Race Incident » Ferrari

Radio frustration

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:13:40 +0000

It’s not easy being a Ferrari fan this year (thankfully I’m not one). It’s even probably not easier being Felipe Massa. Felipe’s frustration over the radio when told he had to slow down right in the middle of his battle with Vettel in order to make it to the finish and not run out of fuel is one of the highlights of the 2009 Spanish Grand Prix.

- Fuel consumption is too high on the last lap. We won’t get to the end, we need to do another stop. So you need to keep saving. You need to keep saving.
- Well what can I do?! I need to fight for the position. What can I do?

Here it in the following YouTube clip (with Japanese commentators chatting away between the radio communications).

Photos of the new Ferrari F60

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:45:26 +0000

Scuderia Ferrari launched its new Formula 1 challenger the Ferrari F60 today at Mugello. The car, built for the new 2009 specifications which really tries its best to Formula 1 cars ugly, was the first car launched for the coming 2009 season. This will be the new office for Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa.

(I won’t show the photo to the right in high resolution because of the absolutely hideously Photoshopped sponsor background. They have probably fired their art department to cut costs for 2009. — UPDATE After seeing the launch video I discovered that the background isn’t Photoshopped in. So it actually looks naturally crap, in some weird way. My apollogies to the Ferrari art department. I have to put the blame to the ones doing the actual presentation. )

Below you can see some high resolution shots of the new car. While I still haven’t come to terms with the new sizes of the rear and front wing – it’s damn good to see a Formula 1 car on slicks again!

Alonso to Ferrari in 2011?

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:51:19 +0000

A while ago Race Incident reported that the Spanish bank Santander were switching to Ferrari to sponsor the team from the 2010 season and beyond. Santander previously sponsored McLaren when Fernando Alonso drove for them so the Ferrari-Alonso deal didn’t seem that far fetched – hence our little Alonso to Ferrari in 2010? post.

Now Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that Fernando Alonso has already signed a four-year-deal with Ferrari and will join the team in 2011 – continuing his racing with Renault until then.

Stay tuned for the Alonso to Ferrari in 2012? post.

Ferrari’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System may not be ready

admin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:43:38 +0000

Crash.net are reporting that Ferrari’s new KERS system may not be ready for the opening race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Teams like BMW Sauber and McLaren have been testing their KERS systems during recent testing but Ferrari has been a bit behind on the new system.

The Kinetic Energy Recovery System will be used to boost the car’s performance by recovering the normally wasted kinetic energy generated by the car’s braking process. This energy will the be stored using either a flywheel or a battery and then be made available to the driver via a “boost button” on the steering wheel. The power gain will be regulated to approximately 80 horsepower.

“We’re working a lot on the energy recovery system,” the Ferrari technicians said. “We’re a bit behind on our schedule, but our goal is to be ready with a working KERS for the first race, which will be held in Australia. Meanwhile we’re also appraising the car without KERS.

Alonso to Ferrari in 2010?

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:53:15 +0000

The Spanish bank Santander has made a deal with Ferrari for sponsorship after the 2009 season. Santander is currently a sponsor with the McLaren team and the bank’s boss Emilio Botin has made no secret that he wishes to reunite the brand with Fernando Alonso. Santander joined with McLaren when Alonso signed for them in 2007.

“Alonso is the best driver in the world and we would like to work with him”

Both Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa have contracts for Ferrari in 2010, but you never know in Formula 1.