Our Chances in Last Four

[Ferrari Man]

What a roller coaster ride of a year this has been.. It all began with an excellant 1-2 in Bahrain:-D and from there it went downhill to the race at Silverstone with no points:-( and now we are back fighting at the top..:-D:-D

Now we are down to the final four races of the year with everything to fight for. One thing that has stuck in my mind is Stefano saying that Ferrari have no more major upgrades for the remaining races just a few minor tweeks.. I would have thought we would be pushing more now that its so close.
McLaren have reportedly big upgrades for Japan which hopefully wont work...

So what do you think on the remaining four races:

Japan: Reb Bull Track
Korea: Unknown
Brazil: Ferrari Track
Abu Dhabi: Red Bull Track

These are my thoughts.. Whats all of yours????

[Hermann]

I have no idea. As we saw with Massa in Singapore anything can happen. One DNF for Fernando and thats it, no?

For me the important point is that our team and the drivers will fight until the last moment to bring the best possible result, the rest is not in our hands.

I had a nice crow dinner for the last two races already and i wouldn't mind to eat more of it but who knows? For me, as you might know, its always doom, doom and doom until the last checkered flag :wave

[Tifoso]

We win them all :-)

[Tiz]

I would think that 'tweeks' to something already tried and tested could well be more advantageous than major, untested upgrades at this popint in the season. The team know what they need to tweek on the present set up, upgrades could imbalance other parts of the system, IMO. At least we are on an 'up' at the moment, it would be more depressing if we were on a 'down'.

It is going to be a year when it isn't all over till the final chequered flag - good job I've already got all my grey hair.

[Hermann]

I would think that 'tweeks' to something already tried and tested could well be more advantageous than major, untested upgrades at this popint in the season. The team know what they need to tweek on the present set up, upgrades could imbalance other parts of the system, IMO. At least we are on an 'up' at the moment, it would be more depressing if we were on a 'down'.

It is going to be a year when it isn't all over till the final chequered flag - good job I've already got all my grey hair.

:lol i always said Fernando would be responsible for my firsts. Doing that little 'trick' at the restart behind the safety car- fastest lap with only two more laps to go and Vettel in his back- i'm looking every day. No way i can survive this season without the first grey hairs!

[Grillo]

What I heard about Singapore is that Ferrari/Alonso found a perfect set-up. Red Bull was still faster but once Fernando grabbed the pole on saturday there was a big chance of winning there. They're delighted in Ferrari about Singapore, it's a big boost for their confidence to the championship finals.

What we need for the remaining of the races is a mix of hard work, talent, good luck... That's better than a major upgrade.

[RockyRaccoon]

I think we have a very very good chance in these last races, although Webber will be tough to beat if he keeps up his current form. Here's how I see it:

Japan: Reb Bull with Ferrari and Mclaren behind, Ferrari possible third best but we were good at Silverstone so I'm hoping second best. Webber Vettel Alonso would leave Alonso 24 points behind again.
Korea: Unknown, Red Bull probably. Good for us if this one is cancelled in my opinion.
Brazil: Ferrari, but lots of medium speed corners in the middle of the lap so this will play to Red Bull strengths.
Abu Dhabi: Red Bull or Ferrari track, Kind of similar to Hockenheim in places with long straights into tight corners but then lots of Medium speed too.

It's certainly going to be a tough call to beat Red Bull imo and it's not enough to just aim for 4 podiums, we need wins to make sure we are ahead of the Red Bull and Mclaren guys. Finger Crossed!

[Stormsearcher]

I think we will win the rest too. All 4 of them. :-) (unless of course we get some sort of mech failure)
For my part, i wont watch the qualifying.

[siberianlady]

I don't even dare speculate- if I believed in God I would probably pray...................

[TheProdigalSon]

Our chances are 50/50 ;-)

[bobi_ve]

So what do you think on the remaining four races:

Japan: Reb Bull Track
Korea: Unknown
Brazil: Ferrari Track
Abu Dhabi: Red Bull Track

These are my thoughts.. Whats all of yours????

