Formula One news

Domenicali predicting tough weekend in Italy

Stefano Domenicali fears that Ferrari may be in for a rough ride at Monza as the Scuderia heads home for the final race of the European season. Despite being one of only three teams to be running KERS, the Team Principal worries the raw pace of rivals' cars may outweigh any advantage which the Maranello squad holds.             

Räikkönen clinched his first 2009 race victory at Spa-Francorchamps

With KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) onboard, the Ferrari, McLaren and Renault drivers are expected to enjoy an additional two tenths of a second off each lap time during the Grand Prix, although Domenicali is unsure whether a second consecutive victory is a realistic goal for Ferrari.

"We know it will be difficult to repeat because our rivals continue to develop their cars and we do not," he explained to Italy's La Stampa, "but we must be ready to exploit the mistakes of others."

Ferrari can still be spoilers in the championship battle

Stefano hopes that Ferrari new boy Giancarlo Fisichella is able to at least score World Championship points this weekend alongside Kimi Räikkönen but also revealed his own feelings over the F1 return of the seven-time World Champion. "The way Michael responded to our call - I think in his mind there is always the desire to go back to being a driver," Domenicali said of Schumacher, who was unable to replace Felipe Massa this year due to a neck injury picked up from a motor cycle accident in February.

Felipe Massa was Ferrari's best Monza finisher last year, coming home in sixth place

"Otherwise, he observed and he hung up his helmet - but never say never. The third machine? It remains a winning solution that would do only good for Formula One; we'll talk with the FIA (governing body) and (Bernie) Ecclestone (commercial rights holder)."

As Ferrari ponders the possibility of running three cars per team, Domenicali also moved to spell out recent reports of multiple MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi being called by the team in past weeks. "That has already clarified," he said plainly. "We, at this time, need maximum points and we decided accordingly, so the idea of Monza was more of a dream for his admirers - but for Vale, it might still be an exciting challenge one day."

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