Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Q & A with Stefano Domenicali

Q. Last year in wet conditions the Ferrari struggled to get heat into its tyres. Are we seeing a similar characteristic now?

Stefano Domenicali: It is very unfortunate because if you look at the first part of the race, Felipe did a fantastic job. He was really much faster than Sebastian Vettel, who was with low fuel and we had more fuel. So, honestly, in that condition it was perfect. Then unfortunately we had this problem on electronic control which made the car stop, as it was a big shame.

I am pretty sure that with that strategy, and the fact that he did fantastic laps, we would have been on the podium - no doubt.

Q. How frustrating is it to have a start to the season like that?

SD: For sure it is very tricky. It is not easy. That is, I would say, normal to say. The only way we can get out from the moment is to work hard and to try to stay cool. We know we have a lot of things to do, and there is no reason to get into a panic mode because that would be worse. I know we can count on the fact that everyone in the team together with Felipe and Kimi - we need to react and work because that is the only way we can get out from this moment.

The other thing that we have to say is that for sure in the first three races, there are so many elements that came out and changed the situation radically that we need to keep on pushing because when we will have the new package in Spain, I think there we will see where we are. But it is too early to draw easy conclusions now after three races.

Q. After this start, do you have to change your targets for the season now or wait for a new package?

SD: 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 priority number one is to move from zero points.

Q. Michael Schumacher said on German television that Ferrari must decide soon whether to keep pushing hard this season with no guarantee of success, or give up on it and focus attention to winning the 2010 championship. When do you see that point arriving?

SD: 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.

Q. Do you believe that simply adding a double-decker diffuser will transform your season?

SD: No. The situation is much more complicated than that. That device will give you a benefit. But it would be wrong to believe that it is the only key. We have seen, for example, the Red Bull car has done a really great job. They had more time, they switched their project much earlier than us and that is the reality and we need to consider it. The other thing that we have to understand well is that today in certain conditions, look at the first part of the race, our car was not too bad at all. So we need to understand a lot of things.

Q. You tested over the winter in Bahrain. Could that be an advantage for you?

SD: Difficult to say. For sure for us it will be important because at least we know something more about the track in terms of set-up. But we cannot expect to have anything new this week. We need to solve the issue with the KERS, but we will see there. There shouldn't be any rain there. Once again, certain cars may be very strong, so we will see where we are.

Q. Your drivers have said they would like KERS back for Bahrain if possible. Is it going to happen?

SD: This is what we would like to do.

Q. Can you get the problem sorted?

SD: That is the thing we have to do, and that is our target for sure.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Ferrari not ruling out writing off '09
Next article Q & A with Lewis Hamilton

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe