Ferrari to fight to the finish:
Even though Fernando Alonso could claim his third world championship in the next race in Brazil, Ferrari is readying itself for a fight that could go right to the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Considering that Alonso enjoys an 11-point advantage over Red Bull’s Mark Webber heading into the Interlagos event, a podium finish for the Ferrari driver could be enough for him to take the title.
However, everyone at Ferrari is well aware of the dangers of overconfidence. Considering that the Red Bull team has fielded a highly impressive car that combines raw speed with hair-trigger maneuverability, especially in the hands of a driver like Mark
Webber, there are no illusions about how tough the situation still is.
Speaking after Alonso's win about the challenge of beating Red Bull, Ferrari manager, Stefano Domenicali, acknowledged the high caliber of his competition: "I am a pragmatic guy. If they were able to do 15 pole positions in 17 races, then it is something.
They have a fantastic car.”
However, Domenicali was quick to remind skeptics that the Ferrari machine ain’t too shabby either. He went on to extol the fighting tenacity of his team. "But for me the most important thing is that, despite this fantastic [Red Bull] car, we are there,
fighting, and we will fight up until the last corner of the last race.”
Although Alonso seized the initiative in the title chase at Korea, Ferrari reiterated that it will maintain its almost legendary calm and typically cool-headed approach as it did in the early summer, when its championship challenge appeared to falling off
the rails.
"We don't change our approach," said Domenicali. "We said in Suzuka that at every race we need to be on the podium and win one race. We have won one race and now we need to try and be focused. Then with the numbers we will see afterwards."
Although many F1 prognostications forecast that Alonso will win the drivers' title in Brazil, Domenicali has little doubt that since the constructors’ battle will still be up for grabs, the title fight will be decided in Abu Dhabi.
"We have two championships to fight for and for sure in Brazil we cannot win the second one," he said. "We want to go ahead, keeping the feet on the ground."
With Ferrari spoiling for a fight at Brazil and Abu Dhabi, it is almost certain that the Red Bull team will be more than happy to provide one.
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