Fernando Alonso is quietly confident that Ferrari will be able to catch Red Bull in terms of raw pace next season. In 2011, the Scuderia enjoyed just a sole victory in comparison with the Champions’ twelve, although the former double title winner is now expecting a marked improvement.
Ferrari is yet to win any Formula 1 crown since picking up Constructors’ honours in 2008, with Red Bull having enjoyed clean sweeps for the past two seasons. Although the 2012 regulations are more evolutionary than revolutionary, Alonso still believes Ferrari is capable of returning to the top.
“This is a time when you are always optimistic but we will have to wait until the start of the season to see where we really are,” Alonso said on Monday as he visited a sponsor gathering in Madrid. “But it’s true that over the past few days there has been a good feeling in Maranello and there’s an air of confidence about it. We want to reacquaint ourselves with the taste of winning that has eluded us for a while.”
Adding that this year’s internal reshuffle – which included the ousting of former Technical Director Aldo Costa – has refreshed the outfit, Alonso went on to discuss the new car.
“The philosophy behind the 2012 car is very different to that of 2011, especially in some key areas like suspension and aerodynamics,” he explained. “We know that Ferrari is burdened with the expectation of victory and, if it doesn’t happen, over the winter the papers devote page after page to the ‘whys’ and to how things can change, while the others have to make do with the crumbs in terms of media coverage - it’s one of the things that make Ferrari different to all the other teams.
“However, now is the time to take it easy for a few weeks - time to recharge the batteries and be one hundred percent ready for next season, which I expect will be much more of an equal fight than the one just gone. Red Bull will still be very strong, but I think they will have less room for improvement than us as we were so far behind this year.”
Pre-season testing begins in Jerez on Tuesday 7 February.
Also on Tuesday:
- Alonso and pop star wife divorce
- Alonso welcomes back ‘great’ Räikkönen
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