Ferrari Not To Give Up So Easily
Even though Ferrari’s main title contender Fernando Alonso wasn’t able to score any points at the Belgian Grand Prix, the team still has not given up hopes.
Alonso had to retire at the Spa Francorchamps but his whole weekend seemed bleak as he qualified 10th and was not able to cope up with the pace of the McLarens and Red Bulls. Rubens Barrichello hit the Spaniard’s Ferrari early in the race costing him crucial points for the drivers’ title. With just six races remaining, Fernando is now 41 points behind the championship leader Lewis Hamilton while Ferrari is 80 points short of the leading constructors Red Bull.
However, team principal Stefano Domenicali still believes the team has a chance of winning both titles. “In 2007, we were 17 points behind with two races to go and we became champion. We will continue to push, because today, three of the five contenders did not score. We were one of them, but maybe next time it's the other way around, so we have to keep going”, he said. A devastated Alonso added that it was very disappointing and this is a bad result for the team but he still hasn’t given up on his chances of winning the title.
Fernando Alonso joined Formula 1 in 2001 with Minardi but was not able to score a single point before joining Renault in 2003. He had made quite an impact in his very first season by winning his first race along with four podium and 2 pole positions. Fernando’s team was able to perform with the front-runners keeping in mind his team wasn’t as strong as the front running teams. The Spaniard won the Championship with 133 points and also with the help of 7 wins, 15 podiums and 6 poles in 2005 and he was the first driver to beat Michael Schumacher in the drivers’ standings after 5 years.
Alonso’s journey with Renault ended after another championship title the following year. He joined McLaren in 2007 and had a good season statistically but also had a very controversial time there. Fernando had to rejoin Renault again before he could join Ferrari in 2010. Domenicali is well aware that the pursuit for title will not be an easy task. “I hope it's true [that Red Bull will be off the pace at Monza], but I don't believe it. They have a very good car; perhaps it's part of the tactical game”, the Ferrari boss said.
The upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix will mark two years since the team has not been on the pole and Domencicali admitted that Ferrari was off the pace as compared to the rest of the front running teams. The team boss thinks that this is not a good sign as it means that the team does not have the best package. They were close to scoring their first pole in almost two years at Germany but failed to do so and now they have fallen back a bit since then.
Another worry for Ferrari is the September disciplinary hearing over the Hockenheim controversy, and the possibility of a further points loss, but Domenicali said he is "sure the World Council will understand our point". The team boss confirmed that Ferrari would not drop the F-duct from its package for Monza unlike their rivals McLaren and Renault.
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