Ferrari: One second place awarded, one still up for grabs

It's a question of seconds, understood as positions in the world championship rankings: certainly not what Scuderia Ferrari should aspire to but this year it has already gone that way. The US Grand Prix ended with a result that was certainly not exciting for the Maranello team: the ten points from Fernando Alonso's fifth place certainly cannot leave us satisfied, especially since the gap with Mercedes in the fight for second place in the Constructors' classification has risen to 15 points.

Instead, the second place of the driver from Oviedo in the Drivers' championship has become a certainty, given that none of his direct pursuers can reach him anymore: an important goal, even if not satisfying, neither for him nor for the team. “It's an important result, especially if we think about the problems we've had this year” – said Stefano Domenicali – “Fernando was extraordinary in Austin as he has been so many times in this championship. We owe him a lot and next year we must do everything to put him and Kimi in a position to win. For our part, we certainly can't be happy with how things are going and I'm the first to not be happy, as my engineers know well." Regaining second position in the last Grand Prix will certainly not be easy but anything is still possible, as Domenicali reminds us: “At Interlagos we often witness daring races and we will have to be ready to exploit every opportunity. I ask the team engaged on the track to make one last effort: we must give 101% to end this difficult season in the best possible way: in these days that separate us from the Brazilian weekend we will have to do everything we can to analyze the data and understand what didn't go well in Austin, especially regarding the difference in performance between the two cars, a problem which affected practically all the teams".

Another factor that could test positive at Interlagos will be Felipe Massa. The Brazilian driver will be on his farewell pace in Red right on his home circuit and where he achieved perhaps the most significant victories of his career, that of 2006, when he raced in the suit with the colors of his country, and that of 2008, when he was world champion for a handful of seconds. “I am sure that Felipe will do everything to end his story with Ferrari in the best way and that this will make him find something more within himself in terms of performance” – said Domenicali – “Moreover, he has always gone on that track very strong and the affection of the fans will give him extraordinary motivation."

The team left Texas yesterday morning aboard a charter flight bound for Sao Paulo, Brazil, where it will land in the evening. From tomorrow morning we will immediately return to work to set up the garage and work areas at the Carlos Pace Autodrome, home to one of the historic events on the world championship calendar. For the moment the weather situation seems stable: no rain and temperatures expected to exceed 30°C but we know well how things can change quickly in the Paulista megalopolis.