Reliability still not good enough for Ferrari chief
(Agencies)Updated: 2007-07-10 08:53
SILVERSTONE, England - Ferrari chief Jean Todt celebrated victory in Sunday's British Grand Prix with Kimi Raikkonen but said his team must get on top of their reliability problems.
 Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen from Finland sits with the winning trophy, center with sunglasses and cap, along with his team members after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 8, 2007. Raikkonen won the Grand Prix ahead of McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver's Fernando Alonso from Spain, second, and Lewis Hamilton of Britain, third. [AP] |
Hopes of another Ferrari one-two after last weekend's win in France were dashed even before the start when Felipe Massa's car stalled on the grid - relegating the Brazilian to a distant start from the pit lane.
It was the third mishap to hit the team after a gearbox problem in Australia left Massa back in 16th on the grid, while Raikkonen was forced out in Spain by alternator trouble.
Todt, who absolved Massa of any blame, told reporters: "We're really pleased for Kimi's result and sorry that Felipe's car had a technical problem that prevented him from being up at the front.
"This year we have cars that are generally competitive, given that we've won five grands prix out of nine...but in terms of reliability we are behind and this is reflected in the overall standings.
McClaren rival Lewis Hamilton leads those standings on 70 points after finishing third on Sunday, followed by teammate Fernando Alonso on 58, Raikkonen with 52 and Massa on 51.
"I always say, we have got two great drivers but we have to give them a good car," the Frenchman said.
"Sometimes we don't give them a good car, sometimes, like today, we didn't give them a reliable enough car and we pay the consequences."
Despite Massa's setback, the Brazilian fought his way up through the field to finish a creditable fifth.
"All things considered, I am happy with what I achieved today," said Massa, a back-to-back winner in Bahrain and Spain.
"Sometimes everything goes your way and other times, unexpected things shatter all your plans and you have to try and make the best of the situation.
"I am disappointed to have lost points in the classsification, but that's life."
Ferrari have another two weeks to work on the problem, before the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in Germany.
Wake-up call
Sunday's successful British Grand Prix should serve as a wake-up call for Silverstone's owners, according to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The Briton said he was delighted with the capacity 85,000 crowd and renewed interest in Britain thanks to McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton, but the race's future beyond 2009 remained uncertain.
"It hasn't changed anything has it?," he told reporters at the suggestion that Hamilton, who finished third on Sunday for his ninth podium in a row, had made the race more secure.
"Maybe they will be able to wake up and think they can make things work and do something."
Ecclestone said the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) needed to get moving on plans to revamp the pit and paddock complex.
While BRDC president Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, said he hoped to get planning permission approved by the end of the year, Ecclestone suggested that would be too late.
"We have a contract that's been in place for five years, they've known for five years exactly what has to happen," he said. "By mid 2008 we've got to have the new buildings and everything put in place."
"I hope they've had a wake-up call and I hope they do something."
Silverstone hosted the first championship grand prix in 1950 but is at risk
with new races in Valencia, Singapore and Abu Dhabi due to be added to an
already crowded calendar.
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