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Ferrari team
principal Stefano Domenicali admitted to being mystified
after team drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen were
beaten into second and third places by McLaren's Lewis
Hamilton in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix on the outskirts
of Shanghai. He said there was a lot to understand
before going to the final round of the World
Championship at Sao Paulo, Brazil, in two weeks time,
with Massa seven points behind Hamilton.
"The thing that we need to understand, going to Brazil,
is why and how this was possible, considering that in
Singapore and in Fuji we were really fast, both in terms
of quick laps and race pace," explained Domenicali. "For
sure, this race was the worst, from the performance
side, that have had this year in these conditions,
together with Germany. The only point in common was that
it was the same kind of tyres and we need to understand
if that was the problem, but I don't think so. Sure, on
the one hand, we were complaining that this weekend we
didn't have enough grip to be competitive but also we
didn't have the car handling in the first sector, above
all.
"We cannot be in Brazil fighting - as we said at the
beginning of the season - for the titles in the
condition where our car is less competitive in these
conditions, with such a big gap to our main competitors,
to McLaren."
Domenicali paid tribute to McLaren. "This weekend our
main competitors were faster than us. They maybe did a
better job, but in any case they were faster, for sure.
We have seen that right from Friday they had better pace
and better quick laps. We saw today that they were not
doing something special. They were simply much faster
than us and this is the reason why I have to say that if
you consider what we could achieve in these conditions,
we achieved the maximum.
"Honestly today Lewis was in another league, he was
driving perfectly, fast, consistent and we couldn't even
think of attacking him. In our briefing this morning we
said that we had to try to attack Lewis, above all at
the beginning of the race, to see how the situation was,
but we really couldn't do so because he was too fast."
But Domenicali refused to concede that McLaren is the
faster car. "One week ago that was not the case. Two
races ago, it was not the case. We need to understand
why there was this kind of change on the performance
side. We need to make a careful analysis to understand
exactly the reason why we lost performance. This
weekend, we were slower, the others were more or less
consistent with their pace or their expected pace, so we
were the ones that were not so strong to be honest. I
don't believe that in one week all the others have made
a step which we haven't, so it's something connected to
our performance. This is why we need to work hard
because we are heading into the last race of the season
and we need to make sure that we do everything in order
to make sure we have a good car for the last Grand
Prix."
Domenicali said that the approach would not change even
though the team's chances are really in the hands of
others. "I think that the approach cannot change because
on the one hand, our destiny is not in our hands,
because to win the title with Felipe we need to win,
first of all, and we need to see a not really good race
from Hamilton.
"On the Constructors' side, the situation is different
because we know that we have this margin which is not
enough because you never know what can happen. You saw
today that once again Kovalainen had a problem. He may
have another puncture at the wrong moment so it's still
open, but this can happen to all the four drivers that
can influence the result of Drivers' and Team's
championships. The only thing we can do is try to work
very hard to try to understand the performance of the
car. We don't need to panic because, as I said, only a
week ago it was different, and to make sure that we
working well, with the right concentration."
But the pressure is shared, said Domenicali. "I think
that the pressures are on both sides to be honest. I was
discussing that this morning with (McLaren's) Martin
Whitmarsh . We know that everyone is concentrated but
terrified that something unexpected can happen. For
sure, I'm expecting Lewis to think 'oh my God, I'm not
expecting to have another difficult race.' On the other
hand you may think that Felipe is doing the same, and we
are doing the same as a team, so I think that in a way,
it will be very important to keep cool, drivers' side
and teams' side , and let's see what will be the outcome
of both championships in Brazil."
Domenicali expects his Brazilian championship contender
to be in a better frame of mind at his home race. "I
think that today was the most tense race for Felipe
because today there was the possibility for Lewis to win
the champion at this Grand Prix. Considering the fact
that he has seen that he was not competitive enough to
beat Lewis today, and the fact that you never know about
the reliability, you have to really arrive at the point
where you say 'listen, OK, we've done what we could have
done, the maximum.' So I am expecting Felipe to be more
- I don't think it's correct to say relaxed - but more
tranquil in Brazil rather than here, and I'm pretty sure
that he will handle the pressure in a positive way."
Finally, Domenicali was asked about the difference
between this Chinese Grand Prix where Raikkonen let his
teammate past, and Austria 2002 where Rubens Barrichello
allowed Michael Schumacher to win. "This was completely
different. You don't remember what happened in Germany
and no one has complained, between Kovalainen and
Hamilton? I know why you are asking that question so I
am saying the same thing. You can ask the same question
in that respect. Today was pretty normal, I would say.
The drivers know the team's interest without saying
anything. I respect what Lewis said in the press
conference. Lewis said it's a team game and we did a
good job."
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