Scuderia Ferrari 2012

[Pierce89]

Easy killer. Fred probably would've made q3.

Not to get all Briany and s**t...

Given Ferrari's history, is "probably would've made Q3" enough?

Does anyone think this car will improve to such a degree that it could eventually outpace Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus or McLaren this year?

If the majority of the team hierarchy has been reshuffled, save for Domenicali, and the team is still sliding downhill, who's then responsible?

I don't believe this season can be salvaged. Even if it could, I think it would be a mistake to even try. This time, right now, while all of the other teams are largely focused on the current season, would be better spent cleaning house in Maranello. It won't be very long until the other teams turn their attention to next year and moving forward once again, and if that happens without Ferrari being able to compete on even terms, you might as well throw away next year, too.

Yes, I do think Ferrari's problems are that severe.

but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried

[donskar]

Fry was allowed to bring aboard a lot of new faces, so he should have a good supply of human resources. And IIRC, Domenicali credited Fry with bringing in new and more efficient processes and structures. Sometimes even the best f*** it up and produce a dud. I hope Fry and his team are given the time to succeed.

[Lycoming]

I suspect they will not be... people will cry for change and well, they'll end up doing what they always do. But with this kind of change of personnel, you need time to regain stability.

Its not unreasonable for them to turn the season around as Mclaren did in 2009. I think they can definitely challenge for podiums by the end of the year. But given the handling characteristics of the car, it seems likely at this point that this will not be a year where they are in the hunt for titles. They may have better pace in malaysia, perhaps this style of track doesn't suit them, but I'm not expecting miracles.

[Maynard G. Krebs]

I suspect that there is a significant chance that the problem is the relationship between the exhaust and the front suspension. The exhaust is affecting the rear downforce, which affects the front grip too, but something about the pull rod front suspension isn't allowing them to compensate properly.

Other teams messing with their exhaust have a better time dealing with the front because they understand the normal front suspension. Ferrari is exploring new territory both at the front and the back. Getting them to work together is likely quite difficult.

[bhall]

Its not unreasonable for them to turn the season around as Mclaren did in 2009.

I'm usually a voice of moderation on most issues*, especially those such as these. But, there is a Ferrari-shaped hole in the wall from where this team took off with its design concept for the F2012 and never looked back.

If that works, it's bold brilliance that heralds the arrival of a new era of sheer Ferrari dominance, because it means literally every resource the team can muster has been dedicated to a successful concept. If it fails - like seems to be the case - it's a catastrophe, because it means literally every resource the team can muster has been dedicated to a fatally flawed concept. That Ferrari did not have a plan-B in any form whatsoever for their exhaust concept is a very strong indication that the latter has indeed occurred.

Given the scope of the damage done, I think it would be foolish to proceed any further until their internal problems can be sorted out. They need to discover whatever it is that allowed them to take such a bold, but ultimately destructive, path. And that does not include additional development of this year's car. The F2012 is not the problem; the F2012 is the result of the problem.


* Recent history notwithstanding, of course.

[xpensive]

I believe that the real problem here is the limited testing available, in the old days, Schumacher would have pounded Fiorano day and night with Bridgestone supplying an endless stream of tyres until the car had been sorted out and that was that.

No can do anymore.

[bhall]

The engine freeze hasn't exactly done the team any favors, either. Previously, Ferrari could mask some degree of aerodynamic deficiency by just introducing a new, more powerful engine. Not only are they prevented from doing that now, they're also largely prevented from improving the current engine, which doesn't sit at the top of the class by any standard.

[dave34m]

Dont forget they had the power of veto over any improvements that the opposition could come up with, that must have benn worth a couple of champsionships wouldn't ya think.

[Spankyham]

The engine freeze hasn't exactly done the team any favors, either. Previously, Ferrari could mask some degree of aerodynamic deficiency by just introducing a new, more powerful engine. Not only are they prevented from doing that now, they're also largely prevented from improving the current engine, which doesn't sit at the top of the class by any standard.

Plus IMO the freeze has been put in place with Merc clearly having the most HP. Perhaps its time to allow engine adjustments to match HP.

[Spankyham]

Dont forget they had the power of veto over any improvements that the opposition could come up with, that must have benn worth a couple of champsionships wouldn't ya think.

Perhaps it was Ferrari themselves that "secretly" vetoed their own flexy rear wing (which passed every FiA test) in '06? Shades of the Piranha Brothers.

[Forza Ferrari]

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formula1 ... ekend.aspx

Ferrari seem to be very satisfied with how the éoperational" side of the gp went.

I got a few questions here :

it's said that Fry did the strategy, so not only is he responsible of the performance of the car as TD, but he also seems to be skilled to determine strategic choices during the race.

do you think he can be the new "brawn"?
I mean, the true leader of the most important aspects of the team : car + operational decisions.

And it was said that steve clark who joined the team earlier this year, was "head of race track engineering".
What does this mean? what is his role?
it was said that there was a new seat for him on the pit wall, so this job was created for him within the team.

a lot of quesitons, i know ^^

[Gerhard Berger]

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formula1 ... ekend.aspx

Ferrari seem to be very satisfied with how the éoperational" side of the gp went.

I got a few questions here :

it's said that Fry did the strategy, so not only is he responsible of the performance of the car as TD, but he also seems to be skilled to determine strategic choices during the race.

do you think he can be the new "brawn"?
I mean, the true leader of the most important aspects of the team : car + operational decisions.

And it was said that steve clark who joined the team earlier this year, was "head of race track engineering".
What does this mean? what is his role?
it was said that there was a new seat for him on the pit wall, so this job was created for him within the team.

a lot of quesitons, i know ^^

Yep, we had the fastest pitstops, so that went well.

Pat Fry is technical director and head of on track operations. This was the same role that Brawn had when he was at Ferrari. My opinion is that Fry is very good at the operational side, having been a race engineer for many drivers over the years. However, i'm not sure about his capabilities as technical director. Brawn had a track record of winning as a TD. Fry doesn't have this.

[WhiteBlue]

So what is the opinion now where Ferrari stands in the pecking order after one race? Maldonado said they are slower than the Williams, which would put Ferrari somewhere at P6 of the constructors pace wise.

[FakeAlonso]

[bhall]

My thoughts immediately following Saturday's qualifying session: