Di Montezemolo puts the brakes on Ferrari's optimism

  • Published on 15 Nov 2017 14:45
  • comments 6
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Two former F1 luminaries have put the brakes on Ferrari's optimism after Sebastian Vettel won in Brazil. Although the Maranello marque lost the 2017 title, Vettel was at least able to beat Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas to the chequered flag at the weekend. "Brazil was a great day for us," Vettel told Italian radio Rai. "Now I hope we can look good in Abu Dhabi and then win the world title next year."

But two F1 figures are warning that, despite Vettel's Interlagos win, Mercedes remains a major hurdle for Ferrari in 2018. "I am delighted with Ferrari's victory," said former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who when he left office clashed spectacularly with his successor Sergio Marchionne. Unlike finance and economics, sport is not an exact science," he told Radio Capital. "It is easy to talk but much more difficult to win."

"Ferrari had a good season, but unfortunately did not win the title. And I think that in Brazil Hamilton would have won if he had started from pole," Montezemolo added. Fellow Italian Flavio Briatore agrees: "We are all happy with Ferrari's victory, but we must not forget that the protagonist (Hamilton) was out. And we all saw his comeback." (GMM)

Replies (6)

Login to reply
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    Mercedes has a dramatic HP advantage that they choose to only exploit as needed. Hamilton seems to be able to set up the car to take advantage of the added HP that bottas cannot

    • + 0
    • Nov 15 2017 - 15:47
  • Still shocked by how they outed Montezemolo. I hated the guy's persona, but he was such a valuable character in Formula 1. He was the absolute personification of the Ferrari brand. Marchionne on the other hand... he's more like a Fiat.

    • + 0
    • Nov 15 2017 - 18:49
  • I fear that Ferrari might've overextended their season, like they did in 2015. Mercedes could afford putting resources into their 2018 car, even if Ferrari has kept them honest. but Ferrari has been pushing constantly. And the 2018 rules without a sharkfin, powered by McLaren's last braincell, benefit Mercedes, since their current car doesnt have a full sharkfin and thus already meeting the aero regulations.

    • + 0
    • Nov 16 2017 - 09:13
    • I think the sharkfin is pretty insignificant stuff except for the effect of aesthetics, which is massive. Regarding Ferrari next year... I am certain that they will not be at the same level as this year. If Renault produce a decent engine, I expect Red Bull to take 2nd place from Ferrari. I also expect Ferrari to lose the constructor's 2nd place, mainly due to mediocre Raikkonen and outstanding Ricciardo/Verstappen pairing.

      • + 0
      • Nov 16 2017 - 18:35
    • Pauli

      Posts: 140

      RB can overtake Ferrari in speed. I doubt Renault can delivery required reliability which would lead to a close battle between Ferrari and RB. That leaves everything to depend on Räikkönen who seems to make too make small driving errors to challenge other top drivers.

      • + 0
      • Nov 16 2017 - 19:52
    • This is though: it could very well be. The rest of the car is built to rely on the sharkfin. If you have to remove it, the rest of the car needs to be redesigned, however slightly, and that takes precious time from other things. Renault will be better next year, Im sure of that, but will they catch Ferrari? I think Red Bull has the capacity to build a top 3 chassis next year, but we'll see. And sadly I have to agree on Kimi, it would've been nicer to him to replace him.

      • + 0
      • Nov 17 2017 - 10:13

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (36)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar