Formula 1 News: Ferrari Work Harder Than Others, Says Technical Director

Ferrari technical director James Allison believes hard work has paid off after the team ended a 34-race victory drought on Sunday.

Sebastian Vettel’s win in the Malaysian Grand Prix was Ferrari’s first since Fernando Alonso took the chequered flag at the Spanish Grand Prix in May 2013.

Allison, who has previously worked for Benetton and Lotus, embarked on his second spell at Ferrari in July 2013 and, as such, Sunday’s win was the first since his return to Maranello.

The Englishman suggests a victory in the famous red of Ferrari is a feeling like no other in Formula One, while also citing hard graft for the team’s return to form.

“Everybody here won't be able to find proper words to tell you how wonderful it is,” Allison said, per ESPN. “It feels [good] to win in any colour, but there is something absolutely fantastic about this team. Every team works hard, but at Ferrari they work especially hard.” 

Just how much progress Ferrari have made will become more apparent in the coming races, but a podium finish in Australia plus Sunday’s win leaves Vettel with 40 points, just three behind leader Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel’s teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, has collected just 12 points from the opening two races, but he has won for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix—the next race on the calendar—before after taking the chequered flag in 2007.

Indeed, the Shanghai International Circuit has been a good hunting ground for Ferrari since its introduction to the sport in 2004, with the Maranello outfit winning four of the 11 races staged in China.