Comments on: How Ferrari’s British Grand Prix Fell Apart

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:15:05 +0000

Are they short on cash or brains?

I love that line, brilliant.

I suspect Ferrari will have learned from their mistakes though and will come back strongly in Germany. While I agree that Brawn probably wouldn’t have made that call with Kimi’s tyres, I don’t think the race should be put down to his defection to Honda. Besides, Ferrari made a lot of changes for 2007, and indeed for 2008.

Last year Brawn was on sabbatical and Ferrari took both crowns. Admitedly, they may have lost out on the contructors had McLaren not been disqualified, but no one can argue the drivers title. Ferrari have also won more races this seaosn than McLaren. I think it was just a bad race full of bad decisions. They’ll be back to form in a fortnight.

By: phil

phil — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:11:36 +0000

…and not only that, but all they had to do was watch Barrichello’s times on the full wets to know that, had they had put Kimi on full wets he would have made the 30 sec for the pit stop up in 3 laps, and another 1 1/2 to 2 min up over the next 6 to 12 laps. They firstly took a gamble when they didn’t need to, then they failed to take a gamble when they needed to. What the hell is wrong with these guys? They’re at the top of their field and they’re making primary school mistakes. Phew! Ok, i feel a little better now. But if Raikkonen loses the title by 2 points to Lewis I’m going to Maranello to pick a fight.

By: phil

phil — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:04:49 +0000

I just finished watching a recording of the British Grand Prix…in disbelief. How any team, let alone a team like Ferrari, could have made such a catastrophically and blatantly wrong decision as the one, nay, two, that failed to take Kimi to the top of championship table beggars belief. Not only did they fuel him SHORTER than Lewis, when they knew he had a faster car at the end of the stint than the Maclaren, but against ALL predictions, and not even needing to leapfrog Hamilton to move ahead in the table they opted to leave his tyres on! WTF?! Are they short on cash or brains?!? It’s one of these two. I’ve been following F1 for ten years now, I’m no race engineer, but that was a dead set no brainer. Someone should be stood down because of that decision. I’ll happily put my hand up for the job. I can’t speak Italian, but I can think clearly. Stupid a..holes!

By: zerogee

zerogee — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:28:08 +0000

Pretty ordinary all round. Massa seems particulary adept at dropping the car in the wet or when traction is compromised – how he finished Monaco is anyone’s guess. I reckon the Ferrari was running too low to the ground hence the vicious aquaplaning from both cars.

And they should have changed Kimi’s tyres – awful decision. What was even worse was leaving him out on them. He should have pitted for extreme wets and won the race. Amazing how a single decision can decide so many things…

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:56:15 +0000

Massa spun five times, incidentally (and Raikkonen spun twice). He must have been dizzy afterwards… But yes, the strategy from Ferrari was pretty terrible at the British Grand Prix.

By: links for 2008-07-07 » vee8 - a Formula 1 blog

links for 2008-07-07 » vee8 - a Formula 1 blog — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:30:49 +0000

[...] How Ferrari’s British Grand Prix Fell Apart – BlogF1 (tags: Ferrari BritishGrandPrix FelipeMassa KimiRäikkönen) [...]

By: Caleb

Caleb — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:18:12 +0000

Very stupid decissions from a team that should be in the drivers seat of this championship. Ridiculous gambles at that point in the race may be fine for a mid pack team like Renault who needs to roll the dice sometimes, but Ferrari was looking good for at least second, and should have a more calm nature when reacting to things. I agree with Stew, the mind of Ross Brawn was a major loss for Ferrari, and it’s this type of race where Ferrari normally would have the perfect strategy worked out, not a knee jerk reaction to the weather that cost them another win!

By: Stew

Stew — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:56:01 +0000

The loss of Ross Brawn is starting to show in the organization with little mistakes here and there. This race a prime example. Ross Brawn wouldn’t have made the tire mistake.

By: Arnet

Arnet — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:59:20 +0000

Those of us that predicted that Massa would be one of the drivers caught out in the wet without TC seem to have been right.