Ferrari need to bounce back quickly
The beginning of the 2010 Formula One season promised so much for Ferrari.
Fernando Alonso led Felipe Massa to a one-two finish in the opening race in Bahrain, but since then Ferrari have failed to live up to expectations, and with a string of average results and a lack of true pace, the Italian giants are falling behind Red Bull and McLaren.
The previous race at the Turkish Grand Prix was the Scuderia’s 800th grand prix, and the celebrations were cut short as Massa and Alonso finished seventh and eighth, and barely featured during the race.
Both drivers admitted they delivered their worst performances of the season on the landmark occasion.
Alonso said: “The Turkish Grand Prix was without doubt the worst event of the season. Our performance level was simply not competitive compared to McLaren and Red Bull and in qualifying, we even struggled against teams that up until now, were behind us. I wasn't able to get to Q3 [final part of qualifying] and so that compromised my race. When you start from twelfth, there is not much you can do.
"On Sunday I did what I could, it was a case of damage limitation and I think we succeeded in that. I am sorry I was not able to celebrate Ferrari's 800th grand prix in a fitting way. In Istanbul we were not quick enough and we have to react immediately.”
Massa was in agreement with his teammate.
“I think the only honest way to describe it is as the poorest performance from Scuderia Ferrari so far this season,” he said.
“We were uncompetitive through the whole weekend, from Friday through to Sunday, and struggled in every session, especially qualifying.
"So, when it came to the race, I think we did the best we could do, given our pace and our position on the grid. It was a shame, given that the Istanbul track is one of my favourites, and somewhere I have won three times in the past at the wheel of a great car.”
Ferrari yesterday extended the contract of Massa until 2012, and with his future sorted out, the 29-year-old is fully focused on getting the team back on track. “We can do it, because we did a fantastic job over the last winter and came out with a great car at the start of the year, which was a massive improvement compared to the car with which we ended the 2009 season,” said the Brazilian.
McLaren are top of the constructors’ standings, while Red Bull’s Mark Webber is leading the drivers’ standings. Massa finds himself in sixth position, 26 points off Webber. Ferrari are beginning to fall behind McLaren and Red Bull in terms of development and speed, but Massa is optimistic they can bounce back from their disappointments.
Massa added: “As far as the championships are concerned, the situation is not yet in a critical position for us. Given that there are still twelve races to go, it is 100 per cent open, which means we can still fight for both championships.
"However, at the moment, it's true that Red Bull has a better performance level, as it has done all season, while McLaren - which was behind us a few races ago - is now ahead of us in terms of their car performance. We simply have to push hard to try and get ahead again. If the ability to achieve this goal is based on our desire to do so, then I am confident we can improve.”
Alonso has won Ferrari’s only race so far this season, and it seems like a long time now since the Italian national anthem was played as he stood on the top step of the podium. The double world champion is fourth in the drivers’ standings, 14 points off the lead, and despite critics pointing out he is showing signs of feeling the pressure, the Spaniard insists he still has a chance to win a third world title. “The championship is still wide open with everything to play for. It's clear we need to make a jump forward in terms of developing the car,” he said.
"Over the first four races, we matched the pace of our main rivals, but since we have been back in Europe, that is no longer the case. When I was racing against Ferrari, I admired its ability to react, producing probably the best development during the season.”
Alonso also gave his backing to Ferrari to step up and improve. “The people are the same now, so there is no reason why the same thing cannot happen this year. I trust our team and, above all, I trust in the will to win that every last one of us shares,” said the 28-year-old.
Ferrari’s woes have led for former world champion Nigel Mansell to issue a warning to the team. The 1992 world champion believes Ferrari need to sort out their problems, and quickly. “The biggest surprise for me this season is how Ferrari have gone backwards,” said Mansell.
"There is a great saying in Formula One that if you stand still, you go backwards and I don't think they've done that much wrong, it's just that their development going forward hasn't been as good as other people's. They have stood still and in standing still they have gone backwards. The development of McLaren and Red Bull has been phenomenal. It's a disappointment for all the fans and for Formula One. They need to pay attention otherwise they will be left in the wake of everybody else and that's a very unusual thing to happen to them," added Mansell.
If Ferrari do not get their act together quickly, then they can wave goodbye to both the drivers’ and constructors’ world championships.
With the Canadian Grand Prix taking place this weekend, the famous Prancing Horse needs to hit the ground running.
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