Briatore urges Ferrari to abandon 2011 F1 campaign for 2012 focus
Flavio Briatore has called on Ferrari to shift resources to its 2012 Formula One car after a disappointing start to the 2011 season with the 150 Italia.
Flavio Briatore has publicly advised Ferrari to abandon hopes of salvaging its 2011 Formula One season and instead concentrate its efforts on developing a competitive car for 2012. The former Renault team principal and manager to Fernando Alonso made his comments after Ferrari’s 150 Italia failed to match expectations at the Australian Grand Prix.
Ferrari entered the 2011 season with optimism following a solid winter testing programme, but the opening round in Melbourne exposed a clear performance gap to Red Bull. Briatore, speaking to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, said the half-second deficit to the reigning champions was an “eternity” in Formula One terms and could not be realistically closed within the next two months. He argued that, if Red Bull’s pace continued and Sebastian Vettel maintained his advantage, Ferrari’s chances of catching up in the championship would be negligible.
Ferrari’s 150 Italia struggles in Australia
The 150 Italia, Ferrari’s 2011 challenger, failed to deliver on the promise shown during pre-season. While Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa both finished in the points, neither driver was able to threaten the Red Bulls or McLarens for a podium. Ferrari engineers have launched an internal investigation to understand why the car’s race pace fell short of expectations after testing. For more on the car’s development and naming controversy, see Ferrari Renames 2011 F1 Car to F150th Italia After Ford Lawsuit.
Briatore’s assessment is that Ferrari’s technical resources would be better spent on the next year’s car, rather than chasing an unlikely turnaround in 2011. He described the current gap to Red Bull as insurmountable in the short term, suggesting that by the time any improvements arrived, Vettel could already be out of reach in the standings.
Briatore criticises Schumacher’s comeback
Briatore also used the opportunity to reiterate his scepticism about Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One. He argued that a driver in his forties cannot match the performance of a younger competitor, claiming Schumacher’s comeback was damaging the legacy of his career. Schumacher, who returned to F1 with Mercedes in 2010, had a difficult opening race in Melbourne, retiring after contact on the first lap.
Red Bull’s rivals face uphill battle in 2011
Briatore’s view is shared by other paddock figures, including former Grand Prix winner Gerhard Berger, who told Germany’s Bild newspaper he saw little chance of a major change in the competitive order. Berger pointed out that the same teams and personnel would continue working through the season, making a dramatic shift in form unlikely.
With Ferrari now evaluating its options, attention is likely to turn to how quickly the team can redirect its engineering efforts towards 2012. The decision could affect the allocation of resources and the morale of the squad, with Alonso and Massa facing a long campaign if the team follows Briatore’s advice and deprioritises development of the 150 Italia.
- Flavio Briatore: Former Renault F1 boss, now Alonso’s manager
- Fernando Alonso: Ferrari lead driver in 2011
- Felipe Massa: Second Ferrari driver
- Sebastian Vettel: Red Bull lead driver and reigning world champion
- Michael Schumacher: Mercedes driver, former Ferrari champion
