Bahrian GP 2014 Team news/pictures&quotes

**Rob** · 1st April 2014, 20:15

Bahrain GP – Pushing to close the gap

Maranello, 1 April – The Championship moves on immediately to Bahrain, scene of the majority of winter testing, for Round 3 at the Sakhir Circuit on Sunday. In Sepang, Fernando Alonso secured a valuable fourth place, while Kimi Raikkonen at least benefited from the experience of another race distance, although the first lap collision meant points were never on the cards. Before leaving Malaysia, both Scuderia Ferrari drivers gave us their thoughts on the challenges they will face this weekend.

Fernando Alonso..

Since the last test in Bahrain, we have made a big step forward in terms of the interaction between the electrical motor and the combustion engine. Everyone now has a better understanding of the rules, also for us drivers in terms of the driving style and how to manage this new Formula 1, so we come to this race with a much better basis than we had in the winter tests.

The most difficult aspect of the Sakhir circuit is the braking, as there are long straights followed by heavy braking, then a tight corner and another straight. Braking performance and the feeling you get from the brakes gives you the confidence to attack and so get a better lap time. Apart from that, another priority will be to work on our top speed.

We have seen different types of racing over the first two Grands Prix, with the first one highlighting fuel saving a bit and the other shifting the focus to tyre management because of degradation, due to the high temperature. I think Bahrain will feature a combination of both these factors. We will have to save fuel more than in Malaysia and the tyres will be affected by the temperature in the Bahraini desert. We can expect a tough race, as some of the competition is very strong and we will have to raise our game to close down the gap as quickly as possible.

Kimi Raikkonen..

After testing in Bahrain in the winter, we now go back there with much more experience and knowledge after the first two races. We must put that learning to good use for this race. There is a lot to do, but everyone in the team is pushing hard to sort things out as quickly as we can.

There are not so many corners on this Sakhir track, but it seems to be very difficult to get a perfect lap, due to the combination of high speed sections and some very low speed corners. You would think with only few corners it would be easy to get the lap right, but it’s actually quite complicated. The key will be to find the right set-up as soon as possible and then we can improve the car over the weekend.

Obviously, every circuit can be different in terms of its effect on fuel use and tyres: looking at Bahrain, fuel saving will play a more important role than in the last two races, but it might not turn out to be too bad, as it was less of an issue than we had expected in Melbourne. Also on the tyre front, I think Sakhir could be a bit easier to deal with than Sepang and also if we can get the car perfectly right, it will make life much easier.

What can we expect in Bahrain? In Malaysia, you couldn’t see it because of what happened on the first lap, but I felt I made a step forward in terms of understanding the tools I have to work with, so I think we can be better prepared this weekend. That should give us faster lap times and better positions.

- See more at: http://formula1.ferrari.com/news/bah....vYw2bzd6.dpuf

**fratelliferrari** · 1st April 2014, 23:06

Can't wait for the race already! It's by night this year, right?

**Jas** · 1st April 2014, 23:07

I DONT GET THE LAST BIT...about him saying it was more difficult for us...does he mean size (as previously), not our technology/expertise?!?!

Ferrari are under pressure to improve their Formula One car quickly after a stuttering start in order give Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen a realistic world title chance, according to principal Stefano Domenicali.

Domenicali told the Formula One website in an interview published on Tuesday that the team must "make sure that we give them the best car we can. That is the urgent need, and it has to happen very soon."

Alonso placed fourth in the opening two season races in Australia and Malaysia, with the Bahrain race next on Sunday. Raikkonen, who won the last drivers' title for the scuderia in 2007 and returned to the team this season, was seventh in Australia and 12th in Malaysia.

"So far Fernando has proved to be fast immediately. Kimi needs some time to understand the car, but you can see he is getting there. I am sure from the drivers' side there will not be a problem," Domenicali said.

Domenicali admitted that Mercedes are the team to beat after shining in the pre-season and winning the opening races with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

"If Mercedes keeps the pace it will be very difficult to match them," he said.

Domenicali said that teams and engine manufacturers like Mercedes had an advantage after sweeping rule changes because they can draw on their wide range of technology and expertise in all areas. But he said Ferrari are ready for the challenge and have invested big in development equipment they didn't have in the past.

"We need to work to have a more efficient car; we need to work to have a better engine; we need to work to exploit better the balance between electric power and traditional engine power. Everywhere!" he said.

"Sure it was more difficult for us - and we knew that. But that is the beauty of the challenge. We have to fight so that we can keep up ... we love the challenge - it has always been part of Ferrari's nature and heritage."

