Ferrari: No loopholes and an early start

Tuesday 3rd November 2009

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali is confident that a lack of technical loopholes and a early start will see the Scuderia return to the front of the pack next season.

After coming off a high of a closely fought battle for the 2008 Drivers' title, Ferrari entered this year's Championship with high expectations. However, they did not deliver.

The Italian marque started on the back foot as rival outfits, such as Brawn GP, adopted the controversial, but later deemed legal, double decker diffuser.

Three races without a single World Championship point, their worst start to a season in 20 years, meant Ferrari were forced to play catch-up.

And although they did so with admiration in the middle of the campaign, soon after they opted to focus their attention on next year's car, a move that Championship winners Brawn GP had done themselves while still under the Honda banner.

Now, looking ahead to next season, which kicks in Bahrain in March, Domenicali reckons Ferrari have all the building blocks in place for a successful 2010 Championship.

"The confidence comes from the fact that we don't see any loophole in the regulation that can be considered, I would say, legal. Now things are legal full stop. No discussions and we can look ahead always," he told Autosport.

"We also did the choice that Ross [Brawn] did with Honda two years ago, to concentrate all the efforts into the new project.

"I think we did something different to McLaren was because our car was structured so as to not to develop the double diffuser. It was blocked, and that is why we said we don't have to do work here, because it will not carry on next year.

"That is why, looking at the numbers we have in the wind tunnel, I am positive now. With my feet on the ground - but for sure positive."

The Ferrari team boss, though, admits his outfit will face a tough challenge from this year's top two teams, Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing.

"I respect them a lot," he said. "Brawn had such a huge advantage at the beginning, having swapped development early to the car.

"With regard to Red Bull, they had a great package, a really great package, and for sure they will be there too."

Post to del.icio.us

E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Subscribe to News RSS Feed