Q. Felipe, we heard that you have seen the new Abu Dhabi circuit?
Felipe Massa: Yeah, it’s amazing. I’m really impressed with the circuit. I never saw such a huge construction in my life. It’s 17,000 people working 24 hours a day, it’s just amazing. For sure the circuit is not ready. It’s completely under construction but you can see that it will be the most impressive facilities and the most impressive circuit in Formula 1.
Q. How far ahead are they with the work?
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali is expecting the Italian squad to endure another challenging weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but he is hopeful the Maranello squad will make progress for Spain.
The team has endured its worst start to a season since 1981, having failed to score any points in the first three races, with its car not being fast nor reliable.
Domenicali is pinning his hopes on the improvements to be introduced in the car for the Spanish Grand Prix, which will mark the start of the European season.
In the meantime, however, the Italian is expecting his team to continue with its difficulties.
“We have endured a very difficult start to the season,” said Domenicali. “We knew we would suffer in China and in all probability, we will be suffering again here this weekend.
Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are convinced the Italian squad will fight back following its disastrous start to the season.
The Maranello-based outfit has endured its worst start to a campaign since 1981, having failed to score any points in the first three races in Australia, Malaysia and China.
While Raikkonen, 10th today, admits Ferrari’s car is lacking speed, the Finn is adamant the team will be much stronger once the European seasons begins in Spain.
“We have made some mistakes but unfortunately we don’t have the speed to be where we want to be right now,” Raikkonen told reporters.
“But for sure when we get to Barcelona and get some new parts we should improve quite a bit. If we had had a dry race today we would have scored some points.”
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali says the Italian team may switch its development focus onto the 2010 car as early as next month if its fortunes do not improve dramatically in the next few races.
The Maranello-based outfit has failed to score a point in the first three races of the season, its worst start to a campaign since 1981, and is now facing a very tough challenge to get itself back in the championship hunt.
Speaking at Shanghai on Sunday night, Domenicali refused to rule out the possibility of the team abandoning the development push on its 2009 car if matters do not improve when a double-decker diffuser version of its F60 is raced for the first time at the Spanish Grand Prix.
When asked at what point the team would decide whether to start concentrating on the 2010 car, Domenicali said: “I think for sure we will see after Spain where we are. In that period we will see really what can be the situation – so when we come back to Europe basically.”
Sebastian Vettel led Mark Webber to victory as Red Bull Racing took its first Formula 1 win with a commanding one-two in a wet Chinese Grand Prix.
Championship leader Jenson Button had no answer to the Red Bulls’ pace and finished a distant third, ahead of his Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
The race began with eight laps under the safety car, with drivers in the midfield complaining about standing water and heavy spray.
This was bad news for front row starter Fernando Alonso, who had qualified on a minimal fuel load. Its strategy ruined, Renault opted to bring Alonso for refuelling at the end of the caution, allowing Red Bull to run one-two when the race finally got underway.
Vettel and Webber quickly pulled away from the chasing Brawn duo, who swapped places on lap 10 when Barrichello ran wide at the final corner.
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