Ferrari Makes Massive Qualifying Mistake In Malaysia
Ferrari has taken the spotlight off of McLaren by making a massive mistake in Malaysia. Ferrari failed to anticipate lap times and ended up leaving Felipe Massa in Q3!
Q3 started with Felipe Massa as one of the first cars out on the grid. He did a few blazing laps on the preferred tire – the soft compound – and then retired to the pits to wait for the second qualifying session. There was just one problem. The “blazing” lap was more of a whimper. As the session started coming down to the end, the lap times started dropping. Before Ferrari knew it, Massa was down to the 16th position and left out of the rest of qualifying! Yes, he’ll start from 16th.
The lack of quality at Ferrari is simply staggering. There were hints last year that the team was losing its way. The loss of Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn, Jean Todt and Rory Byrne was simply going to be felt. That being said, the shocking number of mistakes made already this year are simply too much to fathom. Ferrari is in crisis. There is no other way to say. The team is a disgrace to the brand. Stefano Domenicali and Luca Baldisserri must be removed before the team collapses entirely.
The difference between the old Ferrari guard and the new one is particularly easy to see. One just has to look to the front end of the grid. There you will find Jenson Button in the Brawn GP car. Brawn GP looks eerily like the former Ferrari team. The car seems solid. The team is never in a panic. Jenson is even acting like a real race car driver instead of chasing every piece of tail that walks by. Oh, wait. That’s what drivers do! Regardless, Ferrari fans need only look at the pole position and top of the points standings to wonder why Ross Brawn was allowed to leave Ferrari at all.
The Malaysian Grand Prix is always one of hope. Weather plays such a huge roll that even a last place car can finish first. That being said, we know that Felipe Massa is not exactly a top wet weather driver. Kimi Raikkonen, however, clearly is. While Felipe is probably going to have a very tough day, we’ll be able to see if Kimi Raikkonen is really back and motivated or not.
Ferrari has committed an inexcusable mistake. The team is falling apart and the 2009 season looks like it is going to be a brutal one. Who would’ve imagined that both Ferrari and McLaren would be such a disaster after only two races? No me.
Lemmy