Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has called for calm following another point-less race for the Italian marque. The team are suffering their worst start to a world championship for 27 years and rumours are flying about what or who is to blame. But the phlegmatic boss is looking forward to a range of improvements to the F60 that will be premiered when the F1 circus comes to Europe.
“I think for sure we will see after Spain where we are. In that period we will see really what can be the situation, so when we come back to Europe basically,” said Domenicali.
“I think we have to wait. We need to stay cool. It is not easy, I know, but we need to stay cool because there are too many things that can change very quickly,” the Italian explained.
Observers are predicting that the dominance as a constructor the Prancing Horse has enjoyed in the modern era is coming to an end. After the departure or marginalisation of the dream team of Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne it was said that Ferrari would no longer be the force it was. Many in the paddock were surprised the team continued to be successful, but ascribed the success to the long-term programme put into place by the previous structure. Some of the aforementioned dream team continue to exert influence over management.
The prospects for Ferrari this season depend on the success of their technical revisions due in Barcelona. If the parts do not make a wholesale difference, it is thought that the squad will write off 2009 and concentrate on the development of their 2010 challenger. Where this would leave Kimi Raikkonen is an interesting question, as the Finn faces a make-or-break season to convince his critics he still has the appetite for the sport. His lacklustre race in China yesterday, in which he offered no more than token resistance to his competitors, will not have earned the Finn any credit.
