Ferrari to shift focus to 2012?
 |
| Ferrari test driver Marc Gene |
This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. The last thing on Ferrari's mind is giving up, test driver Marc Gene insists.
"I am sure we will soon win races," the Spaniard told the Marca sports daily amid reports the Maranello based team might be nearing the decision to switch its entire focus to the 2012 project.
"In the last two races, victory was very close," said Gene. "It will not take long. Ferrari is not a team that throws in the towel even when the chance for the title is the slightest one.
"This is a policy I support 100 per cent."
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admitted on Italian Sky television that he thought both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa had a chance of victory in Canada.
"I don't like to talk about bad luck," he said. "At the time of Alonso and Button's accident, each had a 50-50 chance. Well, Alonso went out and Button won the race."
Montezemolo also spoke against the rumors that Ferrari will soon write off the 2011 campaign.
"We must keep pushing," he insisted. "In Canada we had a very competitive Ferrari and I think it will be the same in Valencia.
"After that comes a very challenging circuit (Silverstone), but we are working hard."
It is reported that, after Silverstone, Ferrari will take a decision on the direction of the 2011 campaign, but for now Montezemolo said Maranello is pushing on.
"I'd rather see a competitive Ferrari that stops rather than one that finishes sixth or seventh. This car was not born well but I know the quality and determination of my men.
"We must respond knowing that this season did not start as we wanted. But hope dies last," added Montezemolo.
Team boss Stefano Domenicali told Tuttosport that Ferrari is not giving up despite big points deficits in both championships after just seven races.
"It is pointless to look at the standings. We must do what a football team does when it is behind: play every match separately thinking only to attack and to win," he said.
"Then, if the others go wrong and the situation changes, we will see where we are."
06/13/11 (GMM) The time is nearing when Ferrari might decide to write off the 2011 championship, team boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted.
The 150 Italia car has shown improvements in the past races, but Fernando Alonso is now almost 100 points behind the leading Red Bull with just seven races down.
"Ferrari is at a crucial moment of the season," boss Domenicali admitted to Die Welt newspaper.
"In the next races until after the British grand prix we will decide whether we continue to push for the world title or work already for the next season," he said.
The Italian insisted he is "confident" about Ferrari's progress recently but added: "Also I'm not from the moon.
"Red Bull is a very tough opponent.
"F1 has changed dramatically. Previously, the largest teams could work almost without limits, with no limitations on testing etcetera. For a team like Ferrari, it is more difficult to work under the new conditions.
"But we have to see that Red Bull has built an outstanding car; so good that in a victory the car is usually listed first as the winner before the driver.
"When we dominated, it was always Michael Schumacher first and then Ferrari. Now it's Red Bull and then Sebastian Vettel," he charged, obviously crediting designer Adrian Newey for the young German's runaway lead.
Domenicali, meanwhile, was left to defend Ferrari's situation, including the recent ousting of technical director Aldo Costa.
"There was no other solution," he insisted. "It was a necessary step to re-motivate the team and show them that there are no excuses, only consequences."