Massa's Blog: Everyone is pushing hard to improve the car

So far we have had two Grands Prix this season, producing the same winner and the same three teams on the podium, while Ferrari has not been part of that. If you are not winning, then of course you are not happy and you try and change the situation but the facts show that our situation is not as bad as some might say.

It’s true that in qualifying in both races so far, we were not quick enough and in Melbourne, even our race pace was not that impressive. However, in Malaysia our car had the performance on Sunday in the race. That is something we must keep up but in addition, even if this sounds like what we said last year, we need to push hard to improve our car’s performance over a single lap in qualifying. Over the winter, there was speculation that qualifying would be less important this year because of an expected increase in overtaking, but so far, we have seen that if you do not start at the front, life is more difficult for you, even if you have good pace.

Everyone in the team, back in the factory is pushing particularly hard to improve the car as soon as possible. But it’s hard to say how long a job that will be and of course I hope it will happen very quickly. In China we will have some updates and something new to be tested on Friday, whereas Turkey in a month’s time is when we can realistically expect to bring some significant updates for the car.

My race was spoilt by a problem at the first pit stop. The fact that we are definitely going to see more pit stops per race throughout the season means this is an area of teamwork, driver’s role included, that we have to be sure functions perfectly. Also, in Sepang, my problem occurred the first time I came in to change tyres which is the worst possible situation as it is in the early stages of a race that a delay can cost you the most track position and places, because all the cars are much closer to each other. If it happens late on in the race when positions have stabilised and maybe you have five seconds over the car behind, then you can get away with this sort of problem at a stop. It highlights the fact that this is a team sport and while the driver is a very important part of that, so too are the engineers and also the mechanics, this year even more so than before.

Another trend we are seeing is that there can be many changes of position in the closing stages of the race, as drivers perhaps try to get to the race finish without making a further stop for new tyres, despite suffering high degradation. That was clearly the case in Malaysia with a lot of overtaking in the final laps. That is why the strategy is even more important now, in order to get the tyre change sequence just right, so that you can avoid finding yourself fighting for position in the last few laps, while dealing with tyres that are no longer at their best. This is not just down to the engineers to chose the best moment, because now the driver really has to think about managing the tyre situation himself, to avoid destroying them too soon.

I arrive in Shanghai on Wednesday, having stayed on in Malaysia for a couple of days. I have finished twice on the podium in China, with a second and third place, but last year I was only ninth in that wet race. It’s a nice circuit to drive even if the weather can be unpredictable. In the past, even with the long straight, overtaking was quite difficult but the combination of the long straight and the moveable rear wing should make passing easier.

There is no panic at Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, because we know panic does not achieve anything. Everyone has to work together and push hard to solve these problems we currently have and move in the direction that will see us secure better results as soon as possible.

Source: Ferrari.com

Alonso's Blog: In China to seize every opportunity

I arrived in Shanghai this morning. Two days relaxing were much needed after what was a very tough weekend in Sepang and now I’m ready for the second race in as many weekends, which also brings to an end the first run of Grands Prix outside Europe. I was disappointed not to get to the podium in Malaysia, as it was within my reach and it would have been a great result. It would also have been useful in terms of being a nice morale booster. Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we wanted and we paid a very heavy price for the failure on the system that runs the moveable rear wing. I know that the engineers, with whom I’ve been in touch a lot over these past days, have discovered the problem and fixed it. If the system had worked, I could comfortably have got past Hamilton on the pit straight and I would not have found myself having to fight him wheel to wheel and taking risks. What happened is part of racing and you have to accept it: I was quicker than him and so I had to try and pass, otherwise I would have been caught by those behind us. As for the penalty I was given, I already said on Sunday night in Sepang, I don’t want to talk about it because it changes nothing.

As we had already seen in Australia, once again in Malaysia, our race pace was much better than that in qualifying. In Sepang, both Felipe and I were running at a pace good enough to get to the podium and that was an important indication, even if we did not end up getting all we could have done. Clearly, I would like to always be fighting for the win but, at the moment, one car, Vettel’s Red Bull, seems to be out of reach.

