(Formula1.ferrari.com)
The Ferrari Formula One team went into today's inaugural Russian Grand Prix hoping to close the gap to the Williams Martini Racing Team in the race for third place in the Constructors championship however it didn't turn out that way as the Italian outfit endured a difficult race which saw Fernando Alonso finish the race in 6th place following a great battle with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo while Kimi Raikkonen finished the race in 9th place.
Speaking following the race, Fernando Alonso stated:
'Today’s race followed the pattern set in the earlier part of a weekend in which we didn’t manage to be competitive, even if the car worked well from start to finish.
The entire race was particularly demanding from the point of view of managing the fuel consumption and especially in the closing stages, I had to save fuel. During the pit stop, the front jack didn’t work, but I think that even without this problem, I’d have finished in the same position, because the McLarens were faster.
We took a risk at the start because we knew it was an opportunity to make up some places, but after that, my race pace was what we’d seen to date and it wasn’t possible to do any more. We have not picked up many points, but we will continue to give it our all in the last three races, because third place in the Constructors’ championship is still a possibility, even if at the moment, the most important thing is to get some good news about Jules as soon as possible.'
Kimi Raikkonen has stated that the team will continue to do their best for the rest of the season, The Finn has had a very difficult return to Ferrari following two great season's with the Lotus F1 Team. The Iceman is currently in 12th place in the championship on 47 points with three race's left this season.
Speaking following the race, Raikkonen stated:
'We knew we could expect a very demanding race and that starting from far back it would not be easy to move up the order, but at the start we did very well. Unfortunately a Toro Rosso squeezed me towards the wall once we were on the straight. Because I had to brake hard, various cars passed me and I lost any chance of having a good race, because from then on I was always stuck behind other cars.
The car handled well and with a clear track I had a good pace, but we lacked top speed with which to try and overtake on the straight and having to save fuel meant I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to. We are aware that this year it’s hard to fight for the top places, but all the same, we will continue to try our best, starting with the very next race in Austin. That track is very demanding and interesting and I hope I don’t have the same problems I had here, so that I can aim for a good result. However, what I wish for most is that all our prayers help Jules at this difficult time.'
Ferrari head to the US Grand Prix in three weeks time 28 points behind the Williams Martini Racing Team following the Grove based outfit's sixth podium finish of the season at today's Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Speaking following today's race, Ferrari technical director Pat Fry commented by saying:
'Contrary to expectation, the Safety Car didn’t make an appearance today and the race was relatively straightforward to interpret, with a single stop for both our drivers.
I think fuel saving affected almost the entire field and that influenced the spectacle. Fernando and Kimi both got away well at the start, but while the former made up two places, the latter had to lift off the throttle, because he was squeezed towards the wall by a Toro Rosso. From then on, Kimi was stuck in a train of cars for the first half of the race, but after the pit stop he settled into a good pace, matching Fernando’s.
Unfortunately, in his case, we regret that he lost a place to Magnussen, as the front jack collapsed at his pit stop. Today we had a very similar race pace to Red Bull, while McLaren had a bit extra and it was difficult to attack them, even at the start with the DRS. While congratulating Mercedes for winning the Constructors’ Championship, we are still determined to keep fighting for as long as possible with Williams for third place.'
New Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne will take up his role within the Formula One team from tomorrow, Monday 13th October and it has been reported that Fernando Alonso may announce his plans for next season on that day and indeed Ferrari may confirm Sebastian Vettel as Kimi Raikkonen's team mate that day.
Speaking about today's race, Ferrari Team principal Marco Mattiacci stated:
'Once again, we find ourselves confronting a result that is a long way off our goals, but today, we must congratulate Mercedes who, after five years of hard work, have taken a well deserved Constructors’ title.
The back-to-back Japan-Russia trip has been a difficult one for our team, both on and off the track. In both races, we have learned a lot that will be useful for the future, in terms of how to improve on a technical level, but also when it comes to safety. I’m sure the final three races will provide an opportunity to try and get the most out of the team and the car, in order to end the season achieving better results.
While my thoughts and those of everyone are still with Jules, today I would like to thank Luca di Montezemolo, at what has been the final Grand Prix under his Presidency at Ferrari. I think we have been fortunate to work with a great manager like him and it will be exactly the same with a successor of the calibre of Sergio Marchionne.
The Italian team now head into the three week break in search of a way of overhauling Williams Martini Racing in the Constructors championship. The Italian outfit have yet to win a Grand Prix this season and have scored two podium finishes this season which came at the hands of Fernando Alonso in China and Hungary.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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