Ferrari beaten by Mercedes but it’s not all bad, says Stefano Domenicali

[vcs316]

Stefano Domenicali says it was frustrating to lose second place in the constructors’ championship in Brazil after Felipe Massa’s drive-through penalty cost vital points.

Nevertheless, the team boss says, there was much good to come out of the season.

“We’re frustrated in a way,” said Domenicali when asked by Autoweek, “because retrospectively, of course, without the penalty, which was a little bit too hard to Felipe, it would have been a different position. So that’s unfortunate.

“I’m happy at least that we finished a championship that was tough this year in the second half of the season with this result, happy for the team has always acted very, very well at the race track, with the pit stops, the strategy, no blow-up of the engine, I think the only manufacturer that did that. So I’m pleased to hear that. There are positive signs in a season that was not really very good and positive for us. At the end of the day we need to recover from the mistakes and the problems we had this year. I told to my engineers, heads down in the work, not a lot of words to say.

“The changes that we’ve done are the right ones to make sure that next year we’re fighting not for second position but to fight for the first, as we were here last year. And don’t forget here last year we without events that were out of our control we would have been in a different position.”

Domenicali stressed that not that long ago Ferrari was at the front of the field.

“We have a very short memory, because we were winning in May, not three years ago. Last year we were fighting to be first in the championship, because without the hit out in Japan and Belgium we would have won the title last year, so we need to be thoughtful about it. And we are second once again with the drivers’ championship. So the situation has to be considered for sure not positive, but Formula One is made by details, so if you are able to improve certain things...

“And I think we have taken the right action in terms of organization, in terms of people, in terms of things that have to be improved. With the new regulations the situation hopefully will be better, but we don’t have to throw away the positive things that we have done during this year, because strategy-wise, pit-stop-wise, I think we were the best, so we need to keep these things as a positive side, and grow in the areas, mainly in the development of the car and understanding of the tires, that were the real problem this year.”

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131125/F1/131129879?

[wisepie]

So again the 'understanding of the tyres' was partly to blame, of course safety is paramount but there must have been something in the mix that allowed Red Bull to gain even more advantage after the change of specification. Without the Silverstone blow-outs, it could have been a different result completely, as we seemed to have got things right with the first half of the season. But then development went round in circles and we lost the plot.

[Greig]

They used 2012 tyres, not sure how we could not understand them considering he tells us how unlucky we are not to win in 2012.

And all the rest seemed to understand them? suggest what we all know that Ferrari have really not a lot of talent in the engineer department.

[F2002]

And all the rest seemed to understand them?

This is what I'm not so sure about. We may think that all the others have been able to adapt to the tyre changeover, yet Vettel won all the races (except one) dominantly since Silverstone.

[stefa]

Excuses, excuses, excuses.... Till when?

[FrankAlfa]

2013' was always going to be a "Stop Gap Year" and a troubled year for Ferrari. Expectations were always going to be lower. They had far to much rebuilding going on and the many "Engineering Tools" were in dire need of replacing. Those that take a simplistic view of the Ferrari Engineering staff obviously do not have a clue. Like any comany that produces a product or service, you need the right tools to get the job done especially if you already have the right people. Ferrari has the Qualified Engineering people but their "Tools" have been lacking for several years now. Much of Red Bull's Data Base has been the result of the continuality of the rules to support the direction of their race car's development process. Thry have had the Correct Tools to work with and their result speak for themselves. Ferrari, conversely, has had many factors to disrupt the continued process of their development of the race car. Ferrari have some of the very best Engineering people in Formula One. With all of the facets in the design and Engineering process to building a well developed race car, just imagine how difficult it has been for Ferrari to excel at al with the tools that date back over 10 years ago? Case in point is Williams and McLaren. Both teams have slipped back badly over the past 5 years and Williams have lost pace for even longer than that, the most.

Some people would judge that it is purely down to "not a lot of talent in the Engineering Department". That statement is very simplistic and not very correct. In many ways next year starts from zero again and the continuality for the past 5 years is broken. Ferrari have a strong chance to seize the moment and excel!

Ferrari have the Engineering Talent. Ferrari have a NEW Chassis Engineering Chief. Ferrari have the NEW Tools. Ferrari have a NEW Engine which is their Expertise! Ferrari has a NEW Driver that hopefully will perform more closely to his teammate. It all bodes well for Ferrari 2014' and conversely for the rival teams. So have hope friends and do not let the "negative ones" sway your opinion.

Ciao!

Forza Ferrari!

[mirafiori]

2013' was always going to be a "Stop Gap Year" and a troubled year for Ferrari. Expectations were always going to be lower. They had far to much rebuilding going on and the many "Engineering Tools" were in dire need of replacing. Those that take a simplistic view of the Ferrari Engineering staff obviously do not have a clue. Like any comany that produces a product or service, you need the right tools to get the job done especially if you already have the right people. Ferrari has the Qualified Engineering people but their "Tools" have been lacking for several years now. Much of Red Bull's Data Base has been the result of the continuality of the rules to support the direction of their race car's development process. Thry have had the Correct Tools to work with and their result speak for themselves. Ferrari, conversely, has had many factors to disrupt the continued process of their development of the race car. Ferrari have some of the very best Engineering people in Formula One. With all of the facets in the design and Engineering process to building a well developed race car, just imagine how difficult it has been for Ferrari to excel at al with the tools that date back over 10 years ago? Case in point is Williams and McLaren. Both teams have slipped back badly over the past 5 years and Williams have lost pace for even longer than that, the most.

