Report Ferrari – A performance matching the gloomy weather

Ferrari doesn’t score big points this weekend and heads to China with a bitter taste. Räikkönen is indeed 17 points behind Hamilton in the championship, and the Scuderia knows that the title was played this afternoon.

However, it takes more than that to discourage the team, and even if the chosen strategy didn’t pay off, perhaps due to lack of luck, the team is determined to do their utmost to get Räikkönen to the finish.

Jean Todt – Director

« The race took place under torrential rain, and the safety car stayed out for 19 laps before starting the race. During that time, we noticed that the FIA had given permission to use the extreme wet tires by sending an email to the teams. We realized this a few minutes after the start. So, we informed both drivers to change tires. Our goal was to make up for lost time, and the drivers did a good job climbing back into the points. Especially Räikkönen, who finished on the podium. »

The race for the driver’s title now seems to be in jeopardy, but we will do our best to win the last two races, and we can always hope for a miracle…

Kimi Räikkönen – 3rd

« We started with almost no visibility. The hardest part was trying to see where the other cars were, especially when I had to refuel on lap 3, which ruined my race. We had indeed chosen to start with rain tires, but we’ll never know if that decision would have paid off. »

« Once I was back in the points, we did our best to move our supplies. In the end, finishing 3rd is not so bad. I made overtakes in difficult conditions, and the car could have been faster in the dry. However, it was good, which is why we didn’t lose too much time with the pit stop. »

The situation in the championship is significantly more complicated, but I will not stay still until the end!

Felipe Massa – 5th

The result of this race put an end to my title hopes, but looking at the whole season, I think I have been competitive. Unfortunately, we had some reliability issues. As for today’s race, I thought with rain tires we could get ahead of the competitors, but it was not the right choice, especially with the stewards’ email. So I did my best, and when I was getting closer to the leaders, I had to pit again… My battle with Kubica at the very end was my best moment of the race.

Luca Baldisserri – Race Strategy Director

« Our race was ruined by the stop both drivers had to make to change tires while we were unaware of the FIA’s decision. We had specifically chosen to start on simple wet tires because starting behind the safety car, we thought the conditions would improve. At the back of the grid, we tried to salvage what we could. Especially since the drivers, always behind other competitors, had no visibility. Fortunately, in dry conditions, the F2007 was performing well. »