Maranello, 19 March –The two words that spring to mind after the Australian Grand Prix are patience and work. Scuderia Ferrari’s main aim is clearly to make the F14 T more competitive. The feeling is that many teams used this first GP of the season to get a better understanding of the complicated new cars and that raises the hope that, as the races go by, the spectacle will also improve.
Kimi Raikkonen, one of the most experienced drivers on the grid also believes that patience is the key. “I think that at the start of a season like this one, with new tyres but more than that, completely new cars, the main aim has to be getting to the chequered flag. We did just that and I was finally able to run a full race distance in this car.”
“I’ve been in this game for quite a while now,” continued Raikkonen, “and I can say this is definitely not the first time that I’ve gone through a difficult first race weekend. We identified some general problems which we have to tackle in Maranello and there are other aspects linked to the set-up on my car to do with the brake-by-wire system. Getting this device working correctly is definitely something that contributes to the general feeling from the car, because it has a great effect on corner entry. Having said that, the F14 T improved right through Friday and Saturday and not getting into Q3 was not down to the competitiveness of the car.”
Kimi then returned to the key word of the moment. “First of all, we have to stay calm. The team is united, we know what we have to do and how to go about finding more performance. We also know this development process will not happen overnight and so we must be patient and concentrate hard on our work without watching what the others are doing. However, I’m sure that, if we work in the correct way, then right from the next race in Malaysia, the results can definitely be better.”
quote Inside Line: How Ferrari have transformed Kimi into a man of many words and wise ones at that
19 March, 2014
Kimi Raikkonen
Once again Ferrari, despite some of the finest Formula 1 brains in their midst, have yet again failed to kick start their season with a pace setting car and once again find themselves on the back foot, and in the aftermath of a below par Melbourne showing it appears that the team’s media department is (for some reason) going into damage control mode suggesting something is brewing in Maranello.
“The two words that spring to mind after the Australian Grand Prix are patience and work. Scuderia Ferrari’s main aim is clearly to make the F14T more competitive,” began Ferrari’s latest press release entitled: Wise words from Raikkonen.
“The feeling is that many teams used this first GP of the season to get a better understanding of the complicated new cars and that raises the hope that, as the races go by, the spectacle will also improve,” added the spin-doctors.
Then they proceeded to quote from the man of very few words, Kimi Raikkonen, who now appears to have transformed into a right old motormouth since he returned to the team he took to their last F1 title back in 2007.
The Iceman ventured: “I think that at the start of a season like this one, with new tyres but more than that, completely new cars, the main aim has to be getting to the chequered flag. We did just that and I was finally able to run a full race distance in this car.”
Kimi was obviously on a roll, “I’ve been in this game for quite a while now and I can say this is definitely not the first time that I’ve gone through a difficult first race weekend. We identified some general problems which we have to tackle in Maranello and there are other aspects linked to the set-up on my car to do with the brake-by-wire system. Getting this device working correctly is definitely something that contributes to the general feeling from the car, because it has a great effect on corner entry.”
(Several words in there that we have never, ever heard Kimi utter. Remember he is the one famous for his staccato one-liners, not this kind of flowing oratory – a true transformation.)
But there was just no stopping Raikkonen, as wise words continued to flow effortlessly from the Finnish wordsmith, “Having said that, the F14T improved right through Friday and Saturday and not getting into Q3 was not down to the competitiveness of the car. First of all, we have to stay calm. The team is united, we know what we have to do and how to go about finding more performance. We also know this development process will not happen overnight.
“So we must be patient and concentrate hard on our work without watching what the others are doing. However, I’m sure that, if we work in the correct way, then right from the next race in Malaysia, the results can definitely be better,” concluded the Wise One.
Now we were going to carry this piece as news, but I simply could not resist analysing the essence of the piece, because it is a serious case of very naïve spin doctoring, but at the same time clearly signals that all is not well in the hallowed halls of Maranello.
