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The Italian giants, Scuderia Ferrari were running second in the Constructor’s Championship, which was the only satisfactory result for them in this season. To their great disappointment, they slipped to the third position, four points behind Mercedes in the Airtel Indian Grand Prix. They did not have a great weekend in Delhi, where Sebastian Vettel ceased the Driver’s title and Red Bull the Constructor’s.
Their main driver Fernando Alonso has been losing the Championship to Vettel from the past four years. In 2010 and 2012, he was crowned the World Champion in the final race of the season in Brazil but 2011 and 2013 have been incredible years for the young German—he closed the Championship with few more races remaining in the year.
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Looking at the 2013 season of Ferrari, they did not have a great year though they had taken off well, with two wins out of five races. They have nine podium positions to Red Bull’s 17. Ferrari has two wins in their account this year, whereas the Austrians have ten wins which includes Vettel’s six wins in the last six Grand Prix.
Next year’s Formula One season is going to start from the scratch. There are a lot many of changes taking place in the regulations of F1. This might help the other Formula One teams to close their gaps from the Current Champion Red Bull Racing team. Ferrari has to make amendments to help Alonso catch Vettel and not to forget they have a new member, or rather we say they will be welcoming back Kimi Raikkonen in their team.
Qualifying is a huge concern for Ferrari
They have a very poor record of qualifying, with no pole positions this year. Ferrari’s last pole position was in 2012’s German GP. Surprisingly they had managed two pole positions in a row after Alonso started on P1 in the next weekend’s British GP as well.
In this season, their best qualifying for P2, when Felipe Massa started second on grid in Malaysia. Though the qualifying does not hurt Alonso much but at a certain point it did become a hurdle in his victories because Vettel was always seen on the podium after starting from the pole.
Inferior car: a problem
Alonso’s consistency in a slow-paced car raises doubts about Vettel’s driving abilities. But the level of success he has got in recent times cannot be overshadowed by claiming that he wins just because he has a faster car. In this year’s Hungarian GP Alonso made controversial comments about his car. When asked what he wanted for his 32nd birthday,” someone else’s car” was his reply. This had heated the environment in Ferrari’s homeland.
The Spaniard’s consistency failed to make a mark this year in comparison to Vettel’s dominance. Their appointment of former Lotus technical boss James Allison should have made life easy for Alonso but no such a thing was seen. Allison is one of the best at his job in the F1 paddock so he should make sure 2014 season becomes a comeback year for the “Prancing Horses”.
Pirelli tyres
Alonso had quoted recently that their Championship was derailed because of the midseason changes to Pirelli tyres which were used in 2012. He was confident about the previous set of tyres used in the beginning of the year where though they did not qualify well but took care of them in the race. Pirelli has decided to give the teams a taste of next year’s tyres so in the last three Grand Prix the teams would be getting to try those tyres in either first or second practice session.
They are waiting for an approval from the motor racing governing body FIA for this proposal. Though the models of the cars will be different but by using them now would give the teams a picture about the 2014’s tyres.
Raikkonen is no Massa
Ferrari principal Stefano Domenicali will be in Christan Horner’s place in the next season. Horner did not have a great time dealing with Mark Webber and Vettel who did not share a great relationship. Both being competitive, they always put Horner in a difficult position. Domenicali, as of now had a smooth life in the garage as Massa was never a complication in Alonso’s way to the title.
But the tables have turned now. Alonso should be prepared to get some huge amount of competition from his own teammate itself next year. As everyone knows how competitive Raikonen is—the Fin will be determined to make an impression in his former team which had replaced him with the latter. Domenicali has to make clear plans in handling both the former Champions.
If all these points are checked then there is nothing that can stop Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen from becoming the favourites for the Championship. Moreover, in terms of Constructor’s title, this duo is already considered to be the massive threats for the others teams.