In Maranello, the engineers are working a lot to try and improve the performance of the 150º Italia. In Shanghai, we are due to try a new front wing and a few other aero updates: let’s hope they bring us something, but we will have to evaluate them very carefully in Friday’s practice. Our aim in this Grand Prix will be similar to the one in Malaysia, which means to make the best of qualifying and try to exploit any opportunity that comes our way during the race. It should be much cooler this weekend than in Sepang, more like what we experienced in Melbourne. Starting on Friday, we will see how the tyres behave and once again we have the Hard as the Prime compound and the Soft as the Option. Malaysia produced a different situation to the first race but we still need to work out how much was down to the temperatures and how much to the nature of the circuits, in terms of their layout and surface.

I spoke to President Montezemolo after the Malaysian race: he was not happy and why would he be, as I was not either. We know we need to react quickly to make up the gap to the championship leader. It’s true that if you compare the situation after the first two races of 2010 with this year, we are a long way behind: back then, yours truly was in the lead and Vettel was quite a way off, but it’s also true that, if you take into consideration the individual races in Australia and Malaysia, I have got eight points more than was the case last year. It’s a bit of a game, but it’s also a way to understand that there are different ways of looking at things, even direct opposites. Also not to be taken seriously was the joke our President made about a hypothetical fantasy government made up of drivers: I thank him for having thought of me for the role of premier, but I’d rather stick to racing!

Source: Ferrari.com

Hamilton: I am committed to McLaren

Lewis Hamilton took the bold step of seeking out team principal Martin Whitmarsh to underline his commitment to McLaren

With the start of the new season looming large with Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, recent speculation has focused on Hamilton's future with the team.

The suggestion has been that a third successive year without the World title, following his initial success in 2008, could prompt Hamilton to seek pastures new.

That would be despite the fact he has another season remaining on his £10million-per-year contract with McLaren.

Hamilton, though, insists he has no intention of going anywhere, nor is he attempting to engineer a move away from McLaren, a team that has overseen his career since he was 13.

"I've spoken to Martin today because I wanted to reassure him that I am here at McLaren, that I am committed to the team, committed to winning," said Hamilton.

"This is where my heart and mind are. I'm not thinking about going elsewhere, I don't have my people (his new management team) going elsewhere and doing any other talking.

"I try and put myself in other people's positions, to understand how they would feel. I think that's important.

"I can imagine how I would feel if I heard stories that they were looking for another driver to replace me, it would be upsetting and distracting, and I kind of assume that may have been the case.

"So I wanted to make sure I put that right, and why I spoke with Martin."

Hamilton, though, has not ruled out the possibility of one day in the distant future changing teams, but not before he has played his part in helping McLaren rediscover the winning Championship habit.

"Of course, I'm going to be in Formula One for some time, and you never know which way the wind will take you," added Hamilton.

"As I said, for now, I'm committed to trying to make this team the most successful it can be, and I feel we can do that."

Whitmarsh was naturally grateful to Hamilton for being upfront and honest, although felt the 26-year-old had no need to do so.

Whitmarsh said: "Lewis did come to see me today, not that it was necessary.

"It wasn't something I was going to raise with him, but it was nonetheless still nice for him to want to clarify his passion and restate his commitment to being in the team."

Dismissing the stories, Whitmarsh is convinced McLaren will again present Hamilton with the kind of opportunities that will ensure his head will not be turned.

"You glance through the headlines and you see lots of things, but you don't spend too much time dwelling on them," added Whitmarsh.

"He knows we will have highs and lows in any season, but he also knows this team is committed to winning.

"We're a great team, we enjoy working together. There are always plenty of challenges in this sport, and that's what we are here for.

"Obviously he has grown up with this team, we have had some great times together, and I'm sure we're going to have some great times together in the future as well.

"Lewis has grown and developed in self-assurance and his manner in the years I've known him, and has a genuine affection for the team and the people in it.