McCheaters will have to much upgrades in Japan...I think they will be very strong with the new secret front wing!
So my here are my thoughts:

Japan:Anti-Ferrari Тrack :-s McCheaters more then Red Bull Track
Korea:100% Red Bull Track....Why?(Because they collected to many data by Karun Chandhok test-driving with RB6,2-3weeks ago)
Brasil:Ferrari and Red Bull Track
Abu Dhabi:Red Bull Track

[FerrariF60]

you guys are just TOO paranoid as to how we're gonna perform in the last 4 races, or 3 depending on Korea!!!!

you forgot to notice that ever since SPA and Monza when Red Fools had to modify their flexy/flimzy front wing as well as their floor to be able to pass the new more stringent FIA tests, they haven't been to their old selves and full potential/speed (as they were previously when they out-qualify everyone including us in Q3 by more then a second) anymore.

so having said that, i think we already have a good and fast car that i think will perform good for the rest of the year at any type of track.
as far as others bringing BIG upgrades (like McCheaters), well they have to because their car is NO WHERE near as good as ours; and hopefully they stuff they're bringing will be CRAP as it usually is with all the new parts they brought this year.....i.e. blown diffuser that never worked the first or second time...

we know we have a good competitive car, so all we need is just minor tweaks to what is already good performance overall to make it THAT MUCH BETTER.....

and then WE WILL SHOW THEM!!!!! NOT the other way around what Vettel said in that pep talk to his team over the radio at the end of the race in Singapore.....and i don't think HE EVEN BELIEVED what he said..

Forza Ferrari for an awesome turnaround of the season that's gonna keep going 'till the last lap in Abu Dabi....

[Rishu]

I believe F10 is very versatile car, all tracks will suit us ;-). If Alonso can claim two more wins, even a DNF cannot prevent him from taking the WDC :-)

[jocaranz]

We win them all :-)
Yeah! Keep the spirit up:clap

[theforce]

we've won against the odds in the last two races which Mclaren and Redbull should've won. Our chances are very likely in the next 4 races as it looks like Alonso has found his groove and seems much cooler than before. The F10 will be up to the game.;-)

[Brakefade]

I say if don't get pole, I would like Fernando to be 3rd with Vettel and Webber fighting it out in 1st and 2nd. Catch my drift? :pass

[vcs316]

And although refusing to say for certain that Ferrari can carry its strong form into the final four races, Domenicali is confident the team has what it takes to at least fight for the title until the end of the season now.

"Now with four races to go the situation is very open," he said. "I'm expecting in Japan for McLaren to return to being very strong, Red Bull is already strong so it will be difficult.

"I'm expecting Japan to be a track where we have to be even more defensive, then Korea, I don't know. We need to see the track because in a simulation you could decide to run with blown wings, but you go on the track it's the opposite.

"Then we have Brazil where we should be okay, then Abu Dhabi which is not really perfect for us, but we'll see what the situation is in the championship."

He added: "The championship situation is so complicated that we need to stay cool. But I believe we have everything to fight up until the last race. I have always said that, and I maintain that position."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87032

[scuderia_nano]

We have aced Development on Sucklaren. And I know we are on par with the Redbull. Now Fernando is driving the car to its limit and Beyond as we saw in Singapore. With his form and our good calls, We are going to be able to put up good performances.

Advantages:
Vettel has beaten Webber in the last two races and Also taking points off him.
Sucklaren has fallen back in terms of development. Even if they get upgrade, the deficit is 1 whole second and we arent sitting idle either.
Our new strategist (I am not sure about him, the guy we got from Redbull) has added to the strategical advantage. We dint make any stupid brash decision in Singapore when the Safety car came out and Also got Massa well ahead.


