Ferrari wants to draw inspiration from the ‘Squadra Azzurra’ of 1982

For once, the Scuderia Ferrari starts the 2012 season on the defensive as the F2012 hasn’t really satisfied the Maranello team during the preseason tests. But Stefano Domenicali, Team Principal of the Italian team, doesn’t lose hope: « To those who ask me if I would sign today for a third place in Melbourne, I would respond that I sign nothing. Maybe the same will happen as during the 1982 Football World Cup when Italy started very poorly and won in the end, when it was most important » confides the Italian on the official site of the Maranello team.

Indeed, in 1982, the Squadra Azzurra approached the World Cup held in Spain in the worst possible manner after stringing together defeats and draws in friendlies. The team led by Dino Zoff, the iconic goalkeeper, then managed only draws in its three group stage matches against Peru, Poland, and Cameroon. However, in the second group stage, which pitted them against Argentina and Brazil, Italy qualified for the semi-finals where they faced Poland again and won 2-0 before claiming the title against the Nationalmannschaft, 3-1.

During the “friendly matches,” the F2012 did not meet Ferrari’s expectations, as Stefano Domenicali confirms: « We asked our engineers for an extreme car because, without it, we could not close the gap with the best. The first exhaust configuration showed good potential but caused problems: the tires overheated and performance was not stable. Therefore, we had to change the configuration, even though I didn’t particularly like it. We are still working on it, but we will not be able to test it before the Mugello tests in early May, because we think it could give us a good performance advantage. »

While Ferrari already seems to be working on a version B of its car, having called up Mika Salo for a test session in Suzuka aboard the 2010 F10 and already requested to retake the FIA crash tests, Stefano Domenicali assures that there is neither pessimism nor panic, but simply an awareness of the performance level of the F2012: The lack of satisfaction comes from the fact that we have not reached our technical objectives […]. We do not know exactly where we stand compared to others, and our lack of satisfaction could just as well prove to be excessive. That said, we will only have a clear idea of the hierarchy after the first four races.

The Italian, however, has a little idea about the forces present without taking the risk of situating Scuderia: « This year, Red Bull is still ahead. McLaren is in good shape, Mercedes has taken a step forward, and Lotus looks strong, but they also started well last year. Toro Rosso and Force India also seem good, especially on the fast lap. So, there might be some surprises at the start of the season, and then the situation will normalize, but I expect the gaps to be tighter than in 2011. »

The Ferrari Team Principal is nonetheless convinced that the foundations for tomorrow’s successes are being laid today: « Sport follows cycles. In the last thirteen years, McLaren has only won one driver’s title, Renault had two fantastic seasons and then nothing more, Brawn remains with a performance without future successes, and Mercedes has only achieved three podiums in two years, and for the moment, we are in a Red Bull cycle. In 2010, we inaugurated a new technical cycle: we made significant steps in terms of organization and working methods, mainly in the field of simulation and strategy. Aerodynamics is not yet at the adequate level: it is not easy to find the right people, but it must be a stimulus for those who work for us. I tell you this having lived at the forefront during the Schumacher era and remember how much we suffered before getting there. Ferrari will find a victorious cycle because all the foundations have been laid to achieve it. »

In the meantime, while some wonder if he is truly the man for the job, Stefano Domenicali assures that he has the support of the team and its president: « I have pressure on my shoulders, as it should be. I am not the one designing the car: my task is to provide everyone with everything they need in terms of organization and structure. That said, I am fully aware of my responsibilities. There is pressure, but I feel the support of the entire team and President Montezemolo. »

Moreover, Bernie Ecclestone confides in an interview with Der Spiegel that Ferrari’s difficulties have nothing to do with leadership. The problems are of a technical nature. Rather than firing someone, they should hire someone: Adrian Newey. Some at Ferrari have probably dreamed of it without waiting for Bernie Ecclestone.