"It's great he is comfortable, enjoys the environment and working with the people in this organisation."

Source: Planet-F1

Suzuka inks new GP deal for 2012

Suzuka will continue to host the Japanese grand prix beyond this Ocrober’s race.

Last October, the boss of the Honda-owned Mobilityland company admitted that its formula one race at Suzuka is "only marginally profitable".

Honda pulled its team out of F1 at the end of 2008, while Toyota and Bridgestone have also left the sport, as has the other Japanese venue Fuji.

But the Japan Times and the Kyodo news agency both reported on Tuesday that the grand prix will take place in 2012 after a new agreement was reached between Mobilityland and F1 authorities.

Source: Nextgen

Rome to host F1 race as soon as 2012

Rome will host a Formula One grand prix after a five-year contract for a street race in the Italian capital was signed at Monza on Friday.

The race will feature on the calendar as early as 2012 after F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and organiser Maurizio Flammini rubber stamped the agreement.

"Congratulations for the results he (Flammini) has delivered," said Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno. "I hope Rome's grand prix can start in 2012."

The agreement means that there will be two grands prix in Italy, with the historic Monza venue certain to remain on the calendar.

"The Monza race will remain -- it won't be destroyed by Rome's."

Alemanno's sentimants were not shared by Monza director Enrico Ferrari, who thinks the venue's status will be adversely affected by a Rome grand prix.

"Where once it was difficult to find sponsors, now it will be impossible," Ferrari told La Stampa newspaper. "The big companies have a budget, so if today they were giving us 100, tomorrow they will give us 50 and Rome 50."

The only possible obstacle for the race going ahead is in getting consent from the region's local EUR district.

"There are problems because we have to reach full agreement with the inhabitants of EUR. We have an agreement at the international level. There are no certainties, but our promise is very solid," added Alemanno.

Source: ESPNF1

A day in the garage with the Renault F1 Team

Source: RenaultF1TeamTV

TAG Heuer - Melbourne Grand Prix Event

TAG Heuer - Melbourne Grand Prix Event with Jenson Button, March 24 2010, in the TAG Heuer boutique.

Source: TAGHeuerOnline

Australian GP Chief says 5pm race "no dangerous"

Australian grand prix organiser Ron Walker has slammed reports that drivers successfully pushed for an earlier start-time for next year's Melbourne race.

In the wake of the 5pm race a week ago, with the 'twilight' concept providing a better live TV slot for F1's bulk European audience, some drivers repeated their criticisms that the race ended in dangerously low light.

On Saturday, Michael Schumacher - backed by some of his on-track rivals - revealed that the FIA did lighting tests at Albert Park that should now lead to an earlier race in 2011.

But in response, Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Walker said on Sunday that the whinging F1 drivers are "prima donnas".

"It (the 5pm start) is clearly not dangerous," he told the Herald Sun newspaper."You can't please these drivers, they are a bunch of lazy people who won't do anything to help the sport, except for two or three.

"A lot of drivers are prima donnas. They are never happy," added Walker.Australia's motor racing sanctioning body CAMS insists that the official debrief of the 2010 GP has not yet taken place.

And Walker said he is anticipating the FIA's apparent lighting test findings, because he thinks 5pm is a good start time.

The saga comes at a bad time for the Melbourne event, because the rival New South Wales government is pushing to snatch the Australian GP and host it under floodlights in Sydney.

The Victorian government, on the other hand, has ruled out lighting the Albert Park track, despite strong pressure from F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

Source: F1 Complete

Australian GP - Interview with Stefano Domenicali

"We can be satisfied with this result. At the end of an incident packed race we managed to get one driver onto the podium and the other who had been last after the first corner into fourth spot"

Source: ferrariworld

Sebastian Vettel Q&A: Car failure ‘massively infuriating’

It would seem Sebastian Vettel is jinxed. As in Bahrain, Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix saw him dominate the race only to be eliminated by a mechanical problem. He may head to Malaysia safe in the knowledge that he has the fastest car on the grid, but he also knows that missing out on valuable points at this stage of the season could ultimately cost him the title...

