« There is still work to be done » according to Ferrari

The chief designer of Ferrari, Aldo Costa, downplayed expectations based on the Italian team for a probable domination of the 2008 championship. But everything does not seem ready for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix with the F2008.

The Scuderia made headlines this winter by posting very good results, even though McLaren seems to be gradually closing the gap between the two teams. Indeed, during the last day of testing in Barcelona last week, the British team was far ahead of its Italian counterpart.

Despite this apparent superiority, the F2008 single-seater has recently encountered strange reliability issues, including on Friday when Ferrari was testing alone at the Circuit de Catalunya.

During a race simulation, test driver Luca Badoer had to withdraw because the F2008 had an oil leak, Ferrari confirmed.

This means that we still have work to do to be truly ready for the first race in Melbourne, said Aldo Costa, chief designer at Scuderia.

« It only takes a small detail for it to ruin our race, » he added.