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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Ferrari: Domenicali keeps positive outlook





MONTE CARLO- Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is adamant the picture is "positive" for his team, despite a miserable Monaco Grand Prix that had a "definitely negative outcome".
From one-two on the grid, Ferrari mustered just six points from Felipe Massa's third place as world champion Kimi Raikkonen was a lowly ninth at the end of a shocking performance.
The Finn was forced into a 10-second drive-through penalty early on as his team had failed to fully fit his tyres at the three-minute warning before the formation lap.
Raikkonen then lost his nose cone twice, notably with 10 minutes of the two-hour race remaining when he ran into the back of Force India's Adrian Sutil after losing control of his car coming out of the tunnel.
At the time Raikkonen was running fifth and on course to retain his championship lead, only to slip out of the points, and he now trails race winner Lewis Hamilton by three.
As for Massa, a spin whilst leading and a poor strategy denied the Brazilian a win from pole position, leaving Domenicali to reflect on a wasted opportunity.
"After a great qualifying it was easy for us to act like prophets foreseeing a possible lottery for the race given the weather forecast," said Domenicali.
"We cannot deny we are disappointed, with the result a combination of errors on our part and bad luck.
"We got off on the wrong foot, with an infringement of the rules in preparing Kimi's car on the grid minutes before the start resulting in a drive-through penalty.
"Then we decided to switch our strategy, going for a one-stop race on the basis that we expected the rain to return and this did not happen.
"With hindsight, it is easy to say we should have made different choices, but the reality is that at every level we did not meet our usual high standards."
However, Domenicali maintains the picture is a healthy one for the team with regard to the remainder of the season.
"We have taken four wins and the same number of poles from six races and we are still solidly in the lead of the constructors' classification," added Domenicali.
"Now we must look ahead and get as well prepared as possible for the Canadian Grand Prix.
"In Monaco, we showed we were capable of fighting for the lead and we want to do the same in Montreal, another track that did not suit us so well last year

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