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F1 Q&A: Ferrari boss on 2011

Dieter Rencken attends the 2011 Wroom conference and chats to Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali on the upcoming F1 season as well as Felipe Massa’s future within the Italian team.

Q: What are your goals and objectives for the 2011 F1 season?

A: For 2011 our goals is very clear, that we are aiming to win both the titles, constructors’ and drivers’ titles, this must be the goal of our team. And so the expectations, that of being able to have a car competitive from the start, a reliable car, a strong car, and I have to say that we’ve seen this last year. If you’re not perfect within such a competitive environment, with opponents that are so strong with teams, which also varied numerically, then it becomes difficult to win.

So the goal is that of being better than last year, especially in terms of performance, with a car which must be competitive from the start, it must be reliable – as it was reliable last year – but improved where possible because with every reliability you make a breakthrough, and we must be perfect in interpreting the events which take place during races, because also from this point of view we do not make mistakes.

Q: When will you present the new car?

A: Maranello, 28th of January. We will go directly to the first test in Valencia, which in the first week we’re going to have Fernando Alonso, the third day Felipe, and after that we will continue with second tests in Jerez, Barcelona and Bahrain. So the car that you are going to see at the launch is not going to be the car which is going to start in Bahrain, meaning that we are going – as all the teams will do – to evolve the car until the last race. You will see some things that will be surely different during the first race on March 13th. So we’re presenting the 28th January, Maranello.
 
Q: Let’s talk about politics: There are some grey areas vis-à-vis the budget of the teams, the limits, and the definitions of what can and cannot be spent. Any thoughts?

A: So for the thresholds of the expenditures, I can speak about our situation, I have to say we continue to do this, we respected what has been set by FOTA in the budget which has been set. And I think that this has been a major achievement by FOTA to go in the direction of cost reduction. From this point of view, it has been a stimulus. And I have to say that the major teams, and us in particular, we have accepted this challenge, and we’ve gone in the right direction in terms of the overall expenditures in F1. If you want to speak of the rumours which came out over the past few days, I think that FOTA as an organisation has the tools to make the necessary verifications, the necessary assessments, to discuss them in forthcoming meetings.

Q: From a personal point of view, how do you feel about the upcoming season?

A: No, I feel well. The designers that are doing well, because we have all of the elements to be able to do what our team deserves. As far as my motivation is concerned, I can guarantee you that the entire team is positive-minded. We are approaching a new season with enthusiasm, the right enthusiasm, and I think that it is fundamental, especially at the start, to start by putting aside – from a psychological point of view – by putting aside the last race in Abu Dhabi. It’s like a tennis player who does a bad match, or someone who shoots a penalty and makes a mistake, you go back to, you know, on the field, you mustn’t have a trembling hand or a trembling foot. You have to go back in and play.

So on my part, what I did and what I’m going to do is to work on some psychological (aspects), because from a technical point of view we have some engineers who know what they have to do, but they have to show it of course with facts. From our point of view we have to set up a clean team, clean in terms of having (no) fears. It is human, of course, that one may have fears after a bad race such as the Abu Dhabi race. But I repeat – as of 2010, let’s take home especially the second half of the season.
 
Q: Tell us about testing the new Pirelli tyres in F1?

A: In that respect I have to say first of all that we have to thank Pirelli, because we don’t have to forget that without Pirelli, we are running on the rims. So that is a fundamental aspect not to be forgotten as a priority. Then of course they are in the process of a learning curve. They are a big company, the relationship for them it is essential that they have to be equal to all the teams, for they are a single supplier. We have settled down certain requests, that are basically the ones that all the teams wanted to achieve, and I have to say that I am confident that they will deliver a good product. It seems that on the front side the tyres are already basically almost defined. On the rear tyres I think there are still some steps to do, but they are on the way to be done. The only aspect that I would say is still a question mark from my point of view is the fact that, due to the time, we have not done any tests with the wet ones, so we don’t know how the wet and the old intermediate tyres will behave.

Then there is also the other point on the wind tunnel tyres, that is a fundamental aspect that needs to have the right correlation between the development that you do in the wind tunnel versus the real effect, that the development that has been done in the wind tunnel is the right one on the track. And this is something where Pirelli is working very hard, because we know that the technology of the wind tunnel tyre is quite difficult, and it is an area where they focus a lot to make sure that they are able to provide to teams a good product.
 

Q: You have now worked with Fernando for a season. From your point of view, what was the biggest difference compared to working with Kimi Raikkonen?
 
A: The language! (laughs) No, I’m joking. I mean, for sure Kimi had a different approach with the team. As you know, he was a fantastic and very strong driver. I think that the way that Fernando played the game with the team was different, because of the characteristics of the man, so we need to focus on that. It would be wrong to compare two persons, not drivers, because Kimi won the title with us. So I am speaking about persons that have different characteristics, and on that I have to say that the approach of Fernando with the team was different, because (of) his nature, and it was much easier for him to relate with the people at all levels.
 
Q: Can you see any Kimi Raikkonen returning F1?
 
A: I think that Kimi is a fantastic driver. It’s up to him to decide what he wants to do with his future. I know that he will stay rallying also this year, and he wants to win there. Then, maybe we will see if... Because for sure it is important for him to drive; it is a matter for him to decide or not.

Q: F1 is extending all over the world now, how do you feel about the number of races on the 2011 calendar? Are you supporting the Grand Prix of Rome, or are you supporting Monza, or both?

A: Mugello, Fiorano, don’t you forget that. [Laughs.] I mean, I think that the right number of races is 20. More is honestly, I would say, very, very difficult. Even now we are discussing with Bernie, you know, the fact that to start on the 13th of March and ending end of November, it’s very long. But the number is correct. I would say that we miss United States, for us (it) is very important. It should be 2012 in Austin, and the processes are there. I think we need to remember that the historical grands prix are very, very important, and this is something that… Formula 1 cannot miss that opportunity, because historically it means a lot.

I have to say that Bernie Ecclestone had good vision, to invest in new countries, because – you know – their interest, in certain areas this has happened in a very strong way, in other areas less. It’s a matter of balance. We cannot have, in my view, looking at the future, two grands prix in the same nation at the same time. Because, you know, if you are twenty, twenty’s twenty. That’s not what you want. So I think the approach of having one grand prix in a nation, in each country, is the right approach. Then the way that the countries manage that is not something that we need to be involved, it’s important in that respect that it has to be promoted in the right way, because we saw that in some countries that is not the case.

Q: Massa’s performance was not as good as expected in 2010. Did you speak to him about his performance and what are your goals for him during this season?

A: I think that is part of the, I would say normal job, not only with the drivers but also with the people, the engineers, the mechanics, the technicians. As I said already, the one that is not happy about this season that is finished, but is already in the past, is Felipe. I can see with another frame of mind, of course with (regard to) what I say between us is something that I keep for us. But in the very constructive way, as I said before, I can see him very, very motivated. Very, very motivated.

Q: You’re confident that Massa will improve this season and put last year’s performance behind him. But if he were to have another season like he did in 2010, would you look to replace him?
 
A: I think that, as I said, to say something before has no meaning, we need to see the situation day by day evolving as it is, and I think the example – I said that before – what was the judgment of our season race by race. Before, let’s say at five o’clock before Abu Dhabi, sorry, before the race or after the race, you see how things have changed completely, so it’s better to be, to do the step-by-step approach. For sure it’s important that we all together – all together – not only the drivers, but the engineers and the mechanics and the team has to do a good job, but then at the end of the day we will take the right decision. But that’s the approach.
 
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