Some people would judge that it is purely down to "not a lot of talent in the Engineering Department". That statement is very simplistic and not very correct. In many ways next year starts from zero again and the continuality for the past 5 years is broken. Ferrari have a strong chance to seize the moment and excel!

Ferrari have the Engineering Talent. Ferrari have a NEW Chassis Engineering Chief. Ferrari have the NEW Tools. Ferrari have a NEW Engine which is their Expertise! Ferrari has a NEW Driver that hopefully will perform more closely to his teammate. It all bodes well for Ferrari 2014' and conversely for the rival teams. So have hope friends and do not let the "negative ones" sway your opinion.

Ciao!

Forza Ferrari!

I could not of said it any better Frank, Ferrari has now made some crucial investments in areas where we were lagging behind, now Ferrari have made these massive investments, we look to 2014 with optimism. Hopefully with our 2014 engine this could be the one thing that could make all the difference. As for Stefano it is not his fault we did not have the correct tools to compete better.

[giodap]

I could not of said it any better Frank, Ferrari has now made some crucial investments in areas where we were lagging behind, now Ferrari have made these massive investments, we look to 2014 with optimism. Hopefully with our 2014 engine this could be the one thing that could make all the difference. As for Stefano it is not his fault we did not have the correct tools to compete better.

ferrari are guilty of not updating their windtunnel, CFD and simulator sooner. why wait til 2012/13 when these tools needed to be in place for the 2009 season. stefano and luca should of done something about this sooner

[stefa]

ferrari are guilty of not updating their windtunnel, CFD and simulator sooner. why wait til 2012/13 when these tools needed to be in place for the 2009 season. stefano and luca should of done something about this sooner

I rest my case :clap

[Hornet]

I agree that Ferrari certainly need to improve when it comes to computer simulation. With limited testing, all teams now rely heavily on computer simulation, and having advance tools is certainly an advantage.

I wouldn't be surprise if part of the reason why Red Bull aero are so accurate is due to their tools giving them more accurate simulation results.

[Nero Horse]

2013' was always going to be a "Stop Gap Year" and a troubled year for Ferrari. Expectations were always going to be lower. They had far to much rebuilding going on and the many "Engineering Tools" were in dire need of replacing. Those that take a simplistic view of the Ferrari Engineering staff obviously do not have a clue. Like any comany that produces a product or service, you need the right tools to get the job done especially if you already have the right people. Ferrari has the Qualified Engineering people but their "Tools" have been lacking for several years now. Much of Red Bull's Data Base has been the result of the continuality of the rules to support the direction of their race car's development process. Thry have had the Correct Tools to work with and their result speak for themselves. Ferrari, conversely, has had many factors to disrupt the continued process of their development of the race car. Ferrari have some of the very best Engineering people in Formula One. With all of the facets in the design and Engineering process to building a well developed race car, just imagine how difficult it has been for Ferrari to excel at al with the tools that date back over 10 years ago? Case in point is Williams and McLaren. Both teams have slipped back badly over the past 5 years and Williams have lost pace for even longer than that, the most.

Some people would judge that it is purely down to "not a lot of talent in the Engineering Department". That statement is very simplistic and not very correct. In many ways next year starts from zero again and the continuality for the past 5 years is broken. Ferrari have a strong chance to seize the moment and excel!

Ferrari have the Engineering Talent. Ferrari have a NEW Chassis Engineering Chief. Ferrari have the NEW Tools. Ferrari have a NEW Engine which is their Expertise! Ferrari has a NEW Driver that hopefully will perform more closely to his teammate. It all bodes well for Ferrari 2014' and conversely for the rival teams. So have hope friends and do not let the "negative ones" sway your opinion.

Ciao!

Forza Ferrari!

Well said Frank, well said. :clap

[paneristi]

speechless.

[eddie]

We are saying we are happy with 3rd? Losing to Mercedes is ok?

Common Ferrari, i am sure we cannot be happy with 2013 and must work all winter to give our pilots 2014 the best car... Stop aiming for mediocrecy, we will land up far worst down... :-ZZ

[Dino]

I agree that Ferrari certainly need to improve when it comes to computer simulation. With limited testing, all teams now rely heavily on computer simulation, and having advance tools is certainly an advantage.

I wouldn't be surprise if part of the reason why Red Bull aero are so accurate is due to their tools giving them more accurate simulation results.

Not so sure we are that much behind in the computer simulation from what happened in Brasil !!
Was it a coincidence Ferrari was the best set up car [Apart Red Bull] for the last race?
We seemed to be much more competitive than Merc-Lotus-Sauber when we put the dry tyres on, after 3 sessions of wet testing.
I could be wrong but it seems to me we can turn up for a race with a very good set up,but if given the chance Merc-Lotus-Sauber can do a better job during FP 1,2,3. and improve their cars more than Ferrari.:Hmm