More troubles for Ferrari

[muzzer79]

www.planet-f1.com/News/Story_Page/0,15909,3210_3213_1888442,00.html

The Times said:

the 'apparent turmoil in personnel is being borne out on the technical front, with the team launching a new car that was not finished last month and to a design that amazed Ferrari's rivals.'

One rival senior technical analyst told the newspaper that he was surprised by the fact that Ferrari's new F2007 carries much of its weight at the rear of the car even though the new Bridgeston tyres that will be used this year suffer rear degradation.

"It's a high-risk strategy and with all the changes they've had with staff, if it goes wrong they'll struggle," the source said.

Hmmm. So they'll either wipe the floor with everyone or basically be up the creek. Looking at testing times I'm inclined to believe the latter. Much as I didn't like the German cheater, I've always had a soft spot for the Scuderia

[kevin ritson]

Nice to see the Times two weeks behind the rest of the world. Autosport this week reports that Nigel Stepney is leaving the team, rumoured to be dissatisfied by the current technical direction. I've also read about Raikkonen ending a test with smoke pouring out of the engine (bet he was pleased to see that again!)

[autoart]

It had to end at some point, seems the rails are falling off Ferrari now, not a bad thing really. Looking forward to a McLaren/Renault/Red Bull three way fight this season

[10 Pence Short]

We'll have to wait and see how The Midget & Max show alter the rules to help Ferrari in 2008 if they have a poor '07.

[flemke]

10 Pence Short said:

We'll have to wait and see how The Midget & Max show alter the rules to help Ferrari in 2008 if they have a poor '07.

I can't see them waiting until the '07 season is over, can you?
They'll be spurred into action by midway through the season.
Mass dampers, anyone? How about those outrageously illegal Michelin tyres?

And I cannot conceive of a team's being allowed a few minor alterations to its "frozen" engine design. Of course, they do say that global warming will hit Italy before it gets to the UK...

[jacobyte]

flemke said:

Mass dampers, anyone?

Don't you know they are legal now?

[Dr JonboyG]

kevin ritson said:

Nice to see the Times two weeks behind the rest of the world. Autosport this week reports that Nigel Stepney is leaving the team, rumoured to be dissatisfied by the current technical direction. I've also read about Raikkonen ending a test with smoke pouring out of the engine (bet he was pleased to see that again!)

How much of that is Ferrari and how much is Raikkonen's ability to break cars is up in the air. We'll see at the end of the year, but I'm betting he has a lot more DNFs than Massa.

[deevlash]

Whats the betting that the control tyre changes mid season leaving everyone elses weight distribution screwed up

[stephen300o]

paranoid anyone?

[D_Mike]

on past evidence, not really.

[Leithen]

If you believe Adrian Newey, it's a lot of bluster about nothing - Ferrari have, according to him, gone from an extremeley short wheelbase to a short wheelbase. No doubt they worked out in the Wind Tunnel that an extra 10cm helps more than it hinders.

[team underdog]

I cant help feel this whole thing is a ploy by rival technical departments to put the media focus on the new Ferrari management in the hope that it will unsettle them. Who knows it might work but after being the focus for Bridgestone all these years you cant imagine them suddenly screwing up. If any team knew the most about the new spec rubber - it would be ferrari!

Also, I believe the concept of this years car would have been dictated by last years tech team anyway! Time will tell, but i think they will be strong.

[aeropilot]

autoart said:

Looking forward to a McLaren/Renault/Red Bull three way fight this season

On current Red Bull testing form....that'll be a 2 way fight then....