Ferrari 2009 F1 Season Preview: Can They Win Yet Another Championship?
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
STATS AND INFORMATION
Team Principal: Stefano Domenicalli
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Technical Director: Aldo Costa
Team Base: Maranello, Italy
Chassis: F60
Engine: Ferrari V8
Tyres: Bridgestone
Grand Prix: 776
Wins: 209
Podiums:
Poles: 203
Fastest Laps: 218
Points: 4529
2008 Position: 1st(172pts)
Last Five Seasons:
2004—1st(262pts)
2005—3rd(100pts)
2006—2nd(201pts)
2007—1st(204pts)
2008—1st172pts
First Driver: Felipe Massa
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 27
Starts: 105
Wins: 11
Podiums: 27
Poles: 15
Fastest Laps: 11
Points: 298
Best Season: 2nd (2008)
Second Driver: Kimi Raikkonen
Nationality: Finnish
Age: 29
Starts: 139
Wins: 17
Podiums: 57
Poles: 16
Fastest Laps: 35
Points: 531
Championships: 2007
DISCUSSION
Paul Murtagh: We begin our final preview by talking about Ferrari. How did you think they did last year? Was it a failure for not landing the drivers title, or a success for the constructors?
Daniel Chalmers: Overall, Ferrari had another great season. Despite many team departures in the last couple of seasons, they are still producing quick cars, which shows how much depth the team has. However, more weaknesses have developed in the team. Reliability, tactics, and coolness under pressure aren't as strong as in the glory years. Those three things cost the Massa the title, in my opinion.
Paul Murtagh: Did you think they had the fastest car last season?
Daniel Chalmers: I think over a race distance they were generally the fastest. Although over one lap, in cool and wet conditions, they weren't as strong as Mclaren.
Paul Murtagh: Do you think that the team let the drivers down over the season?
Daniel Chalmers: Possibly. Massa lost two potential race wins (one due to an engine failure, and a pit mishap in Singapore). You could blame those on the team. And did they do enough to support Kimi when he was struggling. Did always putting him on a year's supply of fuel help his cause?
Paul Murtagh: Sometimes they had to because of his poor showings. Kimi just didn't seem himself last season, and while he showed some excellent race pace, it often came at the end of the race when it was too late. Hopefully this season he is back to his best.
Daniel Chalmers: Do you think he will be back to his best?
Paul Murtagh: I think he will. The slick tyres could suit him and the reduced grip means more driving on the edge—Kimi's style. But if he has another bad season he could consider throwing in the towel.
Daniel Chalmers: I agree that Raikkonen will be on much better form. These new cars will have a bigger tendency towards oversteer, and Kimi likes that. He hates understeer, which was a big feature of last season's Ferrari. You also get a lot of understeer when following another car.
Paul Murtagh: Which should disappear with the movable flaps. Do you think that Massa can have another good year? Has his only championship chance gone?
Daniel Chalmers: He has most definitely become a much improved driver. He is a better all-'round package and more mature. However, he still has weaknesses. When something goes wrong, the wheels can completely come off, and he doesn't seem capable of winning from further back. He seems to rely on starting on the front row.
Those are things he needs to change this season. He also hates oversteer, which may be an issue. He will have to adapt to that. I can't help but feel his best chance for a title was last season. He has proved people wrong in the past, though, so don’t rule him out.
Paul Murtagh: He did have an excellent season last year and proved his doubters wrong. But like you say, when he has a bad day it’s a terrible day, such as Silverstone last year. But at Fuji, he showed that he is starting to overcome this.
Daniel Chalmers: What do you think of the car Ferrari has produced? Will they be challenging for the title again?
Paul Murtagh: It looks like a good car, and I think it will be fast. But the team have said they have reliability doubts, which is worrying. To finish first, first you have to finish, and Ferrari had their problems with reliability last year, which cost them dearly. They have to iron that out; otherwise it could cost them the championship again.
Daniel Chalmers: This is the first major challenge for the new look Ferrari team. There was still a big element of Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne in the 2007 car, which evolved into the 2008 car. Adapting to brand new set of regulations is very difficult. It looks they have done quite well. In the past, Ferrari has struggled in a season with big changes.
Think back to 2005, for example, when they had a poor season, after a dominant championship in 2004. I think they are in the front pack, but they have very stiff opposition to win the championship. Winning the championship will be very difficult, indeed.
Paul Murtagh: Do you think that they will be one of the main challengers for the title?
Daniel Chalmers: I think they will be. However, I don't think they will win as many races as in the past couple of seasons. I think they can win the title, but they have to improve on the weaknesses I mentioned above. From the looks of it, it still seems that have trouble warming the tyres up for a single lap. With such a tight grid that could prove costly for example.
Paul Murtagh: It will be very costly—but they will be racing KERS, which is a big bonus to them. Do you see both their drivers challenging for the title though, or will one of them become a support driver?
Daniel Chalmers: I think if a Ferrari driver challenges for the title, it is more likely to be Kimi. I think we will see him return to form this season. The car now seems to suit him better. Although he is quiet and looks de-motivated all the time, there is a roaring lion inside him wanting to prove the critics wrong. I agree that Ferrari racing with KERS will be an advantage to them. But if it fails, as it has down a few times in testing, then it won't be.
Paul Murtagh: And do you think the departure of Jean Todt from the company will have any effect on the race team? He hasn't been directly involved since 2007, but has been a major influence at the team.
Daniel Chalmers: I think he is missed along with other members of the dream team. The Ferrari operation isn't as completely flawless as it once was in the 2000-2004 period, but they are still extremely competitive. Many teams have slipped off the radar when high profile team members have left. That is a huge testament to the team.
Paul Murtagh: So Ferrari to challenge for the title once again?
Daniel Chalmers: I think they will win one title. However, I can't see them winning both titles like they did in 2007.
Paul Murtagh: That will be very hard to achieve now. But if they can get reliability sorted, then they always have a chance of winning.
Daniel Chalmers: OK then, Paul, it has been great doing these previews with you, and we will see how close we come to getting our predictions right (or not).
Paul Murtagh: Time will tell—we have been embarrassed before so let's hope it doesn't happen again!
MARKS
Chassis: 8
Engine: 9
Aerodynamics: 8
Mechanical grip: 8
Drivers: 9
Reliability: 7
KEY QUESTIONS
Can Kimi get back to his best in 2009?
Will Felipe have as good a season as he did last year?
Will reliability problems affect Ferrari's season?
OUR OTHER PREVIEWS
This is the end of our preview series. We hope you enjoyed them. We will do more special features together throughout the season on various topics. You can come and and join us on our lively and vibrant motorsports discussion forum www.wheelnutsforum.co.uk
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