Reliability Will Improve – Domenicali

The Maranello-outfit had headed into the season-opener as favourites
to continue the run of form that had helped Kimi Raikkonen win last
year’s drivers’ championship.

But a series of problems through practice and qualifying, allied to
spins by both drivers in the race, left them struggling to take the
fight to rivals McLaren – before engine failures ultimately put them
out for good.

However, a disappointed Domenicali has vowed that the team will react to the Melbourne events in time for Malaysia this weekend.

"We said it at the start: reliability is a fundamental element and
to have had the engine breaking down for both drivers obviously doesn’t
give us peace of mind," said the Italian, who took over from Jean Todt
at the end of last season.

"We must understand everything but this is obviously the most worrying thing. We must react."

Ferrari used to be the most reliable team in the pitlane but that trait has fallen away over the last two years.

Domenicali said he did not know why that was the case, although
suggested the switch to a standard ECU could have played a factor in
the latest troubles.

"Reliability counts for plenty," he said. "Unfortunately, if I
remember correctly, we started 2006 with two DNFs, but then our working
method, our never-give-up attitude took us down to the wire.

"Today we had engine trouble, but with this rule-book the gearbox is
another element to keep in check. Let’s not forget that with MES (the
standard ECU) we can have some problems in understanding the system,
and how to integrate it with the car. We must still discover it in full.

"So I repeat: there is still plenty to do from this aspect, and this
will make the difference. It’s clear that we weren’t phenomenal guys
before and we haven’t turned stupid now.

"Obviously we need to analyze step by step everything that has
happened, because it’s been a really bad weekend under every aspect."

And although Raikkonen’s two mistakes, running off the track once
and then spinning later on, did not help matters, Domenicali is not
critical of the Finn’s approach.
"A driver must always attack," he said. "We absolutely don’t feel
like criticising him under that aspect…He was right to attack him
because he felt he was faster than him."

It’s good that the new Ferrari team boss is keeping moral high with Kimi and when they go to Malaysia this weekend there will be no option other than to give maximum attack. To improve the F2008’s reliability against the bullet proof McLaren, they need to discover everything’s limits and Kimi’s the best man to show the car’s potential reach.