Ferrari stay focused
Despite a glorious win at the Monza track in Italy last weekend, Italian team manager Stefano Domenicali is determined to stay grounded and keep his team focused on the task at hand. Fernando Alonso’s victory – Ferrari’s first home win since 2006 – has boosted the team’s chances of title contention, and they have been riding on the vibe of the tifosi since practice session last Friday.
“For sure, from the emotional point of view, this win was very important,” Domenicali expresses, according to AutoSport.com. "You know me, I don't feel over the moon when we do such an incredible race, but I don't destroy myself when we don't do well. It has a special meaning but we need to be very cool. It is important because we have closed down the gap to the leaders and we will keep fighting - even if Singapore will not be a good race. We never give up, that is our approach.”
Ferrari, whose car seemed better adapted to the Monza circuit than rivals Red-Bull and McLaren, fought a hardy battle with their opponents throughout the qualifying and racing sessions to earn a well-deserved victory. McLaren’s Jenson Button was outwitted in the pitlane by Alonso to reclaim a lead which had been taken by Button early in the race, and the Spaniard managed to keep the Briton at bay to claim one of the most memorable wins of his F1 career.
Yet Singapore, the next Grand Prix, will be quite a different story. “You cannot be really relaxed until the chequered flag,” Domenicali says. “Everything can happen at the last moment there.”
Domenicali remains cautious regarding the last few races of the season, acknowledging that the circuit will be less favourable towards the Ferraris than Monza. “I cannot say where we will be. I feel that Red Bull Racing will come back again at the normal place where, apart from this race [in Italy], they were since the beginning of the season. McLaren will be strong as always and what we bring there I hope will help us keep the pace of our competitors. For sure what is important is to keep the consistency, and find the points, as that will be a key factor.”
With the title race so wide open, it is no surprise that Domenicali, while hoping to carry some of the magical tifosi atmosphere with him, is being careful. With the Red-Bulls poised for a comeback, the Ferrari boss is anxious to keep his team sober and gear them up for what he hopes will be another victory in Singapore.
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