Disadvantage:
Alonso's engine and Massa's struggle with tyres.
Doesnt look good for the constructors because Felipe has still to figure out his tyre handling.
Alonso's engines. We are out of it.

I think we cant use engines for him from the before Silverstone lot due to them having some disadvantage?

So, Hope for Podiums with Vettel's Redbull being ahead and Mark's being behind. Or Else, Nail it with Victories like Singapore and Monza!

[Ant Raikkonen]

I say if don't get pole, I would like Fernando to be 3rd with Vettel and Webber fighting it out in 1st and 2nd. Catch my drift? :pass

I do!! :pray:haha:

We should have a "red bulls/mclarens ram eachother off the track into retirement" smilie :-D

[Jack]

From an impartial point of view I'd say that the chances are very good. At this moment Ferrari has got a car that performs very well in low downforce circuits (Monza) and high downforce ones (Singapore). In other words, a very complete and competitive car.

And having at the wheel one experienced driver -probably the best or at least the most complete- if I were Ferrari fan I'd be moderately optimist.

Massa must help too by grabbing as many points as possible from Alonso's rivals. It may sound paradoxical but Alonso's title is -in some way- in hands of Massa.

[shostak]

For my part, i wont watch the qualifying.


:rotfl:rotfl:rotfl

[ferrari4life]

Massa wins all 4 and the other top 5 crash out of all 4.. Massa becomes WDC proving there is a God for cheating him out of the 2008 title..

Really who knows. I am more interested in the miles that Alonso has on his engines and if engine 1 is in any state to be used for the last race of the season.
Maybe we can see how strong we can be power wise because at least there we have the leg up on the Bulls.
I noticed in Singapore that Alonso was always quicker in S2 compared to Vettel who was quicker around the rest of the track. Why was that?

[ferrari4life]

lets not forget Mclaren like they forgot us in 2007..

[Aussie]

It will come down to our engines

And how they hold in brazil I think we have a good chance Alonso will give it his all

[goferrarigo]

Massa wins all 4 and the other top 5 crash out of all 4.. Massa becomes WDC proving there is a God for cheating him out of the 2008 title..

Really who knows. I am more interested in the miles that Alonso has on his engines and if engine 1 is in any state to be used for the last race of the season.
Maybe we can see how strong we can be power wise because at least there we have the leg up on the Bulls.
I noticed in Singapore that Alonso was always quicker in S2 compared to Vettel who was quicker around the rest of the track. Why was that?
I think we have better brakes around the slow corners. It was good Alonso was infront of Vettel because otherwise his engine would have struggled with all the fumes coming out of that Red Bull.

[Stormsearcher]

lets not forget Mclaren like they forgot us in 2007..

But in 2007, Alonso was racing for us. :lol

[Stormsearcher]

:rotfl:rotfl:rotfl

yeah well, last two times i missed watching quali, Alonso took pole. So i have no issues on missing quali. As long as the trend stays. :-D

[Ant Raikkonen]

I noticed in Singapore that Alonso was always quicker in S2 compared to Vettel who was quicker around the rest of the track. Why was that?

Yeah i noticed that too during the race.

[NJB13]

I noticed in Singapore that Alonso was always quicker in S2 compared to Vettel who was quicker around the rest of the track. Why was that?


Yeah i noticed that too during the race.

Actually Fernando was faster in S3 as well, although not by as much as in S2.

Vettel was faster in S1 cause he was running the F-Duct, we weren't.

[elekvault]

I think we have better brakes around the slow corners. It was good Alonso was infront of Vettel because otherwise his engine would have struggled with all the fumes coming out of that Red Bull.

Yes, in fact remember Vettel during the race telling the team to watch out for brakes temperature as he was trying to catch Alonso; he needed to push his car, and obviously the brakes over the limits, and looks like the Ferrari had zero problems with brake temps. And it was last year I think when Vettel melted his brakes, with all that black smoke show on track, that was fun to watch! :lol

[NJB13]

Interesting that we worked on Nando's gearbox while it was in Park Ferme after qualifying on Saturday.
"A seal was broken on the gearbox of car number 08, driver Fernando Alonso, in order to change the gearbox front cover seals."
My guess is they probably knew what happened to Felipe's gearbox and wanted to check Nando's to see if it had similarities.

