Domenicali admits pressure is on
Stefano Domenicali has admitted that the Ferrari team feels a massive sense of responsibility going into 2010 following its difficult 2009 campaign
Ferrari only won one race last year, and since taking Michael Schumacher to five straight world championships from 2000 to 2004, it has only managed one further drivers' title - with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.
Team principal Domenicali said his squad was determined to address its problems this season.
"Clearly the main goal is to go back to the highest levels of competitiveness because this is our destiny. It is right for us to do so," he said.
"Our first goal is to be reliable. Too often over the last few years, we started the championship with problems of reliability which then had an impact on our season, so we laid out our work on the test bench and with simulators to solve this problem that we've had.
"Second we are focusing on having a car which in terms especially of its aerodynamic performance should be competitive from the start. So we expect to have a car which goes back to being competitive.
"Then of course during the season, which is going to be extremely long with 19 races, to be able to develop continuously the car to tackle our main competitors to win the championship. This is our clear goal and the ingredients to achieve these goals are all present."
He conceded that the strength of Ferrari's brand and history made it imperative for the team to get back to the front.
"With words we can say everything, but facts have to speak," said Domenicali. "We should not forget who we are and the responsibility we have on our shoulders. There's nothing new against us, we all work day and night because our name is Ferrari and that's a big responsibility on our shoulders.
"Let's recall that the people who design the car have been the same for many years. Difficult seasons can take place - the last one was in 2005 when we won only one race. So we have to be calm, and this is one of my tasks.
"Should we win from the start then it's going to be much easier. But should this not take place we're going to have to be calm, react, keep the team together, and know that from a potential point of view we have the people, each one just has to do well at their own work."
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