Stefano Domenicali (Imola, 1965) receives MARK in the small office of edificicio Ferrari enabled in Marina Bay. From Maranello have brought two boxes to customize the environment, cold air conditioning, without which it is impossible to live in Singapore. The athletic director does not shy away or put a question of time limit, as usual.
QUESTION. Up Day, the day down under two years of the arrival of Fernando to Ferrari. What did it when he was the enemy of great and critical Ferrari?
RESPONSE. Well it was a very strong rider and very committed, always motivated to win and that was one reason why I wanted to come to Ferrari. Then I discovered the other side of Fernando, very important, its commitment to the team, the way you live with it.
P. Better than expected?
R. Yes We expected a great relationship, but to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by his behavior with all team members. Let's see, I knew it was a good guy talking to people who had worked with him on other teams, but was really pleased to find out.
"Genius is one and only F1, Adrian Newey, Red Bull and is in"
P. Is Fernando Alonso last year at the end the only thought he could win the championship?
R. No. Of course it was very important that he believed in the title at the time, but not the only one who did. The team was fully committed until the last minute, squeezing thoroughly to give you the best car possible. 2010 was a great season considering that the car was not the best and was due to him and his faith in his work and ours. P. Without Fernando in the team two years the thing would have been worse? R. What is certain is that he is a great asset to our team, so indeed, without it the situation would have been different.
P. Has it changed much the way it works in Maranello has been remodeled since the technical department? Is there more quickly, more sparkle?
R. Yes, indeed. When a change is because they want to improve. We feel the need to do something that we face next year, and we did this season to have more effect. In this regard, all goes as expected, but you can not expect in such a short time to have a completely different car capable of matching the Red Bull.
P. What area has been further strengthened?
R. I think in terms of methodology of work, ability to delegate ... people have more chance of, say, make sure they can do as much work as before without much bureaucracy. The simulation area will have a big impact in the future, also the wind tunnel area, where we have changed the way people work under the command of Nikolas Tombazis, but what above all is the mentality has changed, make sure that everyone will feel more involved in their ability to bring ideas to the project.
P. We have heard one recent weeks Domenicali less diplomatic than usual talking about the lack of leadership from Vettel, that Ferrari has nothing to learn from Red Bull. Why this fist on the table?
R. Let's see, I did not say that, just answer a question. I have a lot of respect for our opponents, always. Red Bull has shown over the past two years has done an amazing job. But the tradition of Ferrari indicates a team that has been in Formula 1 from the first day, he has won and lost, that has the best record, so before you conclude something is better to wait just over two years, perhaps best five.
And on Vettel, there is no doubt that this is a great champion but if you ask me is growing rapidly and is becoming a leader by how he wins, in which he believes in himself, in little that fails. So I still think the same and yet, I commend you for the titles.
"The car of 2012 is not a simple evolution, is something new"
P. Are you tired of the fairy tale story that circulates always small team Red Bull for his genius and magical, when budget is equal or more than anyone else?
R. I do not know. Look there's teamwork, but what is clear is that the only team who has the genius that is the designer Adrian Newey, who has done a great project. Formula 1 has changed a lot in the past there were many great personalities in Formula 1, with great presence, and now is something else. Now there is only one, and this guy is on Red Bull. And if we look ahead can be the difference in the future, do not know.
P. In the end no one is clear whether or not Ferrari has tried to sign Newey, sometimes seems so others not so much that if necessary, if not
R. That's part of the magic of Formula 1, of course everyone is brought to the best ...
P. But he, he, Newey
R. I can not be precise out of respect for what he is doing and where you work, but of course it is the greatest talent is in the technical area.
"Ferrari does not envy anything, are the others who are inferior to Ferrari"
P. What does it cost to sign him?
R. Well, I do not know, but I think it's a problem of money. In any case ask Christian (Horner) what is his salary. I do not know.