Also, I have to backtrack on something I've said in relation to Felipe and his new engine. I had indicated that he can use all 9 engines for anything, that's not completely correct. The engine replaced, cannot be used for qualifying or race-day unless it is the last race of the season.

[ferrari4life]

so engine number 1 was changed as a precuation and should still be good to be used at the last race? I thought it had problems because of the sand at the track?

I thought he might have lost that engine during free practice?

engine 7 just has one race on it and should be able to do another. Does that mean he will be using engines for 3 races now?

[NJB13]

so engine number 1 was changed as a precuation and should still be good to be used at the last race? I thought it had problems because of the sand at the track?

I thought he might have lost that engine during free practice?

engine 7 just has one race on it and should be able to do another. Does that mean he will be using engines for 3 races now?

Most engines get 3 uses. That's the same for us, McLaren and Red Bull. We shouldn't have to use any engines more than 3 times. I think Felipe was using engine 8, which had one use, that being at Monza. So for Felipe, he will use engines 8, 7 and 9 one more time each. And he will use one of them, probably 9, a third time. For Nando, I'd guess he will use engine 7 twice more (making a total of 3 uses), engine 6 once more (total of 3 uses) and engine 8 once more (total of 3 uses).

Ferrari engines can last 4 races. Both Torro Rosso cars have driven this year 4 races on the same Ferrari engine.

[epiclyaddicted]

I am quite optimistic about our chances. Not sure why some people are writing off Suzuka as a Red Bull track. Remember Monza was meant to be a McLaren track, and the Red Bulls were meant to have walked Singapore! But look what happened in those races, in completely different type of circuits! I think we will be ok at Suzuka, with its mixture of medium speed corners (Sector 1) and the flat out section of the 130R.

Stefano himself said we should be ok for Brazil, and I don't think Abu Dhabi will be too bad as well. As for Korea, that's not even happening! So let's stay positive!

:ferrarifl

[scuderiafan]

Suzuka has a couple of slow corners aswell like the last chicane and the really tight hairpin after the s bends

[goferrarigo]

Suzuka has a couple of slow corners aswell like the last chicane and the really tight hairpin after the s bends
yeah but thats just 2 corners. Anyway i think the ferrari has definietly improved in the medium speed corners. We will win because we are Ferrari. :-D

[scuderiafan]

yeah but thats just 2 corners. Anyway i think the ferrari has definietly improved in the medium speed corners. We will win because we are Ferrari. :-D

You're right but the slow corners can make you a lot of time. i just thought that i'd inject a little optimism, as everyone is saying that suzuka will be where McLaren is strong, but why?
They have upgrade that will probably:pray not work and there are just 2 straights where McLaren should be good.

I hope for an Alonso podium in Japan, as the Red Bulls will be too strong. Just hope Vettel wins there and Alonso comes in 2nd.

If Korea happens, ithink Ferrari will be very fast. This is just a hunch but i have a feeling that we will get the win there. There are 3 very long straights followed by high braking zones, then a couple medium sized chicanes, and a final round sweeping bend to the line. i know this from playing f1 2010, so nothing but a hunch. just hope i'm right.:pray

[Grillo]

If Alonso wins all Ferrari fans have to write a message here. (http://thankyourondennis.com/) :-D

[goferrarigo]

You're right but the slow corners can make you a lot of time. i just thought that i'd inject a little optimism, as everyone is saying that suzuka will be where McLaren is strong, but why?
They have upgrade that will probably:pray not work and there are just 2 straights where McLaren should be good.

I hope for an Alonso podium in Japan, as the Red Bulls will be too strong. Just hope Vettel wins there and Alonso comes in 2nd.

