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#36079
From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble and Michele Lostia Monday, March 17th 2008, 10:17 GMT

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has said his team's biggest concern is lack of reliability rather than the speed of their car or drivers after a disastrous Australian Grand Prix.

The Maranello-outfit had headed into the season-opener as favourites to continue the run of form that had helped Kimi Raikkonen win last year's drivers' championship.

But a series of problems through practice and qualifying, allied to spins by both drivers in the race, left them struggling to take the fight to rivals McLaren - before engine failures ultimately put them out for good.

However, a disappointed Domenicali has vowed that the team will react to the Melbourne events in time for Malaysia this weekend.

"We said it at the start: reliability is a fundamental element and to have had the engine breaking down for both drivers obviously doesn't give us peace of mind," said the Italian, who took over from Jean Todt at the end of last season.

"We must understand everything but this is obviously the most worrying thing. We must react."

Ferrari used to be the most reliable team in the pitlane but that trait has fallen away over the last two years.

Domenicali said he did not know why that was the case, although suggested the switch to a standard ECU could have played a factor in the latest troubles.

"Reliability counts for plenty," he said. "Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, we started 2006 with two DNFs, but then our working method, our never-give-up attitude took us down to the wire.

"Today we had engine trouble, but with this rule-book the gearbox is another element to keep in check. Let's not forget that with MES (the standard ECU) we can have some problems in understanding the system, and how to integrate it with the car. We must still discover it in full.

"So I repeat: there is still plenty to do from this aspect, and this will make the difference. It's clear that we weren't phenomenal guys before and we haven't turned stupid now.

"Obviously we need to analyze step by step everything that has happened, because it's been a really bad weekend under every aspect."

And although Raikkonen's two mistakes, running off the track once and then spinning later on, did not help matters, Domenicali is not critical of the Finn's approach.

"A driver must always attack," he said. "We absolutely don't feel like criticising him under that aspect...He was right to attack him because he felt he was faster than him."


Hmm. I would certainly be critical of Raikkonen. Yeah, he's frustrated, but mind management is a key part of sport. Raikkonen really has to get on top of this. He's Formula One's version of Ronnie O'Sullivan. When he's on form he's unbeatable, but he struggles to maintain that form, allowing his rivals to remain with him.

As for Ferrari's reliability, I don't see it going away too quickly. It tends to be something that lasts for seasons. You only need to look at McLaren since 1998 until 2006. I can see Ferrari's reliability woes continuing for at least the rest of this season.
By mooker
#36082
Is it just me, or is he stating the bleeding obvious?? Ofcourse they're going to work on reliability, but so would any team that had two DNFs through engine problems (and another engine failure in the STR).
#36105
From the weekend’s showing it does seem that Ferrari have a few problems, but I think it will be a few more races before we truly know just how big or if they have a problem at all.
But it does seem at this stage that McLaren are the team to beat.
#36163
Hmm. I would certainly be critical of Raikkonen. Yeah, he's frustrated, but mind management is a key part of sport. Raikkonen really has to get on top of this. He's Formula One's version of Ronnie O'Sullivan. When he's on form he's unbeatable, but he struggles to maintain that form, allowing his rivals to remain with him.

As for Ferrari's reliability, I don't see it going away too quickly. It tends to be something that lasts for seasons. You only need to look at McLaren since 1998 until 2006. I can see Ferrari's reliability woes continuing for at least the rest of this season.


Clearly Ferrari are suffering without an experienced leader but don't count them out yet. We still got 17 races to go. Your right about Kimi he lacks the mental toughness of schumi who could always bounce back strong after a poor weekend. We'll see how Kimi goes in Malaysia to see if he has got on top of it
#36219
Hmm. I would certainly be critical of Raikkonen. Yeah, he's frustrated, but mind management is a key part of sport. Raikkonen really has to get on top of this. He's Formula One's version of Ronnie O'Sullivan. When he's on form he's unbeatable, but he struggles to maintain that form, allowing his rivals to remain with him.

As for Ferrari's reliability, I don't see it going away too quickly. It tends to be something that lasts for seasons. You only need to look at McLaren since 1998 until 2006. I can see Ferrari's reliability woes continuing for at least the rest of this season.