P. Does it hurt more to be defeated by a young and new to one with more pedigree McLaren?
R. It is always painful defeats, who does not care by whom? As in football does not matter if you defeat a small team, losing is losing. For me the most important at this time is to build in order to grow in all areas and ensure that we can return to fight for the championship. If you look closely, this year has been really Vettel has been unusual in any scale, because Fernando is second in the championship, second, so the advantage is that they have done a year simply outstanding.
In this situation have to react and be united, making sure to implement all the mechanisms taking into account that it is difficult to find the right people in the technical section.
P. How difficult?
R. A lot. It is very difficult to find the right people to work together for the team and that makes a difference, which is what we need. And that's the situation.
P. Do you envy some Red Bull or is a forbidden word for Ferrari?
R. No, that's not the story. First is I envy anyone or anything because I have everything I want in life or need. But professionally how do you envy nothing at Ferrari? Ferrari is a legend throughout the world, are the others who may envy Ferrari for what we are in the world. I do not envy you, but since I have much respect for my opponents try to understand why another or others may be better than us in some area.
"Without Fernando Alonso all have been different"
P. You, like us, imagine that neighbors have asked as well, in confidence, which has spent the past three years with Ferrari. What does it say in the short distances?
R. It is very clear: the answer, unfortunately, is like when a coach has to make sure you have the best equipment possible, because here, if you have a good car, one that makes a difference, it is very difficult. You can have the best striker, best midfielder, but if you have the wrong goalie, it's hard the team has to grow and have the best players and I must say again that at this moment is not easy to find people who check the differences in the technical section. The answer, no excuses, is that what we needed was a faster car.
P. Red Bull in 2010 was better than in 2009, and 2011 has been better than in 2010. Delete blown diffusers next year will be enough to think that there will be even better in 2012?
R. They are good, but I think this area is precisely where this year we have not been able to get the performance expected. They were very good anticipation of this, but I think the car next year there are fewer areas where they can find plainly the rules. So I am quite optimistic because we started very soon, evil tongues say that in August, and the first wind tunnel numbers are very encouraging.
We must be realistic, the goal is to reach the first race better than in recent seasons, forward with the others, because if we're there, a World Cup is awfully long.
P. So then the design will be very aggressive from the Ferrari 2012.
R. Yes.
P. When you see it in Maranello is surprised and says 'wow'?
R. Yes, I honestly do, because we have changed the design philosophy. I hope that 'wow' after confirmation, but what I mean, it's completely different from how we have designed the car lately. There is an evolution, something new, different. Sure.
P. Is it better than 2011?
R. Has to be, one hundred percent.
P. Vettel wins races and titles with Red Bull, but always acknowledge that you drive at Ferrari.
R. Back to what I said. This is the magic of this company, means a lot on one side and a big responsibility, because you need to work very hard to make this myth is still alive and can attract the best team.
P. By the way speaking of signings. ¿Sergio Perez and Jules Bianchi in 2013?
R. What 2013? Ah yes. Bianchi has a great talent and has made a positive season in GP2, needs to grow and gain experience for next season, but I can not say now where you can be. Sure we want to invest in it because we believe in him. As Sergio has a contract with Sauber and also has to grow, it is best not to put any kind of goal at this time. Let them both have a good 2012.
P. . After Abu Dhabi acknowledged that he thought of resigning. For how this season has made him go through your head?
R. No, only then, only once in life. I am a fighter huh? an athlete who has been in this environment for twenty years [laughs]. Of the losses have to learn to react. I thought it was best for the team, that's my point of view and I am fully committed to Ferrari, which is part of my life, my second family. I want to be sure that we can win together.
P. Do you care or bother to talk about Briatore to take his place?
R. [Smile] do not know how to imprint into the microphone. Zero! [He gestures with his hands zero]. I think, zero, but it is part of the game, fine.
P. It is said that when a pilot loses home or have children what about a few tenths of athletic directors? (Stefano just married)
R. [Laughs] No, first I do not know if a pilot loses tenths because I think Schumacher won a few titles with children, with a great car itself, but won. For me nothing, my family is very important, but professionally my focus and total commitment to Ferrari.
source: http://www.marca.com/2011/09/25/moto...316945953.html
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Originally Posted by scuderiafan
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