In this press release alone, which alleges to quote Raikkonen, we have more words from the notoriously tight lipped man from Espoo than he tends to speak in an entire year. And come on guys in red how can you expect us to believe Kimi said: “First of all, we have to stay calm. The team is united, we know what we have to do… blah, blah, blah.”
Kimi does not speak like that, unless he has been force fed some serious narcotics which I doubt he has. But that he even allows his name to be associated with such childish garbage from his team is astounding and food for thought.
Veteran media man Luca Colajanni, the team’s long standing head of Motor Sport communications, departed to join Marussia in February, replaced by relatively inexperienced Renato Bisignani.
This immature press release is likely to have been drafted at his desk, and shows a total lack of knowledge not only about the media, but Formula 1 and Ferrari. But he is a rookie so mistakes are made.
But orders for such a damage control piece to be concocted and distributed to media, comes from high up, probably Stefano Domenicali’s office and this possibility, if true, is seriously alarming.
And as things stand I have to wonder when Luca di Montezemolo will take a leaf out of Ron Dennis’ book and stage a coup d’equipe to get Ferrari back in order.
My guess it is merely a matter of time before likable, but ineffective, Stefano is made redundant. Watch this space.
Meanwhile, right now I cannot make head or tail of what this all means as too many theories gush into mind – hopefully some of you can and will share your insights with us in the comments below.
We of course will monitor this saga and get in touch with all the gelati vendors we have befriended, during our visits to Imola over the years, to dig for some information on exactly what is going on at number 19 Via Abetone Inferiore.
Whatever the case it is an intriguing scenario that is unfolding in Italy, where no doubt the Italian media are sharpening their daggers as their beloved team once again looks set to under deliver and another year of playing catch-up is going to be hard to stomach.
But, perhaps the most compelling factor of this Maranello soap opera is the sudden urge by our man Kimi – whose return Domenicali championed – to start yapping with such enthusiasm and spewing forth such pearls of wisdom, at this rate the Iceman will have his own talk show! (Inside Line by Paul Velasco)
A controversy has erupted after relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysia airlines flight had to change hotels when the Ferrari team touched down for this weekend's Malaysian grand prix.
The media reports, including by the German newspaper Die Welt, said that because Ferrari had reserved the rooms at the Cyberview hotel, the grieving relatives of those on the missing flight MH370 had to move out.
"When the first Ferrari employees wanted to check in, they were told that their rooms were occupied," read the Welt report.
"After heated discussions, the Italians prevailed."
A hotel spokeswoman confirmed: "It is true that the Chinese families were here, but they are already gone as we are fully booked because of the formula one race."
Welt added that the hotel arranged alternate accommodation near the Kuala Lumpur airport for the passengers' families.
F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone commented: "I feel very sorry for the families of the passengers, but ultimately the decision lies with the hotels.
"Imagine what would happen if hotel bookings suddenly become invalid?" he added.
Welt newspaper said that hotel rooms for F1's vast travelling circus are booked "months, sometimes even years in advance".
quoteScuderia Ferrari @InsideFerrari 56m Allison: “Development on all fronts” #ForzaFerrari http://bit.ly/1hsgI4j pic.twitter.com/uCFQHy8Zkz
quoteAllison: “Development on all fronts” Maranello, 31 March – The day after the Malaysian Grand Prix Ferrari is already at work on development of the F14 T aimed at improving the overall performance of the car. The Scuderia’s Technical Director James Allison summed up the work carried out so far and what is still to come: “We are working in a constant way and with the highest levels of dedication in all the areas of potential development. We brought a useful upgrade to the Malaysian GP and were duly rewarded with a more competitive performance than at the first race, but the whole team is in no doubt about the size of the challenge that remains ahead of us this season.”
The work towards better performance encompasses all areas: “We are not disregarding anything,” adds Allison. “Much has been spoken about the new power units on the 2014 cars, but it is rarely mentioned that 1% of engine power is not so different in its effect on the stopwatch as 1% of aero efficiency.”
