ROME: New arrival Fernando Alonso said he was confident Ferrari had the machinery to challenge for this year’s Formula One title at the presentation of the team’s new car, the F10, yesterday.
TWICE THE POWER: This handout image released by the Ferrari press office yesterday shows the new Ferrari F10 car launched the same day at Maranello racetrack. — AFP photo
“It’s very exciting. I want to thank the whole team for the great job they have done over the last few months to build this dream, this new car,” Spain’s twice world champion said at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.
“We are ready to assume the responsibility on the track of taking it to 100 percent of its capabilities.
“I think with Felipe (Massa) we’ll be a very strong team. We hope to make all the Ferrari fans around the world proud to see the red colours win again.”
The Italian glamour team are hoping the F10 is a big improvement on last year’s car, the F60, which was outdone by Red Bull and eventual champions Brawn GP, who have been bought by Mercedes.
The most obvious of the many changes is that the car is longer than the F60 to accommodate a fuel tank that is twice as big a move made necessary by this season’s ban on refuelling.
The nose is slender and set high while Ferrari experts said the rear types are 30mm narrower.
Italian motor sport pundits do not expect the F10 to be dominant, in part because of the numerous staff changes Ferrari has undergone over the last 12 months, but they have great faith in Alonso’s ability to work with the team’s engineers to make the car as competitive as possible.
They are also counting on him to counter the threat of Ferrari’s former driver Michael Schumacher, after the seven-time world champion came out of retirement to join Mercedes, who have lost reigning champion Jenson Button to McLaren. — AFP