Domenicali made the remarks after facing criticism from a fan of the team[1] over Ferrari’s decision to incur a gearbox change penalty on Felipe Massa’s car during last year’s United States Grand Prix[2].
“The interests of Ferrari come above all else,” said Domenicali, “if we had lost the championship by the number of points we’d have lost there, the evaluation of what we did would have been different.”
“Unlike the others, we speak openly about what we are doing,” Domenicali added.
“In Austin, we did not sabotage the gearbox, but simply made the most of an article in the regulations which allowed us to break the seals.” This meant Massa took a five-place grid penalty which moved Alonso up one place on the grid.
During the last race at Suzuka Massa was repeatedly ordered to let Alonso pass him[3] by the team using a code phrase “Multi-function strategy A”[4]. Massa refused, but Alonso later made his own way past.
Domenicali described himself as “the most sportsmanlike person in the world”, adding: “In all the races, whether you see it or not, I congratulate our rivals.”
The Ferrari team principal also addressed recent speculation, instigated by former Minardi team principal Giancarlo Minardi[5], that Red Bull had devised some kind of traction control system.
“Everyone is trying to work that out. But it’s pointless make accusations if there is no proof. The FIA can check the control unit, and if they find nothing than Red Bull is obviously doing a good job.”
Domenicali added he had joined Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo in warning Alonso[6] about critical comments he had made about the team recently: “When he crossed the line, president Montezemolo intervened and in private, so did I.”
2013 F1 season
Browse all 2013 F1 season articles[7]
Image © Ferrari/Ercole Colombo
References
- ^ facing criticism from a fan of the team (formula1.ferrari.com)
- ^ Alonso moves forward as Massa takes penalty (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ 2013 Japanese Grand Prix lap charts (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ 2013 Japanese Grand Prix team radio transcript: Lap 8 (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ instigated by former Minardi team principal Giancarlo Minardi (www.minardi.it)
- ^ Montezemolo rebukes Alonso for critical comments (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ Browse all 2013 F1 season articles (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
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