Ferrari: The situation in the championship could be very different
Ferrari and Alonso now appear as underdogs against the duo formed by Vettel and Red Bull. But for Domenicali, the situation could be completely different without Alonso's recent retirements, which is why the Italian approaches the final stretch of this championship with a certain optimism.
In Formula 1, everything can change very quickly. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso had a 42-point lead over Sebastian Vettel, and the task for his opponents seemed tough given the disconcerting consistency of the Ferrari driver. Today, the hunted has become the hunter, and it is Vettel who is now leading the world championship with a narrow 6-point lead over Alonso.
Author of three consecutive victories, a first in 2012, the German is currently the favorite for the title, but Ferrari does not intend to give up so easily and hopes to make life difficult for the Red Bull driver by the end of the season. « For us, the objective is to ensure that we can provide the best possible car to Fernando, whether in terms of reliability or package choices, and then ensure, as Red Bull will certainly do, to bring developments that will allow the car to progress in the right direction, » explains Stefano Domenicali to our colleagues at Autosport.
Today, Red Bull seems to have the advantage, notably thanks to the use of a double DRS, but the Scuderia’s boss believes the gap is not that significant: « I think the gap is two-tenths, but in qualifying, I would like to find a bit more because we know they [Red Bull] are very strong on one lap. The championship is very long. It will be a difficult challenge until the end, I am convinced of that. »
The Italian also recalls that the championship could have a completely different complexion without the recent retirements due to accidents of Fernando Alonso: « Don’t forget that in the last five races we haven’t competed in two. The situation in the championship would be totally different if we hadn’t been taken out at the first corner at Spa and Suzuka, » observes Domenicali.
A remark that also applies to Sebastian Vettel, betrayed twice by his alternator, in Valencia where he had the race won and in Monza, otherwise the German might have been able to take the championship lead earlier. Proof, if any were needed, that history can always be rewritten. One thing is certain, this 2012 championship will definitively conclude on November 24th in Interlagos.
