Ferrari motivated by Malaysian frustrations
World champions Ferrari have vowed they will not give their titles up without a fight.
The Italian giants, who have won title doubles for the last five years with Michael Schumacher, slipped further off the championship pace in Malaysia at the weekend with a disappointing showing.
Schumacher had to fight hard just to claim seventh place and he languishes 14 points behind early leader Fernando Alonso, who won on Sunday, in the championship after two races.
But Ferrari managing director Jean Todt has joined Schumacher in promising a swift response to two off-colour performances.
The Frenchman said: “It has increased our motivation to react.
“I mean it would be wrong to say that we are satisfied with the situation. It is not up to our standard and it is not what we want to do – simply we are not quick enough.
“So we have to see how to improve the situation by 360 degrees as the whole package is not performing how we want.
“At the moment we are feeling that we are not good enough. It is frustrating that we are not competitive enough.
“The only thing is, I would say for those who thought that it was easy for Ferrari to win in the past, this shows that it was difficult.”
Todt had no excuses for Ferrari’s Malaysian display, brushing aside Schumacher’s earlier claim that Sepang was not kind to his team.
Ferrari have won four of the seven grands prix in Malaysia and Todt refused to use the oppressive Sepang heat as an excuse.
He added: “It would be too convenient to say it was the worst race for us this season.
“So now we must take this race as a point of reference. From here we have to recover the situation. If we are a bit sleepy, it wakes us up and that is good.”
Schumacher is not yet contemplating defeat in the title race and feels Ferrari’s new car, which could be introduced as early as Bahrain in two weeks, will help turn his fortunes around.
The seven-time world champion is relaxed about his chances of another crown, with 17 races still to come.
He said: “At the moment it does not look very good. It’s clear we all have to work together to raise our game.
“We know how to analyse this race and I think we have the competence to come back again.
“I do think we will win races this year. I am sure we will win races but no question the gap to Renault is very big.
“Again I have to say it is 19 races and the most difficult race for us has been the second one, which is behind us now.
“Let’s go on five or six races and if we are still struggling it will be critical for the championship.
“After two races it is difficult but not hopeless.”
Schumacher drove Ferrari’s modified 2004 car in Australia and Malaysia but is in no hurry to rush through the introduction of a new machine.
“I am certain it will be a faster car. It’s clear we would like to have it given the situation we are in now,” he added. “But if it’s not ready, it’s not ready so a discussion about that today doesn’t make sense.
“We will try to have it [in Bahrain] but personally I think it will be tight.
“I think Bahrain will be a bit better for us but you can’t expect a big change. I think we should look good again at Imola.”
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