Grand Prix Formula 1 stories

After 8,635 kilometres of testing and with less than two weeks before the start of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, reigning world champions Ferrari know their pre-season preparations are fast drawing to a close. Team principal Stefano Domenicali is confident that the F60 will be competitive in the hands of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. His main concern now is the car’s reliability, as he explained to the Ferrari press office…

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Q: Where does Ferrari stand?
Stefano Domenicali: Over the last days I’ve been to Barcelona to follow the last stages of the test sessions and I’ve seen a very concentrated and determined Team. We’re satisfied with the level of our car as far as the performance is concerned. It’s obvious that we still have some work to do and that we have to concentrate on its reliability. Last year we’ve seen how important reliability and the smallest details are: we have to work much harder in this direction.

Q: What are your expectations?
SD: Like never before I’m expecting a very difficult season. Many changes have been introduced as far as the regulations are concerned. Planning the car we had to start from scratch. In this case time plays an even more important role: who, like us and our main competitors, was working until the last moment on the development of the 2008 car, might have a slight advantage compared to those who gave up last year and dedicated themselves and their resources to a new project.

Q: Where do you think the Scuderia stands compared to its competitors?
SD: I don’t want you to think that I’m avoiding an answer, but it’s more difficult than ever to say anything about the levels on the track. Until a couple of days ago there was a great equilibrium between the different teams - some expected and some a bit less - and then there was Brawn GP’s exploit; their performance was incredibly surprising and they have to be watched with care. We think that we’re part of the more competitive teams, but there are still many unknown factors to consider: we have to wait for Melbourne to get the answers.

Q: Over the last days there were many commenting voices about interpretations of technical regulations by several teams: what’s Ferrari’s position?
SD: We think that we’ve applied the modified regulations - after the works done by the OWG (Overtaking Working Group) together with the FIA - to the letter. It might be that others took a different approach: the FIA has to dissipate any doubt; let’s hope they’ll do it fast and clear.

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