If Korea happens, ithink Ferrari will be very fast. This is just a hunch but i have a feeling that we will get the win there. There are 3 very long straights followed by high braking zones, then a couple medium sized chicanes, and a final round sweeping bend to the line. i know this from playing f1 2010, so nothing but a hunch. just hope i'm right.:pray
No i don't think Fernando will get 2nd, hes going to win! Fernando has the momentum ( according to Eddie Jordon "luck") plus he is driving as well as he drove when he win his two world championships.:-)

[FerrariF60]

No i don't think Fernando will get 2nd, hes going to win! Fernando has the momentum ( according to Eddie Jordon "luck") plus he is driving as well as he drove when he win his two world championships.:-)

+1,000,000,000 times

Fernando not only has the momentum that he carries from the past 2 races, he's got the hunger coming back from a NOT so good middle of the year for Ferrari.

also we've proven that our car is quick at both high speed low downforce track like Monza as well as medium speed high downforce track like Singapore, in other words i think the F10 is pretty much good shape at any track now.

so with that being said (even though all are saying that Red Fools should be the ones to beat at Suzuka) i think we're in good shape to take the WIN there; we've got a much better car now and ALONSO is a much more complete driver in terms of pure speed, talent and confidence compared to his other rivals contenders.

[bladeswing]

alonso said the F10 is versatile enough to be ok for all the remaining tracks. with the recent upgrades working to their potential, his statement had been confirmed in both monza and singapore - 2 completely different tracks. im confident that ferrari has a very good chance in suzuka, brazil and abu dhabi. ( korea is a wildcard ). be nice to see ferrari 1-2's a pleasant surprise. besides, LdM now has stressed the importance of felipe's role to shave off points from their rivals, and mathematically they're still in it for the constructors. alonso can make it three in a row with another hat trick in suzuka :-)

[bobi_ve]

http://i56.tinypic.com/1zcfuya.jpg

What about engine no.1???Used only in GP Bahrain-practices and qualifying!!!
What about engine no.2 ???Used only in GP Bahrain-RACE and probably GP Austalia practices!

Maybe both of engines could be driven for 1race each of them!!!

I think we had not big problems with engines but with cooling systems and engine temperature!!!

[Sianellen]

What about engine no.1???Used only in GP Bahrain-practices and qualifying!!!
What about engine no.2 ???Used only in GP Bahrain-RACE and probably GP Austalia practices!

Maybe both of engines could be driven for 1race each of them!!!

I think we had not big problems with engines but with cooling systems and engine temperature!!!

It's a shame there isn't a table for the qualifying and practice sessions :-s, we would probably be able to understand the situation a bit better.

[Stormsearcher]

i tremble each time we discuss engines. Can we keep the engine saga in the engine thread. Its scary and depressing. :-(

[scuderiafan]

i tremble each time we discuss engines. Can we keep the engine saga in the engine thread. Its scary and depressing. :-(
Nothing to be depressed about man. our engine situation is fine. I feel the press are making this a bigger issue than it really is. I mean, if McLaren take a new engine for Suzuka, they're in the s*** aswell, no? but since we're Ferrari, and we've got Alonso, people (press and so called pundits) need to always ram this engine thing down our throat!
:thumb (:pray)

[Tifosi]

No point worrying about the engines really. They are being carefully managed i'm sure and that's all that can be done at the end of the day.

I worry more about us being physically hit on track by Crashilton or Rubens or Webber or Vettel tbh.

[Meiga]

On the engines side, I think that everybody out there is focusing on a potential 10-places grid penalty for Ferrari if they need to use a new one. However the real issue is not the possibility of that penalty, but the fact that if one engine gives up during a race that DNF is practically the end of the driver's WDC aspirations - and unless I am very much mistaken, whithin the current utilisation parameters the probability of one of the Ferrari engines giving up is not higher than that of one of the McLaren or RBR engines doing the same... so we are all more or less in the same boat.