The road to follow in the Technical Director’s mind is clear: “Our development programme will keep delivering steps to the efficiency of the F14-T; aero, power unit, mechanical grip – race by race these steps will help to hunt down those in front.” Allison signs off with a sign of optimism even if Bahrain will be another very difficult race for the Scuderia: “If we can keep up the progress that we made between Melbourne and Malaysia then it will start to tell in both in grid positions and in the Championship.”
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/tailor-...h.uXHooUHE.dpufhttp://formula1.ferrari.com/news/tailor-made-development-f14
quoteMontezemolo held meeting to reassure Alonso ESPN Staff April 8, 2014
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo held a meeting with his driver Fernando Alonso ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix to discuss the team's struggles this season.
Like all teams on the grid, Ferrari has not been able to match the pace of Mercedes at the start of the season, but has also found itself struggling to come out on top in the midfield. Last year Ferrari made a spat between Montezemolo and Alonso public, but this season the Ferrari president and driver appear to be working together behind closed doors to resolve the team's issues.
"He came on Sunday morning and we worked together in my room for 10 minutes," Alonso said. "We tried to put together everything we found in the first two races and what will be the next steps coming from the performance side and the car, with maximum pushing and maximum dedication from everyone in the team.
"He just wanted to pass me this message that Ferrari is doing 100%, and on our side as well - the drivers, engineers, mechanics and everyone trackside - will work day and night because no-one is happy. We are very united in the team and the president can be 100% sure that we will do 24 hours starting from Tuesday and Wednesday when we do the test and I will drive both days. We won't rest until the situation changes."
Alonso has found himself struggling against all the Mercedes-powered teams this season and was beaten by both Force Indias and both Williams in Bahrain. He is hoping some of the upcoming circuits will play to the strengths of Ferrari, but admitted there is still a lot of work to do.
"It's no good obviously, we would like to have extra speed and be able to battle with everyone. At the moment we are missing that aspect but we have some strong points and some of the circuits will show those qualities. If at the next grand prix or two grand prix we are quicker than Hulkenberg and Williams etcetera, we can say to them that they are missing some of the speed that Ferrari has in the corners.
"It depends circuit to circuit, but we need to improve in all areas - on the chassis side, on aerodynamic efficiency, power - there are many things and we need to deliver some good results in the next grands prix."
quoteApril 8 2014 3:08 PM A mid-session update from Ferrari after Fernando Alonso's early stoppage:
'He spent yesterday with the engineers, going over the F14 T’s development programme for this session in the smallest detail. It’s hotter than last week, with not too much wind in the desert location.
'Before the lunch break, Alonso had done 31 laps on Medium tyres, with a best time of 1.37.375. The Scuderia started off checking some aero measurements before moving on to set-up work on the mechanical front, aimed at improving the balance of the car, especially at the entry and exit of the corners.'
James Galloway
i wonder...if they make set ups, will they suit Kimi too??
no I don't think so Kimi said the same driver should do the parts development for sure, so to he concentrates on his setup Kimi will test in Barcelona so we'll see. good things is Kimi's feedback after race takes care well n works good to him the car is still shit though
Quote: luviceman wrote in post #492the car is still shit though
This is, unfortunately, the reality at the present moment.
And I fear the same for Ferrari in China. They may go well through S1 and S2.. But I think S3 will be devastating. They are clearly behind with their engine power to other teams. And it will be difficult to keep Mercedes powered teams behind on the long back straight.
Quote: luviceman wrote in post #492the car is still shit though
This is, unfortunately, the reality at the present moment.
And I fear the same for Ferrari in China. They may go well through S1 and S2.. But I think S3 will be devastating. They are clearly behind with their engine power to other teams. And it will be difficult to keep Mercedes powered teams behind on the long back straight.
The poor Chinese Kimi fans!
so LdM only have meeting with Alonso. Doesn't Ferrari has 2 drivers?!
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Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:51 pm
, go do it!
reply
Kimi said the same driver should do the parts development for sure, so to he concentrates on his setup 
the car is still shit though 
so LdM only have meeting with Alonso. Doesn't Ferrari has 2 drivers?! 
