Ferrari: thunder and lightning after Barcelona

The Montmelò track, among those of the World Championship, is the one that can best indicate the values ​​of the forces on the field in the F1 Championship.

Track that never lies
It is no coincidence that the (few) winter tests also take place on this track. Its mix of fast, medium and slow corners puts the mechanics and aerodynamics of the single-seaters to the test, and rewards the quality of the most successful cars.

This track also underwent a facelift: escape routes were paved, while T3 was battered with the first of the two corners being reduced to a sharp braking, and the first of the two final curves transformed into a useless chicane. Despite this, fortunately, the track remained technical and, this year too, once again confirmed the hierarchy in F1 performance this season.

Red Earthquake
The confirmation of the goodness of Red Bull and Mclaren (against all winter predictions) and the serious step backwards shown by Ferrari, have today led to the first shock of 2011. Aldo Costa, as you know, has been removed from the role of Technical Director of Ferrari , replaced by former Mclaren Pat Fry.

In the face of increasingly 'extreme' (and pardon the pun) extremes on the part of Red Bull and Mclaren, Costa has probably paid for the fact that it has often directed the development of Maranello's single-seaters following a 'conservative', faithful logic ( perhaps too much) to the regulations. Even if, at the presentation of the F150°, there was talk of an 'extreme' car. We had noticed the overall few differences with the F10 The English, on the other hand, from this point of view, always try to find the stroke of genius which, by circumventing the regulation by finding the gaps, can provide an advantage in terms of performance. Blown exhausts, F-ducts, flexible wings, are some of the latest inventions seen on Hamilton and Vettel's cars in 2010 and 2011. Without considering the Renault front exhausts.

Being conservative doesn't pay
And this is now a fact. With mechanical standardization, the only way to get ahead is to innovate, try something new, have a brilliant idea, even if it's borderline.

Being conservative paid off (and a lot), when the freedom of engines, ballasts and everything else allowed each team to have and follow its own philosophy. Ferrari was a master of this in its golden age. Starting from 2001, with the F-2001 and up to 2007, we witnessed a long evolution of the Cavallino cars. All winners except the F2005, a fish out of water 'thanks' to the temporary regulation of that season, which allowed only one set of tires in the race.

Now, in a standardized F1, it is the touch of magic that gives tenths. Ask Ross Brawn and the double speaker. Or the Mclaren F-duct, the blown exhausts and the flexible Red Bull wing. At the front exhausts Renault, but without Kubica. And Ferrari, in all this? Not received.

Let's take the Mclaren example. At the presentation everyone rolled their eyes at such innovative sides. The winter tests were a disaster (almost 1/3 of the Ferrari's Km), and there was already talk of the year being thrown away due to the risk of looking for the humpback. And instead? Hamilton has one victory under his belt and finished within six tenths of Vettel on Sunday. This is because Mclaren, as happened in 2009, is perhaps the team that best knows how to get back up in the face of negative situations. The problem was identified (a complication in waste management), we went back to a more standard solution and here came the performance, and what performance.

What will change?
At the basis of everything, however, is the attempt to bring something new and never seen before. Something that hasn't been seen in Maranello for a long time. It's a shame for Aldo Costa, because with his departure the concept of an 'Italian' Scuderia from the point of view of technical management, which was aimed at after the departures of Brawn, Byrne and Todt, will be shattered.

After the exits of Baldisserri and Dyer, now it's Costa's turn. We don't know if this choice can be defined as risky or not. Apparently it isn't, but as we have seen the direction of the project was clear right from the start, from the presentation of the F150°. There were reasons to act earlier. What motivates our questioning whether it was right to send Costa away ORA is the fact that, in this F1, with these tyres, it takes very little to go from a disappointing result to an exhilarating one and vice versa. Alonso, in Turkey (no more than two weeks ago), finished third, 10 seconds behind Vettel. And there was already talk of a comeback. We would not want, essentially, that this turning point was given more by instinct and anger for a thin figure than by reason. Because we are only at the fifth race out of 19, or 20 if Bahrain will also be there. Furthermore, a change in progress does not necessarily help to lift up environments if they are 'heavy'. Ask football teams in crisis.

However, it is clear that the saying 'We win together, we lose together', which was heard so much last year, is no longer valid at Ferrari. Dyer and Costa are examples. And the next on the list is Stefano Domenicali.

Alessandro Secchi
F1Grandprix.it