Q: Sebastian, somehow it’s a bit like deja vu: as in Bahrain you’ve dominated qualifying and the race only to be taken out by a mechanical failure…
Sebastian Vettel: Well, yes, we had a problem with the brakes of the left front tyre. As I understand it the tyre was not fixed properly and therefore had too much play and damaged the brake disc. It started two laps before - I wanted to pit but the next lap it was improving again so the decision was made to keep me out, and then it was too late…

Q: How did the problem show?
SV: I was sort of flying sparks on the left front wheel - probably this was visible on TV - then I tried to brake cautiously. At one point the tyre locked and that was the end of it.

Q: How frustrating is this when you’re in the lead in already difficult circumstances?
SV: It is massively infuriating and in my mind I’m using the ‘s’ word.

Q: Is it some sort of relief that the next race is already this coming weekend - that the next try for the podium is just around the corner?
SV: To be honest, at this very moment I would like nothing more but to go home - but life goes on. It gives a certain satisfaction to know that from my side I couldn’t have made anything different or better and I think until the moment when the trouble started we’d done a great job.

Q: Doesn’t being the dominant force on the grid make it easier to swallow another setback?
SV: That’s a cold comfort. I would have rather left Melbourne with 50 points on my side instead of 12.

Q: How confident are you heading to Malaysia that there all the bad luck will have disappeared?SV: We have a very fast car - that is a fact. We just have to make sure that we see the chequered flag. But it is only the second race so there is no need to get nervous. We just have to see that we have a good car at hand for the second half of the season.

Source: Formula1.com

Ecclestone eyes New York GP, Briatore return

Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday said he is pushing to organise a Grand Prix on the streets of New York.

The F1 chief executive told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport that he hopes the race will be held for the first time in 2012
.
"I'm trying for 2012, opposite Manhattan in New Jersey with skyscrapers in the background," said the 79-year-old.

"Fifteen minutes from the centre of New York to the circuit. (It would be) a wonder."
The last US Grand Prix was held at Indianapolis in 2007.

Ecclestone also mentioned to the sports newspaper his friend and business partner Flavio Briatore, who recently ruled out returning to F1 despite overturning his FIA ban for involvement in the crash-gate scandal.

"I think he could take up a role in the promotion of Formula One," said the Briton.

Source: Motorsport

Alonso: I won't be disappointed if I'm not F1 2010 champion

Fernando Alonso: Not winning the championship is completely logical - and it would not be a disappointment.

Fernando Alonso has insisted that he won't be upset this year if he fails to win the F1 drivers' title for a third time.

Alonso will make his debut for Ferrari at the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend and while the Scuderia have been on the pace in pre-season testing – and are considered by some to be one of the favourites, the Spaniard has tried to quell expectations ahead of the season opener.

"I understand that people can be disappointed if I'm not champion [this year] but I personally won't be," he told Spanish radio Cadena Ser. "It's a sport, (Real) Madrid and Barcelona are the best (football) clubs in the world but they can lose the Champions League or a match.

"Not winning the championship is completely logical - and it would not be a disappointment.

"Alonso, who failed to win a single race last year with Renault, is though still very upbeat about his prospects with the new Ferrari F10. Indeed speaking to Ferrari's official website he was a lot more 'on message'.

"I want to thank you all for what you have done for this new F1 Ferrari. I already told it to the newspapers but I want to tell you personally: this is the best car I've ever driven," he said this week in an address to the mechanics and engineers responsible for building the Ferrari F10.

"This doesn't mean that it will be enough to win every single race, but I'm happy about how the tests went and I think that we're at 100 per cent for the first race in Bahrain. We are Ferrari and we know from our history that we have only one goal: winning the Championship. And I know that thanks to your work we can do it.

"We know that the first race is like the first stage at the Tour de France: what counts is winning. Felipe [Massa] and I are extremely motivated and we'll give it our all to show that we merit the opportunity to drive a car like Ferrari."

Source: Crash net