Domenicali: Ferrari can still succeed

After disappointing performances in both the British and German races, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has rejected talk of a crisis at the Italian squad and is looking forward to a return to form at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Ferrari have not won a Grand Prix since Felipe Massa’s victory at the French event in June.

“Despite the fact the last two races have been negative for us, the Scuderia is definitely not in crisis,” team principal Stefano Domenicali told the squad’s official website. “The team is still leading the constructors’ championship and theoretically, one of our drivers could again be back at the top of the drivers’ classification on Sunday night.

“Just as we never felt we were unbeatable after our French GP victory, so too, we do not feel all is lost after the British and German events. The entire squad is doing its best to overturn this situation.”

To make sure of an improved showing in Budapest, Ferrari plan to introduce a series of revisions to the F2008 for the Hungary race, including the ‘shark-fin’ engine cover, the team evaluated during last week’s test at the Spanish circuit of Jerez.

The reigning world champions have earned 105 points this season and currently lead the constructors’ standings by 16 from BMW Sauber. McLaren, meanwhile, are a further three points adrift.

Ferrari Drivers’ Quotes after German Grand Prix

Kimi Raikkonen:
“This was definitely not the kind of race we had been hoping for. We have struggled all weekend and we have to try and understand why. Usually, our race pace is always good, but today that was not the case, because I almost always suffered with a lack of grip: only in the final stages did the situation improve a little bit, but it was never enough to be competitive. We have a test in Jerez, where we will try and improve the car so as to arrive in Budapest in better shape. This is definitely not a crisis, but we have to study carefully the handling of the car to understand if we have taken the right road in terms of development.”

Felipe Massa:
“It was a difficult race. Right from the beginning, Hamilton’s pace seemed unbeatable and I understood that it would be very hard to beat him. I never had good grip and, in the final stages, I also had brake problems and was not even able to attack Piquet, whom I congratulate on the first podium of his career. We must try and understand why, this weekend, we have not been a match for our rivals. They have definitely improved, but I think this was more a case of us having taken a step backwards. However, we are still confident: we have the ability to get out of this situation, right from the next race.”

My dear Ferrari team, please work hard, I am looking forward to see you guys win. I also hope Kimi can be World Champion of 2008 as well! Keep moving on!