Thursday 25th August 2005

Ferrari: we don't know what's wrong

We cannot pinpoint the problem, says F1 boss

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Ferrari on the back foot

Ferrari F1 team boss Jean Todt has admitted that he doesn't know what's causing his racing cars to perform so poorly this year.

Ferrari has floundered around in mid-field this season, and is a distant third in the 2005 constructor's championship. At the last GP, held at the new track in Turkey, trackmeister Michael Schumacher was seemingly off the track as often as on because of a lack of grip, and retired mid-race.

Schumacher lies third in the driver's championship table, but is vulnerable to McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya just 15 points behind. Team-mate Barrichello is over 20 points adrift.

Todt's best analysis is that its poor position -- by comparison to the previous five years -- is the result of two key decisions over tyres. One of these was made in Maranello, and the other at FIA HQ. He said that the team's close relationship with Bridgestone meant that there were few other comparison points to allow the team's technicians to pin-point the problems.

Few other cars run Bridgestones, and those that do -- Minardi and Jordan -- use a different formulation. And there's no comparison with last year, when Ferrari was again dominant, because of multiple changes in the regulations, including reductions in aerodynamic downforce, and rules designed to extract longer life from both tyres and engines.

For the future, Todt said that the situation could change, with rumours that both Toyota and Red Bull might switch to Bridgestones next year, providing more comparison points to find the precise cause of Ferrari's problem.

Todt drew solace from that fact that the team could at least secure third position in the 2005 championship.

[PhantomPH]

I have a theory - Ferrari and MS have been offered a chunk of money by 'whomever' to remain un-competative this season.

The sport was getting a lot of flack for being 'boring and predictable - Ferrari and MS win everything'. So there is a little closed-door dealing and money changes hands - enough to offset the money won by winning the constructors' championship for example - and Ferrari agree to 'let someone else have a go' for a season.

How else do you explain such dominance for so long, turning to poo in ONE closed season?

:D Obviously I am being silly....but its got you thinking, hasn't it? ;)

P~

[Mr Whippy]

Just everyone else has caught up while Ferrari were farting around maybe?

I think next year their game will be well and truly spectacular again. New engine (they make great v8's) and new aero/chassis and much more highly developed tyres and they should at least be competitive again!

All the recent rule changes have just caught them out, I think this years poor effort will reinvigorate Ferrari's F1 effort!

Hope so anyway, this unpredictable racing is getting me all tense!

Dave

[Li'l Pugs]

the team's close relationship with Bridgestone meant that there were few other comparison points


Their own fault if you ask me, but at least they're owning up to something for once.
Lying in Bed with Bernie, "Yes Bernie, No Bernie, whatever you say Bernie" also gets up my nose.
As for the cheating German b@stard, couldn't happen to a nicer chap.

Paul

[rubystone]

I'd point my finger at Bridgestone and Costa internally and Densham and Newey externally

[Number 7]

Its blindingly obvious whats wrong, except Napoleon wont say in public that their tyres are hopeless for single lap qualifying, and that Bridgestone have been forced to compromise race performance in an attempt to claw back some qualy. pace. They are reaping the results of years of having bespoke tyres from Bridgestone, to the detriment of all other Bridgestone runners - one of the reasons Mclaren switched to Michelin. I don't see the future looking too rosy for the red cars: next year will be a learning year with the new engines, the "dream team" will break up the end of 2006, Fiat have money troubles, and now there are rumours that square head will join Mclaren in 2007.It also seems likely that F1 will not revert to low fuel qualy., so if they stick to the current ridiculous format, that won't help Ferrari.And I can't see Massa doing anything useful - he's just a yes man, which is what Rubens is (although with more talent, and who finally after several years realised that he was never going to be allowed to beat MS to a championship). I just hope he felt all that money was worth never having a crack at being world champ.

7.

[adrianr]

I suggest they buy a set of part worn Michelins off whichever B team they're supplying engines too, carefully write 'Bridgestone' on the side in case any journo snappers are watching, pop 'em on the car and give it a quick spin round the test track.

AdrianR

[builder]

I don't think it's just tires. Last year, red cars where faster on the straights, too. It's possible they have sacrificed this year in development for next.

[JonRB]

rubystone said:

I'd point my finger at [...] Costa internally

I know the Italians love their coffee, but that's ridiculous.

[gtrclive]

Sorry I will never forgive MS for running into Damon and Jack. The guy hates loosing, so therefore it makes me very happy at present.....

What I realy can't stand is that he is the Best Driver at present... Shame he never raced in the same car as Aryton, that might have clipped his wings sooner.....

[CiderwithCerbie]

gtrclive said:

Sorry I will never forgive MS for running into Damon and Jack. The guy hates loosing, so therefore it makes me very happy at present..... ME TOO! What I realy can't stand is that he is the Best Driver at present... EVIDENCE? He's great in the fastest car, and a total bully at other times. There are other stories about why MS is so successful but.... Shame he never raced in the same car as Aryton, OR HAKKINEN that might have clipped his wings sooner..... OR MERCEDES NOT GIVING RAIKKONEN DODGY ENGINES IN '03

Me no like um either!

