Is Ferrari Ready for the 2004 Season? | FerrariChat

Is Ferrari Ready for the 2004 Season?

Discussion in 'Europe' started by Malfark, Jan 31, 2004.

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  1. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
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    Markem
    #1 Malfark, Jan 31, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This article appeared in The Times (of London) on January 27. According to them, Ferrari is behind schedule with the development of this year's car and this may put them at a disadvantage at the start of the season.

    Alternatively could it be Ferrari deciding not to go public too early (without exposing their hand) to ensure that the opposition won't really know what they're up against at the start of the season?

    What do you guys think?

    Cheers, MARK
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  2. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

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    I know that there are lot of Old Timers out there in Plankstadt who may not be able to read the small text above ;) so here's a transcription:

    The wraps came off the 2004 Ferrari yesterday to the customary fanfare and the applause of the team's huge production staff, but then came the admission that the car was not actually ready yet and there were lots of components still to be made.

    Everyone had turned up expecting to see the "surprise" front wing promised by Jean Todt, Ferrari's sporting director. In fact, the car looked very similar to last year's and there were no innovative or striking shapes like the extraordinary twin snout of the BMW-Williams.

    The target is to have the car ready for the first Formula One grand prix on March 7 in Australia, but Ross Brawn, the team's English technical director, was wise enough to give warning that there was always the chance of a "catastrophe".

    "The car is not late," he said. "In fact, we have met our targets and we would hope it would be ready for the first race. But we might get a surprise, which means something happens. We wanted to make a big step forward on last year's car, so we delayed the concept as long as possible before we had to start making the pieces."

    There will be substantial revisions before the shape is finalised and the new Ferraris for Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello are ready for shipping to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

    Ferrari will be desperate to be ready because they know that they cannot afford to be as slow out of the blocks as they were last year. Schumacher suffered his worst start to a season in 2003 and will be anxious to ensure that his car is the match of the McLaren and the BMW-Williams from the off.

    One asset that Ferrari does have is straightforward cash. While Jaguar admitted that changes they need to make on their new car will have to wait because they do not have the budget to spend, Ferrari will simply turn up the wick in their development departments

    Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari's president, told his sponsors and staff yesterday: “Ferrari has been on top since 1999 and we will do whatever we need to win.”

    PHOTO CAPTION: So last year: the unveiling was rather anticlimactic in Maranello after the team announced that modifications had still to be made to the final shape and design.


    Cheers, MARK
     
  3. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

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    ....whether the article in The Times is accurate or not, it is a little worrying eh? Cheers, MARK
     
  4. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

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    Hmmm!! Maybe I should not be too concerned as I see that Schumacher broke the Fiorano lap record a few days ago. He lapped at 56.279 seconds.

    Cheers, MARK
     
  5. ForzaFerrari

    ForzaFerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 25, 2003
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    better than that Mark...he did 55.999!!!

    ForzaRossa.nl

    :D
     
  6. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

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    BRILLIANT!! So he's improved since then....I like it!! :D Cheers, MARK
     
  7. Wolfgang

    Wolfgang F1 World Champ
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    Mar 8, 2003
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    We will be, with a few friends & our Ferraris, there in April.
    This time we have the opportuinty to drive our cars on the FIORANO track (first time for me!).
    So gents, after this weekend we will see what this time (M.S. 55:999) is worth:D
    The default value sounds NOT bad to me...but WE will see:D what WE can do.....;_)))))

    Wolfarossa
    FORZA FERRARI
     
  8. ForzaFerrari

    ForzaFerrari F1 Veteran

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    No way...you are going to drive at the Fiorano track???!!!! Awesome...! That must be so great!! :cool:
     
  9. Wolfgang

    Wolfgang F1 World Champ
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    Yes, hopefully we can drive this time?!? Thats the 5th time we are invited for a drive at the Fiorano track; but each time something went wrong (non scheduled F1 test drive) and we couln`t drive;-(((
    Hopefully this time we can drive & strike the lap-record:D:D

    Wolfarossa
    FORZA FERRARI
     
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Formula Junior

    Apr 17, 2003
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    Anything can happen with the new F1 car. We can speculate over and over again, but we will know at the start of the season...
     
  11. Wolfgang

    Wolfgang F1 World Champ
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    Yes, but hopefully NOT OVER THE EASTERN weekend this year!!!!!!!!

    Wolfarossa
    FORZA FERRARI
     
  12. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

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    Wow Wolfgang - how did you organise that? Friends in high places?

    Cheers, MARK
     
  13. Wolfgang

    Wolfgang F1 World Champ
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    Mark, do you remember our last phone conversation....?
    Will drop you later an e-mail with the details:D

    Wolfarossa
    FORZA FERRARI
     
  14. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

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    Damn - only get my car at the end of April :( I look forward to your PM Cheers, MARK
     

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