Clearly Ferrari are suffering without an experienced leader but don't count them out yet. We still got 17 races to go. Your right about Kimi he lacks the mental toughness of schumi who could always bounce back strong after a poor weekend. We'll see how Kimi goes in Malaysia to see if he has got on top of it


And it's not just MS's MENTAL toughness that made him a superior driver, he was also physically fit beyond comparison and that's going to come into play at the Sepang circuit - the GP of Malaysia is universally recognized as the physically most demanding race of all because of the heat AND the humidity. How fit is KR? Not as fit as he COULD be...
#36228
Raikkonen's certainly nowhere near as fit as Hamilton. Did you see him jumping up and down and bounding up to the podium two steps at a time at the end of the Oz GP? He hardly had a bead of sweat on him, and considering how hot it was I'd say he's fitter even than Schumacher ever was.
#36230
Raikkonen's certainly nowhere near as fit as Hamilton. Did you see him jumping up and down and bounding up to the podium two steps at a time at the end of the Oz GP? He hardly had a bead of sweat on him, and considering how hot it was I'd say he's fitter even than Schumacher ever was.


And he is a guy who naturally sweats a lot- he said so after that race when his water ran out. Did you see Rosberg in the press conference? Sweat was pouring off him
#36249
You only need to look at McLaren since 1998 until 2006. I can see Ferrari's reliability woes continuing for at least the rest of this season.

That's blasphamy comparing Ferrari to McLaren :evil: !!! I for one am appalled at your implication and you sir are? GOTCHA :lol::lol::lol:
#36252
From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble and Michele Lostia Monday, March 17th 2008, 10:17 GMT

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has said his team's biggest concern is lack of reliability rather than the speed of their car or drivers after a disastrous Australian Grand Prix.

The Maranello-outfit had headed into the season-opener as favourites to continue the run of form that had helped Kimi Raikkonen win last year's drivers' championship.

But a series of problems through practice and qualifying, allied to spins by both drivers in the race, left them struggling to take the fight to rivals McLaren - before engine failures ultimately put them out for good.

However, a disappointed Domenicali has vowed that the team will react to the Melbourne events in time for Malaysia this weekend.

"We said it at the start: reliability is a fundamental element and to have had the engine breaking down for both drivers obviously doesn't give us peace of mind," said the Italian, who took over from Jean Todt at the end of last season.

"We must understand everything but this is obviously the most worrying thing. We must react."

Ferrari used to be the most reliable team in the pitlane but that trait has fallen away over the last two years.

Domenicali said he did not know why that was the case, although suggested the switch to a standard ECU could have played a factor in the latest troubles.

"Reliability counts for plenty," he said. "Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, we started 2006 with two DNFs, but then our working method, our never-give-up attitude took us down to the wire.

"Today we had engine trouble, but with this rule-book the gearbox is another element to keep in check. Let's not forget that with MES (the standard ECU) we can have some problems in understanding the system, and how to integrate it with the car. We must still discover it in full.

"So I repeat: there is still plenty to do from this aspect, and this will make the difference. It's clear that we weren't phenomenal guys before and we haven't turned stupid now.

"Obviously we need to analyze step by step everything that has happened, because it's been a really bad weekend under every aspect."

And although Raikkonen's two mistakes, running off the track once and then spinning later on, did not help matters, Domenicali is not critical of the Finn's approach.

"A driver must always attack," he said. "We absolutely don't feel like criticising him under that aspect...He was right to attack him because he felt he was faster than him."


Hmm. I would certainly be critical of Raikkonen. Yeah, he's frustrated, but mind management is a key part of sport. Raikkonen really has to get on top of this. He's Formula One's version of Ronnie O'Sullivan. When he's on form he's unbeatable, but he struggles to maintain that form, allowing his rivals to remain with him.

As for Ferrari's reliability, I don't see it going away too quickly. It tends to be something that lasts for seasons. You only need to look at McLaren since 1998 until 2006. I can see Ferrari's reliability woes continuing for at least the rest of this season.


Yeah, well, I can't recall they had any significant reliability issues during the test period... so it could be just a bad luck. But you’re right about one thing – they are definitely not as rock solid as they were during the golden MS years. Can’t really blame them – loosing MS, RB and JT in short period (plus some more important though not so exposed people from their design team) in short period of time couldn’t help much.

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