Domenicali: Title Still 3 Way Fight

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali does not think McLaren’s
recent form means they have edged ahead in the performance stakes, and
instead is adamant the title fight remains completely open.

Although McLaren’s speed at the British GP in both the dry and wet,
plus their pace in testing at Hockenheim last week, has left some
suggesting they are now the team in beat in F1 – Domenicali still
thinks it is too close to call at the front of the field.

"We are not surprised because McLaren have always been competitive," Domenicali told this week’s Autosport about the recent speed of their main rivals.

"It’s possible there have been times when, for various reasons, they
have been able to show their full potential, but we are aware of their
strengths. It will be a good battle right to the end of the
championship."

With both Ferrari and McLaren having thrown away points this year
through driver and team errors, Domenicali believes the outcome of the
championship fight will not just be decided by whichever team develop
their car the best.

"I don’t think that the title fight is just between Ferrari and
McLaren," he said. "If I am not mistaken, there’s a team called BMW
that are second and a driver, Robert Kubica, who is just two points off
the leading trio. I have said from the start – this is a three-way
fight.

"As usual, the winner will be the one who has managed to make
progress with its car in the best way possible and who has made the
fewest mistakes."

Driving out the errors is the area that Ferrari driver Felipe Massa
thinks the team have to focus on, after their recent troubles at the
British Grand Prix.

"After Silverstone the team at Maranello worked a lot on many
different aspects, such as improving the procedures at the track," said
Massa. "I won’t give you any details, because this is confidential
information.

"But we know that we have to act to assure that certain mistakes
won’t happen again: this has to be one of our goals as of now until
Brazil."

Hmmm improving procedures at the track…confidential information? What, just doing a better team job is confidential!? Just say it, you really mean you need Todt and Schumacher’s advice again, haha. Jokes aside, it’s really about time that things get very serious now. It’s half way through the season and we have three rivals on level points, with the ‘outsider’ being just 2 points off. And with rain predicated for this weekend yet again, we’re in for some drama towards the end of this championship for sure! Will Kimi continue to remain the Silent Assassin, like last year, or fancy giving Lewis and McLaren a proper beating? We shall see in a few days but I wouldn’t be so unwelcoming to the rain now, Kimi looked very racey in a wet Silverstone and was actually faster than Lewis until the pit stop strategy error. All is looking much better now – Keep Flying Kimi.