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“Even if there is much to
be sad about when you come within a centimetre of taking
the title and then lose it, this has still been an
amazing season.” The Ferrari President, Luca di
Montezemolo is in no doubt that, despite the bitter
ending in Abu Dhabi, the 2010 season was still a
positive one for Scuderia Ferrari. “Having been in
Formula 1 for such a long time, this was certainly not
the first time I have lost a world championship at the
final race,” said Montezemolo to a group of journalists,
when looking back at the way the season ended. “I was in
Watkins Glen in 1974 when Clay Regazzoni was fighting it
out with Emerson Fittipaldi, then I was in Jerez in 1997
and Suzuka the following year, when it was Schumacher
who saw the title slip away at the last. The hardest one
to take was in 2008: when Felipe crossed the line he was
champion, but then he lost the title the moment Hamilton
passed Glock. The important point however is that, from
1997 to the present, with a handful of exceptions,
Ferrari has always been a contender: after that it’s a
case of winning or losing which is part of sport,
beautiful and terrible at the same time. I am pleased to
see the team is angry with the outcome rather than
disappointed or depressed. There is a great will to
fight back and be ready for next season, when our aim is
to have a car that, right from the start, is capable of
winning so that we don’t have to play catch-up.
“For 2011 there will be various technical changes, from
the return of KERS to the arrival of Pirelli tyres and
an adjustable rear wing,” continued Montezemolo. “We are
starting from a solid base; I’m thinking here of the
fact that at the end of last year, our energy recovery
system was very competitive. As for the rear wing, I
hope we start the season with total clarity as regards
the regulations. I am not worried about it, but our
experience of 2009 still grates.
“Ferrari is on the threshold of an important year after
a very positive 2010, both on the sporting front, not
forgetting the GT races and on the business and
production side,” concluded Montezemolo. “We are
finalising the details for our first showroom in India,
we are strengthening our position in China and the
United States. In Formula 1 terms, we have very clear
targets. Right from Sunday night in Abu Dhabi I
immediately tried to console our guys who were crying in
the garage, spurring them to immediately look to the
future. That is the strength of Ferrari, in that we
never give up. Changes within the team? That is not our
philosophy, because for years now we have adopted a
policy based on dynamic stability: a few minor
adjustments are possible, but no major upheaval. And
after all, it has to be said that if we had not got it
wrong with that “penalty kick” in Abu Dhabi, today the
discussion would be completely different. Alonso was
amazing, both on and off the track: determined and full
of self-belief, a real driving force. I expect a lot
from Felipe next year: I am sure he will return to being
the man we saw in 2008. I am very happy with the work
with which Stefano Domenicali is moving us forward, with
great ability, spirit and a sense of balance. I am happy
to be at such an event as this, alongside Ferrari fans
from all over the world: no other car company could do
something like this.”
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