Scuderia Ferrari 2012

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Can someone confirm that a Ferrari teammember told Bernie that Alonso f*cked up in quali, and could have been in P2 ...
and that Massa told Bernie that Ferrari has not improved as much as been told lately. I heard these things on Belgian television, but could not find it here immediately ...

I would take the comments with a grain of salt so to speak. It's all hearsay. I think it's clear the F2012 has improved quite a bit. In other words, it's improved lots. To the point I think it can now be classified as a top car. Not the top car though.

As far as Fernando messing up in Quali, only himself & the team know the real answer. I think it's possible. The guy hasn't really made any mistakes this year to my knowledge, no big ones anyway so maybe. Not sure it much matters now. But even if they didn't win today, he's been great and I wouldn't blame him too much if he made a mistake in Quali.

[Chuckjr]

Does anyone know the F2012 updates that are coming to Silverstone?

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Scuderia Ferrari Racing News n10 (EN)

[Chuckjr]

I find it interesting that Rob, a 10 year veteran employee of Ferrari, and near lifetime F1 fan, sees this as a fantastic year -one of the best he has ever seen or been a part of- and loves the diversity of winners and that more drivers have a chance to take a win as well as the challenge presented technically to the team. 

Whereas so many people in this forum -who have never worked for F1- call the year crap racing and only for people who've been watching F1 since 2000. 

It was also great to hear his opinions of the F2012.

Great post Crutial. These videos are superb.

[SeijaKessen]

I find it interesting that Rob, a 10 year veteran employee of Ferrari, and near lifetime F1 fan, sees this as a fantastic year -one of the best he has ever seen or been a part of- and loves the diversity of winners and that more drivers have a chance to take a win as well as the challenge presented technically to the team. 

Whereas so many people in this forum -who have never worked for F1- call the year crap racing and only for people who've been watching F1 since 2000. 

It was also great to hear his opinions of the F2012.

Great post Crutial. These videos are superb.

I hate to point out the obvious, but for those who work within F1 to make a living, it wouldn't really be in their best interest to criticize anything about this season.

I don't think one needs to work for F1 to have an opinion on this season not being favorable. I can respect his opinion, but I personally feel he is being disingenuous.

Here's what I will say. I am currently reading Peter Warr's book on Team Lotus, and reading about the freedom teams had to try new things is by far more interesting than teams being so restricted now, that there is little freedom to try anything radical. Anything that may give a team an advantage, winds up being banned right away, which sort of goes against the spirit of what F1 was.

Seeing F1 turned into a near-spec race is sad...even sadder is that someone from Ferrari would think this is a great thing.

[SchumacherM]

So, the Scuderia brought the car to a level playing field to RBR and Mcl. How about them apples? Thoughts, opinions?

[marcush.]

fair enough ,´back then when Toyota intoduced those steeply inclined wishbones I thought that would never work as a compromise too much in favour of just aero gains.
And now again with Ferraris funny front pull rod I was wrong again ..it works and tells us another story just how different todays Formula 1 cars are and normal rules just don´t apply..

[Pierce89]

So, the Scuderia brought the car to a level playing field to RBR and Mcl. How about them apples? Thoughts, opinions?

I'm beyond impressed with the way The Scuderia has fought back this season. 1.5 seconds down on Mclaren in Austraila, now it looks as though they've passed Mclaren and Merc , to get almost level with Red Bull. I'd say Lotus is nipping at Ferrari, but man, we've straight passed Williams, Sauber, Merc, Macca, and Lotus since the start of the season. Hellz Jeah boooyyyyy!

[Hail22]

All these efforts will most likely be seen by some including myself in preparation for Monza...I believe in their eyes Ferrari needs to win at home to "lift" the spirits of the team, sponsors, and the almighty Tiffosi.

Hockenheim is quite a fast track, we may see a few slight upgrades...i suspect the new slimline wing with possible DDRS system will poke its nose out of the woodwork (referring to sensor strips found on the rear wing of the F2012 as well as the newly designed "thicker" engine cover at Silverstone).

[Nando]

I wonder if Hirohide could give Ferrari an advantage in the simulator in terms of creating the tire model.
I think he out of anyone could sit on quite a lot of knowledge about racing-tires and how they behave.
It would also seem logical that he would be one of the first to figure out these new "mysterious" tires Pirelli has provided this season.

Ferrari seems to be very consistent in making the tires work in all sorts of conditions lately.

[Pierce89]

Where have all the front pull-rod naysayers gone, lately?

[SchumacherM]

Humble pie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

About Hirohide...he knows Bridgestone tyres. Pirellis are such different animals, much softer and selfdestructable.
And Ferrari got burned twice already on tyres, costing them quite some points.

[raymondu999]

Humble pie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

About Hirohide...he knows Bridgestone tyres. Pirellis are such different animals, much softer and selfdestructable.
And Ferrari got burned twice already on tyres, costing them quite some points.

I think he knows tyres period. His macromolecular degree has to count for something....

[Hail22]

[f1316]

Humble pie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

About Hirohide...he knows Bridgestone tyres. Pirellis are such different animals, much softer and selfdestructable.
And Ferrari got burned twice already on tyres, costing them quite some points.

I think he knows tyres period. His macromolecular degree has to count for something....

Yes, I think Ferrari are actually one of the better teams in how they use their tyres this season. Many might point to Sauber and Lotus as using their tyres "well", but what we're seeing is that they use them gently, which is not necessarily the same thing. It means they're always out of position in races and this can lead to being held up and/or incidents.

What is necessary this year seems to be finding that balance. Christian Horner said after Canada, in which Vettel smashed everyone in Q3 but faded towards the end of stints in the race, that it's necessary to strike the balance between turning them on quickly but not wearing them out and that they went too far towards the former; I'd suggest Sauber and Lotus have gone too far to the latter. Ferrari seem to be getting a better understanding than most - not a perfect one, by any means - and I wouldn't be at all surprised if a former big wig at Bridgestone had a big hand in this.