Ferrari: We Have to Be Competitive from the Start

Although they are late on developing their Kinetic Energy Recovery System, Ferrari officials have insisted that their brand new F60 car will have to be competitive from the very first start in order for the Scuderia to have a chance of retaining their constructors' crown in Formula 1 for the second year running.

Present at the annual International Ski Meeting this week, team principal Stefano Domenicali insisted that 'playing catch-up' is not part of Ferrari's strategy for the upcoming season. He also pointed out that many of the technical innovations for the 2009 season will be implemented in their road car models after being tested for reliability.

“We started with a project, which is not an evolution of last year's car. Therefore it will be fundamental to be immediately competitive and to invest in reliability and in simulation, which is very useful, because the results can also be used in the road car production,” commented Domenicali.

As for the championship fight in 2009, Domenicali believes Ferrari's main rivals will be McLaren (as usual) and BMW Sauber. While admitting they will have a hard time in 2009 with Mario Theissen's team, Domenicali blamed BMW for 'not working together' with the rest of the F1 teams in delaying the introduction of KERS until after 2010. In order for FIA to postpone the technology, the Formula One Teams Association should have provided the international body with an unanimous vote on the matter. As expected, BMW disagreed.

“We specified that resolutions must be reached unanimously. But sometimes you have to compromise as well. Everyone could accept that, except BMW,” said Domenicali, while admitting “this season will be extremely competitive, while our main competitors are McLaren and BMW, and also Renault has done a lot of work.”