Ferrari and Red Bull pick each other as main rivals for Formula One, 2011 season
Felipe Massa of Ferrari and Mark Webber of Red Bull have pitted each other’s teams as the main rivals for the F1 World Championship in the 2011 season.
Mark Webber said that Ferrari is very strong this season, and will give Red Bull a real run for their money. Meanwhile, Felipe Massa also singled out Red Bull as the team to beat.
The two teams were the fastest last season, and their rivalry is set to be rekindled once the season kicks off. And if early form is any indication, the two teams been among the quickest teams in the pre-season testing sessions.
The Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber sent out a strong warning to one and all with fastest lap times at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Webber has warned that his team is best-prepared it has ever been reliability-wise and will mount a strong challenge. He was, however, wary of Ferrari’s threat.
“In terms of team preparations, it's the best we've had in terms of reliability and understanding the car. Hopefully we are not too far away from Ferrari to start with and we go from there,” he said.
Felipe Massa repaid the compliment; when asked about Webber's comments, he said:
“First of all they are a team that won last year and second they are very quick here. Even yesterday (world champion) Sebastian (Vettel) did a very quick time as well. so I point to Red Bull…I hope Mark Webber is right.”
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was set to win the title last season; in the final race all he needed was to finish in the top 4 but was unable to do so. Vettel ended up winning the title on the final day of the season at Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari look determined to get their crown back this year, with both Massa and Alonso looking like title contenders.
The first race of the season will take place on the 27th of March in Australia. Earlier the season opener was scheduled to take place in Bahrain on 13th of March, but was eventually called off due to the political unrest in the region.
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