**Jas** · 1st April 2014, 23:08

Originally Posted by fratelliferrari

Can't wait for the race already! It's by night this year, right?

certainly is...cooler conditions...who will it suit?!

**stefa** · 2nd April 2014, 06:10

Originally Posted by fratelliferrari

Can't wait for the race already! It's by night this year, right?

Yes it is. It starts at 17:00 CET.

**Hornet** · 2nd April 2014, 06:56

My hopes for this weekend is that we will retain our 3rd place in both championship.

**AfterLife** · 2nd April 2014, 07:32

Originally Posted by Hornet

My hopes for this weekend is that we will retain our 3rd place in both championship.

You are hopeless

We are going to munch those RedBulls and crush the both Mercedes

**abbottcostello** · 2nd April 2014, 07:33

Well I know it will suit me since a 6:00pm race start in Bahrain is 11:00am in Eastern US time zone

On a more serious note, I think the softer tires (I'm assuming, haven't heard for sure) Pirelli should bring will help the F14-T hold the track a little better. If it's warm my hopes always rise for RB to have some cooling issues, maybe some deja vu for them... stuck in the garage all weekend.
Temperature forecast for the northern tip of Bahrain (only location I could find on my iphone app) on race day calling for sunny, high 78˚, low 69˚, so probably low 70's during race?

**RedRebel40** · 2nd April 2014, 07:50

Originally Posted by abbottcostello

Well I know it will suit me since a 6:00pm race start in Bahrain is 11:00am in Eastern US time zone

On a more serious note, I think the softer tires (I'm assuming, haven't heard for sure) Pirelli should bring will help the F14-T hold the track a little better. If it's warm my hopes always rise for RB to have some cooling issues, maybe some deja vu for them... stuck in the garage all weekend.
Temperature forecast for the northern tip of Bahrain (only location I could find on my iphone app) on race day calling for sunny, high 78˚, low 69˚, so probably low 70's during race?

It will be an evening(in the dark) race and the temps should be pretty low, I guess 17-18 degrees Celsius.

**killer** · 2nd April 2014, 08:36

Originally Posted by Jas

certainly is...cooler conditions...who will it suit?!

IMHO, IF the lack of traction stems from a mechanical grip issue, we may be in for a long weekend.

**PadGeT** · 2nd April 2014, 09:33

Originally Posted by motorsport.com

Ferrari's major sponsor Santander is going nowhere.

Emilio Botin, the Spanish banking group's chief, said this week: "We want to continue in F1 for at least ten more years," Marca sports newspaper quoted him as saying.

And Botin said Santander wants to remain hand-in-hand with Fernando Alonso for the same time period.

"I am convinced that, in ten years, Fernando Alonso will be as good as he is today," he insisted.

Also present for Botin's speech was Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, who said: "I agree."

Botin also revealed why he allowed Santander's sponsorship with McLaren to lapse.

"There is only one Ferrari team, period," he said. "We were interested in being with McLaren still because we have a bank in England, but it was a small sponsorship.

"When (Lewis) Hamilton was there it was justified. (Jenson) Button is a great driver, but it's another matter," Botin explained.

He suggested that a difficult start to the 2014 season for Ferrari is not swaying Santander's loyalty.

"The partnership with Ferrari is the best we have had throughout our history," said Botin. "It is the key for Santander being known around the world."

Botin did, however, ask Domenicali when real improvements for Ferrari's 2014 car will arrive.

"China," the Italian answered. "Good, good," Botin replied.

**shamim179** · 2nd April 2014, 10:52

Early signs that Santander are getting impatient with Ferrari perhaps more so with Stefano. That is wholly understandable.

**Gerhard Berger** · 2nd April 2014, 11:43

China will be judgement day then. Puts alot of pressure on the team though. He might have been better off saying, we will bring updates to every race.

**Hornet** · 2nd April 2014, 13:08

Originally Posted by Gerhard Berger

China will be judgement day then. Puts alot of pressure on the team though. He might have been better off saying, we will bring updates to every race.

There's really no point in lying if the teams do not have updates for the next race. Because nothing will change this weekend, and if people are led to believe that we brought updates to Bahrain, then it will give an impression that our updates are not working.

**Nova** · 2nd April 2014, 15:24

Dont know if they CAN bring anything being such a short week, only Ferrari knows that, but didnt we look not bad in testing?

