Ferrari rue strategy 'mistake'

Sunday 25th May 2008

A chastened Ferrari team have admitted that they were the architects of their own downfall in the Monaco GP.

Despite both of the team's cars starting the race on the front row, only the third-placed Felipe Massa finished on the podium while Kimi Raikkonen limped home with both his car and reputation dented.

Massa himself did little wrong, but was undone by his strategists delaying his pit-stop for dry tyres. When he was belatedly called in, it was too late and BMW's Robert Kubica was able to sneak into second place.

"In the first stint, I was so quick," the Brazilian reflected. "I was able to do a very good pace, even compared to Lewis and Robert, and I knew the strategy was working very well, and the car was perfect.

"Then we changed to a one-stop and put in fuel to the end of the race. That was the biggest mistake, because the track was getting drier and drier.

"We expected more rain but it didn't come and then by the time Robert stopped I wanted to stop again but it was difficult to keep a conversation between team and me.

"We took too long to change tyres. We made a mistake on the strategy but it's good to be on the podium."

The error was also acknowledged by Stefano Domenicali who had the demeanor of a man who had won a tenner and lost a million.

"We gambled on more rain," he rued. "It was a mistake and we lost a race that, in a different situation, was in our hands."

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