[chrisgr31]

This is not unusual though. The same happened to both McLaren and Williams and indeed Ferrari in the past. A few seasons of dominance, then it all goes pear shaped before they claw there way back.

Ferrari have only themsleves to blame though, as part of the problems is tyres.

As regards the Qualifying system I love it. Adds a lot more to the race, you can say its artifical but is it? In order to win the championship you need a car and driver, both need to be relible etc. So if the car is not reliable do you deserve to win the Championship?

[Trevparr]

I'll never forget The Damon Hill incident-(He should have got banned and his points taken away) or many others-He got away with everything-Dreadful!-I have a serious dilema-Ferrari are my favourite team but I cannot support them because of him-Rubens is great but not Michael-might be a great guy personaly(I don't know him!!!) but not as a sportsman-Good luck to Alonso,Kimi,Montoya and Button.Hopefully Ferrari will return to form but with a new driver to replace him.

[summit7]

I have to agree with everyone about the Damon incident. MS should have had the book thrown at him docked 10 points and lost the championship that year but as per normal F1 supremo's did what they wanted instead of applying the rules. It still makes me mad now, should read D. Hill double world champion! I have to say though MS is tremendous when things are going his way BUT has never coped when another driver is at him eg, Hill and Hakkinen, MS always seems to make a mistake when under real serious driver pressure. As for Ferrari I'm just enjoying better racing without them blitzing everything, still think MotoGP is better to watch.

[Ahonen]

The other important thing is that Rory Byrne has taken a back seat and gone into semi-retirement, which I think will have an increasing effect as time passes. You can't underestimate just how important that man has been to Ferrari's success.

It's interesting that this year, now that Schumacher really has to work for it, Ferrari hasn't really been a fighting team. Yes, the tyres have knocked them back, but I don't think there's a fight in them any more - it's like they're so shocked that they've been overtaken that they have no idea how to respond.

Having said all the above, MS was still third in the Championship going into the last race - which is not so bad for what many see as a disastrous year for Ferrari.

The next couple of years will be interesting. Will Ferrari slowly self-destruct like Benneton did in the late '90s?

(Oh and as an aside, I'm absolutely bloody delighted that they're in trouble! Further O/T, we need a couple of retirements from Alonso now to bring the Championship alive...)

[steviebee]

gtrclive said:

Sorry I will never forgive MS for running into Damon and Jack. The guy hates loosing, so therefore it makes me very happy at present..... What I realy can't stand is that he is the Best Driver at present... Shame he never raced in the same car as Aryton, that might have clipped his wings sooner.....

Is that the same Ayrton who deliberately ran Prost off the road to win the championship?

[kevin ritson]

With Ayrton though, it was largely down to what happened the previous year at the same circuit - right or wrong (and you really can't justify the move) at least you could see why it happened.

With DH and JV it was more a case of "you're not worthy of the championship, get off the track". Plus at least Senna had the balls to admit it.

[martinbown]

I find all of this considerably more interesting than the racing itself. To quote Jeremy Clarkson: "how many laps of F1 do you manage before falling asleep ?"

[anonymous-user]

people forget theat schumacher really had it tough in 1994 when the world and their dog wanted Hill to win the title. He was disqualified from four races!!! Interestingly, the on board footage from Jerez 97 shows his front left would have been on the racing line for the right hander..... guilty as charged on that one.

i think for this season though, ferrari have simply been caught napping and the progression renault made shocked most people. the car is very fast out of corners and they deserve a lot of credit for getting their traction control system spot on. McLaren have been building up to a good season since Mika left. Toyota have also come good at the right time and are enjoying the fruits of some £300m invested

[Monkey Boy 1]

PhantomPH said:

I have a theory - Ferrari and MS have been offered a chunk of money by 'whomever' to remain un-competative this season. The sport was getting a lot of flack for being 'boring and predictable - Ferrari and MS win everything'. So there is a little closed-door dealing and money changes hands - enough to offset the money won by winning the constructors' championship for example - and Ferrari agree to 'let someone else have a go' for a season. How else do you explain such dominance for so long, turning to poo in ONE closed season? Obviously I am being silly....but its got you thinking, hasn't it? P~

Hmm, maybe it's not that silly, Mr Burnt Ecclecake & Mr Max Headroom seem to agree with everything Ferrari do & don't give a Jean Todt about the other teams. how many times have you heard that 9 out of 10 teams file complaints or have suggestions for rule changes & guess which team sides with the FIA ?

[docevi1]

Ahonen said:

Having said all the above, MS was still third in the Championship going into the last race - which is not so bad for what many see as a disastrous year for Ferrari.

Remember how they caught up mind, Indianapolis...

I like seeing at least two teams able to win the championship, but for the most part the person who is leading at the start is leading at the end bar engine failure etc. It does get a bit tedious Especially when Shumi retires to save his engine for the next race.