**Greig** · 2nd April 2014, 16:13

Originally Posted by shamim179

Early signs that Santander are getting impatient with Ferrari perhaps more so with Stefano. That is wholly understandable.

Who cares what a sponsor thinks?

**PadGeT** · 2nd April 2014, 17:26

Originally Posted by Greig

Who cares what a sponsor thinks?

**brembo man** · 2nd April 2014, 17:30

Originally Posted by Greig

Who cares what a sponsor thinks?

Certainly not Kimi !

**tifosi1993** · 2nd April 2014, 17:43

**tifosi1993** · 2nd April 2014, 17:44

**shamim179** · 2nd April 2014, 18:13

Originally Posted by Greig

Who cares what a sponsor thinks?

Unhappiness, impatience, etc from your main sponsor is never a good thing. It's a reflection of where Ferrari really are. If Ferrari was competitive everyone including the management, drivers, sponsors and fans would be happy. It doesn't matter if you care or not - that's not really the point here. The point is it's not a good sign.

**PadGeT** · 2nd April 2014, 18:15

Originally Posted by shamim179

Unhappiness, impatience, etc from your main sponsor is never a good thing. It's a reflection of where Ferrari really are. If Ferrari was competitive everyone including the management, drivers, sponsors and fans would be happy. It doesn't matter if you care or not - that's not really the poin here. t. The point is it's not a good sign.

Good, i was wonderin wen Santander would lose their patience. Roll on Apple.

**ferrari4life** · 2nd April 2014, 18:19

Originally Posted by Greig

Who cares what a sponsor thinks?

I think Ferrari should..

**Rob** · 2nd April 2014, 18:19

Tailor-made’ development for the F14 T

Maranello, 2 April – Scuderia Ferrari is working round the clock to recover the gap to its opponents that was revealed by the first two races of the season. While part of the team is in Bahrain for the third grand prix of 2014, at Maranello work is ongoing to develop the car to its maximum and to extract from the F14 T project the performances that have so far only been foreseen. As Team Principal Stefano Domenicali said: “We must give our drivers a car that is as close as possible to what their driving demands. We have a programme of development to bring forward, we know where we have to improve and we know what we have to do in a very short time frame.”

As well as the generic development programme, the engineers have therefore also devised a personalised plan based around the characteristics of the two drivers. With Kimi, in particular, work is going on to tailor the F14 T as close as possible to his driving style, which has always been very specific. After the first race the Finnish driver gave feedback to the engineers to be able to have a car that could make him more at home. His suggestions have been applied and the first improvements were seen in free practice in Malaysia, when Raikkonen set the second fastest time in both sessions. This adjustment work will keep going over the coming weeks.

With Fernando the target is instead to increase even further the interface work between the driver and the team. Indeed there is no computerised simulation that can substitute for direct experience from whoever is driving the car and the feedback by the Spanish driver – both at the end of every race and at the end of every testing session – is fundamental to understand in which areas performance can be further improved. Given his experience at Ferrari, the Spanish champion is equipped to show the team not just the elements that need to be worked on but also the priorities that must be followed to make the process of increasing the F14 T’s performance as immediate as possible.

- See more at: http://formula1.ferrari.com/news/tai....cn7LXGsi.dpuf

**shamim179** · 2nd April 2014, 18:25

Originally Posted by PadGeT

Good, i was wonderin wen Santander would lose their patience. Roll on Apple.

You might find this funny but there is difference with how Stefano responds to the same question. With the general media he doesn't divulge when Ferrari are going to improve by - instead he sort of evades the question but with the sponsor he feels obliged to give an exact timescale. Pressure?

**Rob** · 2nd April 2014, 18:30

Santander isnt going anywhere while Fernando is with us.

**PadGeT** · 2nd April 2014, 18:46

Originally Posted by shamim179

You might find this funny but there is difference with how Stefano responds to the same question. With the general media he doesn't divulge when Ferrari are going to improve by - instead he sort of evades the question but with the sponsor he feels obliged to give an exact timescale. Pressure?

He's got enough to deal with atm from Mr.Sergio Marchionne & John Elkann and ofcourse Luca!!

**Greig** · 2nd April 2014, 19:01

Originally Posted by shamim179

Unhappiness, impatience, etc from your main sponsor is never a good thing. It's a reflection of where Ferrari really are. If Ferrari was competitive everyone including the management, drivers, sponsors and fans would be happy. It doesn't matter if you care or not - that's not really the point here. The point is it's not a good sign.

So they can go sponsor a more successful brand, oh wait......