Ferrari: Qualifying now key to title

**Mrs.Domenicali** · 11th October 2010, 11:45

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87408

Ferrari: Qualifying now key to title

By Jonathan Noble
Monday, October 11th 2010, 08:30 GMT

Ferrari believes better pace in qualifying is now the key to beating Red Bull Racing to the world championship this year.

With Fernando Alonso emerging as Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel's nearest challenger in the last few races, the Maranello-based outfit reckons it remains in a good position to grab the title.

However, team principal Stefano Domenicali thinks that with the race pace of his cars and the Red Bull RB6 so evenly matched, the push from his outfit needs to come in getting Alonso at the front of the grid.

Speaking after the Japanese Grand Prix, Domenicali said: "In race pace we were not too bad, but the problem is that if you start behind it is very difficult with this kind of performance to get ahead.

"Here [at Suzuka] with the hard tyres, above all, we were really very good. I know that maybe they [Red Bull] were controlling a little bit the pace, but in the end everyone was pushing.

"I think that they are doing a great job in preparation and qualifying but, as we have seen, if we do a better job than them in qualifying then we are able to beat them. Otherwise it is tough, but we will see in the next races - everything is possible."

Alonso reckoned that Suzuka was going to be the toughest of the final few races for Ferrari, and Domenicali maintained all weekend that a podium was the best his outfit could realistically aim for.

"That is what we said from the beginning so at least we are current with what we said," he explained. "We knew that here was really one of the most difficult tracks for us and considering what we have seen on Friday and on Sunday in qualifying, it was very good to see that the race pace was totally different. At least we were very competitive.

"For sure Red Bull were stronger but McLaren were not bad, and unfortunately for them they had a reliability issue with Lewis [Hamilton]. But this podium was the result that we wanted, at least with one driver."

He added: "The classification is very, very open. We have three races to go where everything is possible and we need to be there right until the end."

**vcs316** · 11th October 2010, 11:47

Great to see you back Claire

**Lithium** · 11th October 2010, 12:46

It's going to be incredibly tough. I guess our only consolation is that the tracks to come should suit us better, with plenty of hard braking points and long straits. The perfect scenario would be for RBRs to finish off the podium in at least one of the races, and that's why we need Massa. Ironically, the McCheaters might become our best allies and take some precious points from RBR too.. But these scenarios are impossible to predict, anything could happen, thus the most important thing is to never panic, push our maximum and finish the races.. And then we add up the numbers when the night falls in Abu-Dhabi.....

**Kingdom Hearts** · 11th October 2010, 12:54

Qualifying is always important, but the starts are too, and we have a big problem with that.

**Hermann** · 11th October 2010, 12:57

Originally Posted by Kingdom Hearts

Qualifying is always important, but the starts are too, and we have a big problem with that.

Indeed. I saw this being quoted on autosport but no source, so i don't know where Fernando said it:

"Before the start I was worried. Well, more than worried I was sure I was going to have a bad start because I had a problem in the formation lap, we lost all the data of the ECU and had to decide the clutch position without any reference."

Taking that into consideration he was lucky to keep his position at the start!

**vcs316** · 11th October 2010, 13:02

Its a standard ECU which is supplied by Mclaren!

**Ste** · 11th October 2010, 15:33

We seem to have had this ECU problem a few times this year. Singapore as well we had to pit during Qualifying. I wouldn't say we're being sabotaged but it does make you wonder!

**LAROSA SpA** · 11th October 2010, 15:47

Originally Posted by Ste

We seem to have had this ECU problem a few times this year. Singapore as well we had to pit during Qualifying. I wouldn't say we're being sabotaged but it does make you wonder!

Stranger things have happened

**Ferrari Man** · 11th October 2010, 16:00

Qualifying is crucial now as well as Massa getting into the top five...

**Grillo** · 11th October 2010, 16:13

Originally Posted by Kingdom Hearts

Qualifying is always important, but the starts are too, and we have a big problem with that.

Completely agree.

The title could be decided just by a position you gain or lose at the start of the race. The Renault starts like a rocket and Red Bull have improved a lot there in the last few races. McLaren also starts better than the F10.

I think we're not as bad in qualifying as we're at the starts. F10's start system have to improve for the last 3 races, it will be key for the title. What about that Renault engineer that left them a week ago? Could he be of use on that respect? What was his name, Boulier?

**Hermann** · 11th October 2010, 16:27

Boullier is the one talking nonsense most of the time, its Bob Bell who left Renault. But i doubt he could stop the Ferrari Ecu from crashing in the warm-up lap.

**Grillo** · 11th October 2010, 16:32

Originally Posted by Hermann

Boullier is the one talking nonsense most of the time, its Bob Bell who left Renault. But i doubt he could stop the Ferrari Ecu from crashing in the warm-up lap.

Yeah, maybe last race it was the ECU but I think our start system is average. Renault's start system seems to be the best of the grid. Maybe Bell knows how to tweak ours to be that fast at the starts.

**NJB13** · 11th October 2010, 16:50

Seems we and HRT (now there's a reliable reference point) are the only teams using the same software versions in our ECU's. The image is taken from the FIA technical report from Japan this weekend.

Does anyone know why different teams get/use different software versions?

**Grillo** · 11th October 2010, 17:00

Originally Posted by NJB13

Seems we and HRT (now there's a reliable reference point) are the only teams using the same software versions in our ECU's.

HRT? That scares the #### out of me.

**siberianlady** · 11th October 2010, 19:30

Looksmlike we're missing themspecial B 206 whatever that is...........its what Red Bull and Renault have so maybe we need that too........

**siberianlady** · 11th October 2010, 19:34

Next question- have we employed anyone from Macca recently? If so sack him quick!

**Rob** · 11th October 2010, 20:31

yeah we have Pat Fry...
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...0/6/10932.html

qualie has always been our weak spot. Sure we will be address this asap. If we can qualfy just behind or in front of RBR we will be good to win.

**Grillo** · 11th October 2010, 20:33

Originally Posted by Rob

yeah we have Pat Fry...
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...0/6/10932.html

qualie has always been our weak spot. Sure we will be address this asap. If we can qualfy just behind or in front of RBR we will be good to win.

If we improve our start system.

**Furrari** · 11th October 2010, 21:48

Originally Posted by Mrs.Domenicali

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87408 hid headlight kits

Ferrari: Qualifying now key to title

By Jonathan Noble
Monday, October 11th 2010, 08:30 GMT

They are very smart at Ferrari because that is exactly what they need to do.