Bluster or bravado? Ferrari, McLaren talk up chances
July 17, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under Prime & Option
As Todt and Vatanen continue to build their campaign/battle for the FIA presidency, there actually is some on-track and race-related news for those of us who, as Grace might say, actually care about the sport and the racing.
In no particular order of relevance, here is a quick roundup:
- McLaren has confirmed it will continue to run KERS for the remainder of the season. “It is our intention to keep running KERS for the rest of the year,” Martin Whitmarsh said, according to autosport.com. “The alternative strategy is to redesign the whole car without KERS and that takes a lot of resource and detracts from next year’s programme so we have a KERS package that works. The team also is so encouraged by its updates at the German GP, including an upgraded floor and front wing, that it is targeting a “win” in Hungary. [I'm serious.]
- Piquet is safe in his seat — at least through Hungary. [Again, I'm serious.]
- Buemi believes Toro Rosso is bringing to Hungary such strong improvements that they can fight for points. [Is one of those improvements the new driver, do you suppose?]
- Ferrari also is feeling confident heading into Hungary, especially given the track is lower speed. Raikkonen wants a second podium, and if he is going to manage that then the next track — about as similar to Monaco as the season gets — figures to be a good bet. [Not exactly the best marketing for the red cars: We're great at slow tracks!]
It is interesting that both McLaren and Ferrari are talking up their chances so strongly. Perhaps it is a result of their development finally catching up (after being behind as a result of their down-to-the-last-lap fight in 2008), although by their own admission, we have to temper any expectations for Ferrari on other tracks.
Both teams also are the ones still using KERS. At the German GP, we had textbook examples of KERS usage, first by Lewis Hamilton (he just missed the chapter on braking and turning at the proper point in a first corner) and then by Heikki Kovalainen who gave new meaning to the phrase “mobile chicane.”
So, is the McLaren and Ferrari bravado just bluster? Will Piquet get more than one last shot at F1? Can Toro Rosso challenge for points?
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I would say Ferrari’s chances are better than McLaren’s… Its not just the slower tracks that they’ve been [relatively] good at. Massa has what, a 4th if the team doesn’t under-fuel his car in Spain(?) coupled with the ridiculous tire choices in Malaysia with the rain and then electrical problem while running 3rd in China as the rains also fell. There’s been those flashes of good drives (possibly Massa just channeling his inner-Alonso), but solid finishes rued by bad strategy or reliability. I certainly don’t think they’re just slow, as I would say about BMWs or McLaren for the larger portion of the season.
Piquet buddy… if there was ever a weekend where you better hope the whole field crashes going into turn 1, this is it!