Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2014 - Race Thread

[Rob]

Are you saying we had a car on par with RBR performance wise in those years? really......

at points in the year we did, but then RBR just upped the development war, and we couldnt keep pace.

[Rob]

We have had amazing 5 years with Fernando, been hard, been emotional, been frustrated. But thats Ferrari, thats racing. Passion and love for the team and sport.

Now, we have new dawn, yes, next year maybe hard, as all things we building will not/may not be working as one yet. So please remember that, please dont bash the team for building a car that is slow, this is going to take time. New TP, designers, technical staff, working procedures and last but not least, new driver. We have great things coming, again, the old guard been washed out, hail to the new guard, cannt wait for the emotional roller coaster next year.

[Suzie]

Pretty boring race aside from my own minor panic attacks towards the end. I feel so bad for Nico - car failure was such an unfair way for him to lose it, even if he only had a small chance to take it. He really showed his class when they asked him to box but he said he'd carry on. I hope the rent-a-mob who booed him after Spa and tore the guy to shreds feel good about themselves now.

Surely Ferrari can't be any worse next year?! Everything seems to be crumbling.

[Greig]

Surely Ferrari can't be any worse next year?! Everything seems to be crumbling.

Well the car will be designed to suit Kimi, so I imagine we will be super awesome

[Ed Harley]

Well the car will be designed to suit Kimi, so I imagine we will be super awesome

Is this going to be the tone of the 2015 season? It got old a long time ago, you know.

[Greig]

Is this going to be the tone of the 2015 season? It got old a long time ago, you know.

No more excuses in 2015 for Kimi is the tone yes.

[Ed Harley]

You really shouldn't need to use Kimi as an excuse.

[Suzie]

Well the car will be designed to suit Kimi, so I imagine we will be super awesome

Don't despair, the season is over, we... sorry you... are one year closer to Kimi leaving again.

[Greig]

You really shouldn't need to use Kimi as an excuse.

How you have made it over 1000 posts without adding anything worthwhile amazes me.

[Senna4Ever]

at points in the year we did, but then RBR just upped the development war, and we couldnt keep pace.

They clearly missed two things in the beginning
a) no experience with a car without blown anything
b) renault lack of power

And they solved both. Just remember what kind of rear wing red bull could drive without loosing too much grip. Once again at least after summer break they were ahead of us. at least ric.

Team only needs a a car which has decent handling and is responsive to setup changes. And a bit more power.

Yes of course, as if this years car wouldn't have reacted on setup changes.
it was kimi who was not able to adapt his style to find a way in the middle.
Be honest and write, that we need a car that kimi likes and he hasn't to change anything on his side ...

[BigGar32]

Glad this season is over, shame it's the end of Fernando with Ferrari (for now). On to 2015 and I hope we have a rocket ship as we are going to need it with our driver line up.....

Be nicer if I think if people gave Vettel a bit more credit. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by him next year. In performance terms I'm disappointed Alonso has gone and Raikkonen remains but let's not forget that Alonso was fairly beaten by a rookie in 2007. He's not the be all and end all like some say (not you I might add).

I just hope we produce a competitive car next year also. Going to be difficult but I have a reasonable degree of confidence that we'll be more competitive.

[Ed Harley]

How you have made it over 1000 posts without adding anything worthwhile amazes me.

Negativity gets one usually nowhere so why should I take that road?

[Greig]

Be nicer if I think if people gave Vettel a bit more credit. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by him next year. In performance terms I'm disappointed Alonso has gone and Raikkonen remains but let's not forget that Alonso was fairly beaten by a rookie in 2007. He's not the be all and end all like some say (not you I might add).

I just hope we produce a competitive car next year also. Going to be difficult but I have a reasonable degree of confidence that we'll be more competitive.

I hope Vettel can surprise me and I am very open mined about his arrival but my current feeling is he like Kimi really need a super car to be able to perform to their best. Alonso did tie with Lewis in 2007 and they were both new to the team which to me is a bit different to a rookie coming into your team and beating you hands down, but I do hope Vettel can show us all why he is a 4 times champ.

[Ed Harley]

Yes of course, as if this years car wouldn't have reacted on setup changes.
it was kimi who was not able to adopt his style to find a way in the middle.
Be honest and write, that we need a car that kimi likes and he hasn't to change anything on his side ...

I believe you mean 'adapt' and not 'adopt'. We don't need anything but the team needs a competitive package.

[Alonso14]

You really shouldn't need to use Kimi as an excuse.

And Kimi fans shouldn't need to use the poorly designed Ferrari cars as an excuse.

[Ed Harley]

And Kimi fans shouldn't need to use the poorly designed Ferrari cars as an excuse.

But it is OK for Mr Allison and co. to refer to inferior car?

[Senna4Ever]

I believe you mean 'adapt' and not 'adopt'. We don't need anything but the team needs a competitive package.

