spygate and infighting at Mclaren helped Ferrari gain momentum last year. This year IMO it's a closer call can swing either way. Mclaren have improved there car whether or not it stays ahead is the difference, and of course got to take driver errors in to account.
If they remain consistent for the next few gp's and at least keep 1 driver anywhere on the podium between Hungary and Brazil they should secure the constructor's championship. The way Lewis and that McLaren has been running lately indicates to me that the coveted driver's title is fast becoming Ferrari's pipe dream (hoping otherwise.)
Crisis? we are winning the friggin contest! I bet mclaren would love to have this crisis. driver's championship fast becoming ferrari's pipe dream? massa is 4 points out of the lead and kimi is 7 with practically half the season left. it may be a pipe dream for mclarens other driver but hardly for BOTH ferrari drivers. Man you guys are harsh on a team and drivers that are so competitive. am i watching the same season as you?
The only crisis Ferrari has is bungling the race & pit strategies. If they can get the set ups right and stop trying to be cute with pit strategy, they'll be fine. My problem is that they've gotten it wrong in almost all races, save a couple where they were on their game. Rain (or threat of rain) has been the key bugaboo for Ferrari in 2008.
I agree, it's far too early to start writing them off. They've had a couple of bad results but that doesn't mean that's set a benchmark for the rest of the season. McLaren also had some bad weekends, they got over it and so can Ferrari. My guess is it'll stay pretty close until the very end.
i don't think it's a crisis. just stupid mistakes the team made over the course of the season. Stef said they won half of the races this season. they could have won all, minus Aussie & Germany.
The atmosphere at Ferrari this year is poisonous; the leadership does not inspire confidence as it did with past successes. The inevitable result is mistakes along the way. They become even more critical as 'the next race' dwindles down to none.
As lewis takes a bigger lead we will see the Mclaren team make mistakes....its all part of the script.....nobody wraps anything up untill the last 2 races.
I will say, what gives your statement some credibility, was last years racing, but it was a complex affair. I hope this is not the case this year, and I can't really see much of a hint of it as yet, but we shall see.
I hope its not the case too but there have been hints this year. You will notice that teams are making too too many mistakes especially when they are leading in the points. This weekend will be interesting. You can expect Lewis to win again and the Ferraris to come in 2nd and not too far back with their 2nd car or one of the Ferraris wins(Kimi may be the one) with Lewis close by. But if Lewis wins and the Ferraris finish low in points then the next race will see complete domination by Ferrari or a major gaff by Lewis and Mclaren.
Thing is it is different then last year. 1) Max is on his back foot, he won't be pushing his weight around AS much, As in trying to outwit his enemy RD. 2) Mclaren will not be obliged to lose the WDC in the 11th hour because of there cheating. So if things stay as there are as in a close fought battle to the end, then I see no reason for any tweaking of the result. Unless Lewis or any driver for that matter, does a MS and runs away with it..!! The days of Ferrari International Assistance I hope are over.
There is nothing scripted in F1, too many egos involved for that to happen. And there is no crisis in Ferrari, the season is only half over. Ferrari leads the WCC, and their drivers are in the chase for the WDC. A crisis occurs with 3-4 races remaining.
McLaren obliged to lose?? If I read your meaning correctly, that is a ridiculous statement. They were caught cheating, no obligation just pure fact, they deserved to be taken off the grid for the season. They were lucky to be allowed to continue. The results were not tweaked last year as you suggest, the WDC was won on the track, not in a hearing. There is only one party to blame for McLaren's embarrassment in 2007, Ron Dennis. And do not expect Mosley to show any weakness, if Ron Dennis deserves to have his ass kicked, it will be done. Many eyes are now on McLaren, not just Max's. I suspect Mosley will come out fighting, especially when it is made public who Bernie is suggesting is the party responsible for the attempt to smear Mosley.
There is of course no proof of wrongdoing last season, but I believe Kimis win is the largest comeback at the end of the season in all of F1 history - and by a large margin. Furthermore, it is inconceivable to some the manner in which McLaren lost the WDC... they made a string of absolutely stunning wrong decisions that you wouldn't even expect from a team like Spyker, let alone McLaren. I don't think the outcome of races is in any way scripted, but I absolutely think Max, Bernie and others to manipulate the season to serve their own purposes, and I think that includes selective enforcement of rules, selective issuing of penalties, and quite possibly back-room deals between the aforementioned people to guide the championship in a manner they see fit. And I really would not be surprised if Ron was told that winning the WDC would be "very bad" for him and McLaren. As for Mosley, I absolutely think he will show weakness - he already has! Furthermore, he's lost the support of a once longtime ally in Bernie and almost everyone who is unbiased feels that he showed his bias and vindictiveness last year with his vendetta against Ron Dennis. Also, the WDC may have been won on the track (with mind-blowing snatching-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory decisions by McLaren) but the WCC was most certainly won in the courtroom, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was in large part a carrot to keep Luca happy.
FIA should have had the balls to ban McLaren for at least a year. Toyota was banned from WRC for less. But no, it would have meant that Ferrari would walk away with both championships this year so no entertainment and that's out of the question.
Yes you are reading me correctly. Explain your thoughts to your mate Franco. As for my reply, read STR MIKES post, the guy on here that talks more sense in one line that some can do in a page full.
I don't think they should have been banned.... a 2 or 3 race suspension would have been more appropriate and in line with what other teams were given in years past. Banning them for a year after last year would have been just as ridiculous as the fine they got. Toyota may have been banned from WRC for less (I am not familiar with that situation as I don't follow WRC), but I do know Toyota got no penalty at all for doing much worse than McLaren, and also Renault got no penalty at all for doing worse than McLaren, and many many teams through the history of F1 got lesser or no penalties for doing the same thing McLaren's done. But however you slice it, that was last year and McLaren is not seeing any benefit this year from what happened in 2007. They are winning because of great engineering and great driving. It was not that long ago that Ferrari was dominant and McLaren were playing catch-up, and there is no doubt that there is plenty of time for Ferrari to get back on the horse and win this year. But the question is can they do it? we shall see...
