Ferrari had a dreadful 2009, and just one win in a season will not suffice for the most successful F1 team in history. However the Italian’s have one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid, and it seems they have a car to match.
Ferrari F10
The Ferrari F10 looks shockingly simple on first glance, but it does feature a larger, more efficient double-diffuser, and the V-shaped nose cone invented by Red Bull’s designer Adrian Newey.
Ferrari’s technical director Aldo Costa has teased us by saying:
“The new Ferrari has a very interesting mechanical solution; most of the secrets are hidden under the bodywork.”
Aldo Costa
Rumour has it that one of those ‘secrets’ is the way Ferrari have mounted their engine, with La Gazzetta dello Sport suggesting that the V8 unit has been fitted to the F10 with a 3.5 degree angle, providing crucial additional airflow beneath the car to feed the more sophisticated and larger diffuser – something which could shave a vital few tenths of the team’s lap times.
The F10 appears to be more than competitive in testing, with the team looking quick and consistent, especially on long runs, and it should be putting Ferrari back where they should be – the front of the grid.
Drivers
In Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, Ferrari have undoubtedly one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid.
Fernando Alonso has had appalling cars at Renault for the last two years, and the two-time world champion will certainly be getting back to winning ways in the F10.
As for Felipe Massa, he has proved he has the pace, coming within seconds of winning the world championship in 2008 but we will have to wait and see if he is back, as he claims he is, to the driver he was before his horrific accident in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix last year. After his short break from F1, and the birth of the real ‘Felipe baby’ – his son Felipinho, his passion for the sport may have been re-ignited, and it could be the season for the Brazilian to shine.
The ability of these two drivers individually is undisputed, but their ability to work together as a team is yet to be known. Fernando Alonso has a history of not being a great team player, and not getting along too well with Massa, and both both drivers will want the number one seat.
Publicly, everything seems rosy at the team so far, but we will wait to see if that will continue!
I think Felipe will be up to speed,not sure whether Alonso will play a team role but it feels great to see that he is now having one of the fastest car on the grid.
Beautifully done. As a bonkers Ferrari fan I feel I can say this was a job well done Jack
Fernando will be fine. Even if something does go horribly wrong with the relationship (which the chances are practically nil in my mind) it doesn't matter as Felipe's contract is up so they can just show him the door without too much fuss.
It's about time Alonso got in a fast car. He won nsome respect from me by keeping his head down at Renault and making the best of it while his former teammate Hamilton went on to win the title and that must have been painful for him. I also feel a bit sorry for him as he lost his dream at Mclaren but hopefully he'll feel right at home in Ferrari.
Ferrari need more sharpness to them which has been lacking since Brawn, Todt and Schumi left but reliability seems to be solid which is good especially after the last couple of years. They should be right up there but it will be tough for Alonso (in his first year with the team) and Felipe (getting back into the cockpit) to secure the WDC.
Merci beaucoup, Steph!