Ferrari sees silver lining in defeat
Stefano Domenicali, the Ferrari team principal, says the strategy miscalculation which cost their frontman, Fernando Alonso, the Drivers’ Championship in Abu Dhabi on Sunday November 14, was not the result of any one individual, but should be regarded as
an overall team mistake.
Alonso, who only needed to finish fourth place to win the coveted prize, was called into the pit for an early tyre switch. However, the decision resulted in Alonso being stuck behind Renault’s Vitaly Petrov for the remainder of the race. Consequently,
he ended up coming in seventh place, losing the championship to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel by a mere four points.
While Domenicali acknowledged that this blunder cost his team the prize, he said the decision should be put into its proper context and not be viewed in hindsight. As a result, he was adamant that Ferrari would not be looking to scapegoat any members of
its team.
"It was a mistake," explained Domenicali. "It is not good to say who took the decision or why it was taken. It was a team decision, and in the good and the bad moments, the team has to stay together.”
Although deeply disappointed with the results in Abu Dhabi, the Ferrari chieftain said it was vital that his team keep its spirit and morale for the coming 2011 season. While defeated, Domenicali was adamant that people shouldn’t lose sight of his team’s
incredible accomplishments.
"At that moment it is important to keep your heads up because we need to remember where we were in the season, and no-one would have bet any money for us to be here to fight for something," he said.
Plagued with mishaps and setbacks for the first half of the season, many had written Ferrari off as a team of has-beens. However, they managed to recoup their losses as well as their confidence by coming back from a 47-point deficit in Korea. Moreover,
although Ferrari faced a faster and tougher Red Bull team, they managed to take the world title fight into the very final round of the season.
"At the end of the day we [fought] for something here - but we did not lose the championship here, because they [Red Bull Racing] was stronger,” Domenicali said. Admitting that they did not have the best car, the Ferrari principal was gratified by his team’s
successes.
“We need to think that without the best car, which is a fact, that we were able to arrive here [still in contention] so we need to be proud of it. And that is my view."
Now that the season is over, Domenicali said they will be back with even more determination to win in 2011. Given that this team has a penchant for comebacks, it won’t be a surprise to anyone if they make good on their promise.
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