Thank you so much for correcting me. I'm so glad you know what I mean but wrote wrong

[Alonso14]

But it is OK for Mr Allison and co. to refer to inferior car?

I didn't get that?

[Ed Harley]

Thank you so much for correcting me. I'm so glad you know what I mean but wrote wrong

You are welcome.

[Nero Horse]

I must admit that after the big disappointment of this season and all the other disappointments of previous 3 seasons I don't have a good feeling about next season, actually I'm already dreading what might lie ahead in 2015 season. Barring somekind of a miracle happening over winter, it's probably going to be another very difficult and frustrating season. These issues that we have with the car just aren't the kind of issues that could be fixed within 4 months, especially with all the freakin' engine restrictions and rules in place. Trying to think as positively as possible, but it's hard to imagine anything good coming out of next season. It's most likely going to be a year of transition and learning. I'm hoping for the best of course, but there probably aren't any quick fixes for these problems we are facing, sadly. Oh well, through thick and thin, always Forza Ferrari!

[Ed Harley]

I didn't get that?

When Mr Allison and co. tell the world that F14T is flawed and does not allow the drivers to produce results that are desireable that is OK. When KR or for example an old fart like me mention that it is an excuse.

[Ed Harley]

The big problem is IMHO that the team has not - at least not in public - at any point mentioned that they would know what the reason with F14T is that caused the handling problems. That for me is not good news since if you don't know the reason but only the symptoms it causes then what do you correct?

[Forzi]

When Mr Allison and co. tell the world that F14T is flawed and does not allow the drivers to produce results that are desireable that is OK. When KR or for example an old fart like me mention that it is an excuse.

Well of course the car doesn't let the drivers produce the desirable results. Thing is, it works for both, not just Kimi. Yet, he's miles away from Fernando, hence the criticism towards him.

[FerrariF60]

Are you saying we had a car on par with RBR performance wise in those years? really......

exactly my question too Greig.....we NEVER had a car on par with RBR in 2010 and 2012....we ONLY looked like we were due to ALONSO factor (or as some may say that HE said himself that he brought 6 tenths to Ferrari, and somehow i tend to believe that)

one has to look at the performance that Massa put in those years, 2010 and 2012 and that was teh TRUE speed of our car....what ALONSO did in 2012 was MAGIC with a SUB par car he had at his disposal; too bad, it would have been epic if Vettel's car would have had some real damage in Brazil 2012 when he messed up, spun and someone hit him...but teh damage hardly affected him

[Alonso14]

When Mr Allison and co. tell the world that F14T is flawed and does not allow the drivers to produce results that are desireable that is OK. When KR or for example an old fart like me mention that it is an excuse.

But we don't compare Kimi to Bottas and Rosberg, do we? We compare him to the only driver on the grid who drives that same fundamentally flawed car. And correct me if I'm wrong but didn't that guy mop the floor with him in 2014?

[Nova]

And Kimi fans shouldn't need to use the poorly designed Ferrari cars as an excuse.

Cmon dudes, its not like Alonso lit it up or performed magic. What was his excuse? The car was nasty.
No way either driver could show what he could do.

What we should be thinking on is can Ferrari pull off a decent, drivable, race winning car again?
Things r a mess, no leadership, a car salesman as head guy and soon...mabey, a cigarette promoter
as team boss..Holy smokes, we in deep!

[Nova]

Well of course the car doesn't let the drivers produce the desirable results. Thing is, it works for both, not just Kimi. Yet, he's miles away from Fernando, hence the criticism towards him.

I really dont think FA is miles away from Kimi or Massa.
But thats my opinion, n if youre an FA fan, dont go sending me any really lame
retorts...retarts?...whatever.
If u like someone, thats cool, but why fight about it?

[pelinjr]

Regarding Alonso and Hamilton in 2007 , I would like to add that firstly, Hamilton was an inhouse pilot, hundreds of hours in the simulator for that car, and he was a superb performer that year (and many others after that) They both tied , who knows if there were team preferences for LH or not, History has proven (and still is) tthat LH is a superclass, imo the fastest driver n the grid. Did Alonso , or anybody for that matter , expect this? I dont think so. The point that I was trying to make is that LH was a rookie , and technically he was "new" to the team, but had a lot of expeerience in that car, via testing and sims.

[Forzi]

I really dont think FA is miles away from Kimi or Massa.
But thats my opinion, n if youre an FA fan, dont go sending me any really lame
retorts...retarts?...whatever.
If u like someone, thats cool, but why fight about it?

Whose fighting mate? A discusion, no fists involved Heck, i don't even like Fernando (respect though), and i adore Massa and Kimi quite more. Thing is, Fernando is the best out there when we're talking about dealing with problematic cars. The "miles away" is used for the points gap and, frankly, this season, which i don't think is a bad thing to say. Might have been a lil over the edge with the expression. "Quite better" should be more fitting

[fratelliferrari]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5-bKlMsf3UU