[Lithium]

Way to early to think beyond Suzuka for me, but if the 2 Ferraris qualify among the top 4 there, it will be a very satisfying result for me. And as everybody's saying that Japan is going to be yet another RBRland, the front row for Alonso would be a bit of a wet dream, but you never know, it might happen. Anyways, if we lock out the 2nd row, it would be fantastic. And then for the race... well, anything can happen. Plus there's a chance for rain... not sure if it would be good or bad for us!

[FFFerrari]

Japan: RBR track with all the highspeed corners where they excel. We are likely ahead of McL even with all their upgrades.
Korea: If it's run at all, I think it favors us more than RBR or McL looking at the track profile. So please let us see the race from there!
Brazil: Favors us with all the slow corners and hard braking/accleration. Also, is very taxing on motors and brakes so it's critical to finish that race.
Abu Dhabi: Should favor us or be even with RBR.

I doubt that there will be any big upgrades anymore at this part of the season for any team apart from McL bringing some new aero package to Japan. The engine situation is much worse than on our competitors, but as Meiga pointed, even one DNF on the top runners is as good as killing the run for WDC if the others keep pushing finishes, even as low as 4th or 5th.

It will be a close race for the title, but if Webber and Vettel keep eating eachothers points, I think Alonso will nab the title. If the same RBR driver starts finishing a top of the other (specially Webber), he takes the title. I can't see either of the McL drivers seriously pushing for contention since they seem to have the third best car right now and Ramilton has shot himself in the leg with his crashes in recent races.

So lets keep the hopes up and wish that no engines want to go to engineheaven prematurely :thumb

[bladeswing]

No point worrying about the engines really. They are being carefully managed i'm sure and that's all that can be done at the end of the day.

I worry more about us being physically hit on track by Crashilton or Rubens or Webber or Vettel tbh.

best place to start would be pole position then ;-)

[bladeswing]

Japan: RBR track with all the highspeed corners where they excel. We are likely ahead of McL even with all their upgrades.
Korea: If it's run at all, I think it favors us more than RBR or McL looking at the track profile. So please let us see the race from there!
Brazil: Favors us with all the slow corners and hard braking/accleration. Also, is very taxing on motors and brakes so it's critical to finish that race.
Abu Dhabi: Should favor us or be even with RBR.

I doubt that there will be any big upgrades anymore at this part of the season for any team apart from McL bringing some new aero package to Japan. The engine situation is much worse than on our competitors, but as Meiga pointed, even one DNF on the top runners is as good as killing the run for WDC if the others keep pushing finishes, even as low as 4th or 5th.

It will be a close race for the title, but if Webber and Vettel keep eating eachothers points, I think Alonso will nab the title. If the same RBR driver starts finishing a top of the other (specially Webber), he takes the title. I can't see either of the McL drivers seriously pushing for contention since they seem to have the third best car right now and Ramilton has shot himself in the leg with his crashes in recent races.

So lets keep the hopes up and wish that no engines want to go to engineheaven prematurely :thumb


I think williams are also bringing their final upgrades to Japan. no affect on ferrari of course, but they should be able to move aside quicker once the red cars are lapping

[Lithium]

Mccheaters sound desperate, which is a good sign :-D

Mclaren 'throwing everything and the kitchen sink' into keeping their drivers in the world title race.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9066398.stm

With four races left Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button lie third and fifth but Neale says the season is still alive.

"We're throwing everything and the kitchen sink at it," he said.

"Ferrari and Red Bull will be pushing very hard and we're doing the same. We expect to be competing and winning some of these races."

---
I predict that with this kitchen sink they're going to fall behind even more, will be fighting for those bread crumbs with Merc or Renault or something :lol

[Jack]

Favourite Driver: Felnando Masonso

Driving an hybrid, I presume. :-)

[scuderiafan]

Driving an hybrid, I presume. :-)

Of course, or a Fernaut FR2604 will do