We will have to count on Ferrari

With this new F60, the Team and its drivers believe they have a rather competitive and very accomplished machine in their hands. A tradition of the house now. With Renault and perhaps BMW, the prancing horse firm will also be one of the rare teams to use KERS from Melbourne. Massa and Raïkkönen had already declared themselves very attracted by this system this winter…

Stefano Domenicali, Jean Todt's successor at the head of the Italian team, is aware that this 2009 season will be very competitive, but is convinced that, as usual, Ferrari will fight at the front.

“This season will still be very demanding, as usual. “, declared Domenicali. We have news car development with the few kilometers that the regulations allow us to do in private tests. However, the tests went very well and we will go to Melbourne with the conviction that we will still fight for the top places. »

Regarding the technical innovations coming into force this year, Ferrari drivers are totally won over by their impact on the behavior of the car, which they consider both easier and more fun to drive.

?KERS is very interesting to use, I hope it will make overtaking easier. From the first tests, the team was pleasantly surprised by the quality of its operation. », declared Kimi Raïkkönen.

Kimi had a difficult season in 2008. Disappointed at not having been able to defend his title, the Finn says he has now found a car more to his liking.

“I can confirm that I definitely prefer the F60 to last year's car. It is much more pleasant to drive. It's always a good thing for a driver and a team to start the season well, especially when you remember what the titles have been up to over the last two years? I won by a single point in 2007 and my teammate lost by a single point in 2008, which means every point counts. We will immediately try to collect as many points as possible.”

“It is difficult to make predictions given the amount of changes in regulations. Ferrari was very competitive during testing but we will only take stock of the F60 in Melbourne, when we will all be racing on the same amount of fuel. To get a more precise idea, we may even have to wait until the Malaysian GP to see which teams are really in front. »

For Felipe Massa, the return of smooth tires is certainly the most important point in terms of changing the car's behavior:

“Personally, I think the most important new thing is the return of slick tires. When the tires are worn, the car slips more than in the past, but this is not a problem, however, because we have more mechanical grip. The car is therefore easier to control, even in these conditions. »