Ferrari on Friday unveiled their new car to contest the 2012 season, describing it as being “fundamentally revised” from last year’s model and capable of winning from the start.
The Italian team introduced their new challenger online after being forced to cancel the official launch day due to heavy snowfall in Maranello, their north Italian base.
The Scuderia have retained Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa for the new season despite a disappointing year in which they managed only one win and had to settle for third place in the constructors’ championship. Former world champion Alonso finished fourth in the drivers’ championship with Massa sixth.
“I am sure our car will be winning right from the beginning,” Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said. “We have learned many lessons from the past and taken some difficult decisions. But I am sure all our efforts will be represented with this car.”
“From a technical point of view, we have many novelties in terms of mechanics and also the shape of the car.”
“We wanted continuity here, and hopefully we will reach the right performance.” Hindustan Times
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted that the F2012 is “not really so pretty” - but has insisted that won’t matter if it proves a winner rather than a looker.
A radically-different design compared to its predecessors, the new Ferrari features a distinctive - some would say ‘ugly’ - platypus’ nose and the reaction to its unveiling has been dominated by aesthetic concerns rather than debate about its potential competitiveness.
“Actually it’s not really so pretty from my personal perspective, but this is a value that doesn’t count in F1,” declared a defiant Domenicali.
“These choices are from both technical regulation constraints and the choices to try to maximise the performance of the car. The fact that it’s ugly or very nice doesn’t count a lot, the most important thing is the car has to be performing.” SkySports
Domenicali paid tribute to Alonso for his “incredible extraordinary season” in 2011, and pointed to the fact that the double world champion had extended his contract with Ferrari until the end of 2016.
“That is a sign of the responsibility we feel,” Domenicali said, addressing Alonso directly. “We have to offer you a competitive high-performing car. I’m sure it will be winning from the very beginning.”
Alonso said: “I am going to start with the same strength, determination.”
“I really want to see red cars always on the podium and always winning. We will keep working all together and I’m sure we will do great this year.”
“I really believe in the skills we have here in Ferrari. We have to be optimistic. We have two months to get ready for the first race in Australia (on 18 March). We have to fight for this title, we have to get as many points as possible at every race.” BBC Sport
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