Ferrari label Singapore GP humiliating

Eurosport - Wed, 01 Oct 23:45:00 2008

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has poured scorn on the Singapore Grand Prix, saying the "circus" track and the use of the safety car was humiliating for Formula One.

FORMULA 1 2008 Singapore GP Ferrari Räikkönen, Massa - 0

Formula One's first night race drew rave reviews from participants and onlookers, including the sport's delighted supremo Bernie Ecclestone, but was one to forget for the Italian team.

Brazilian title contender Felipe Massa had his race ruined by a bungled pit stop while faltering world champion Kimi Raikkonen crashed near the end.

"When we race on tracks which should be used for the circus, anything can happen including the spectacle of the Safety Car," Montezemolo was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport.

"All this is humiliating for F1 and it is an aspect I want to talk about with the other teams in the next few weeks."

Singapore saw two safety car interventions, the first of which turned the race upside down and contributed to Spaniard Fernando Alonso's unexpected victory for Renault.

Montezemolo, appointed this month as the first chairman of the Formula One Teams Association, said before the race that street circuits and the lack of overtaking opportunities were not the right way forward for the sport.

Ferrari's failure to score any points in Singapore meant McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, third behind winner Fernando Alonso, extended his championship lead over Massa to seven points with three races left.

Finn Raikkonen is out of contention but Montezemolo still sounded confident.

"We have the best Ferrari, Massa is the best. I expect ... Raikkonen to show he is world champion in the remaining races, to help Massa, to race for the good of the team and to finish in front of the McLarens," he said.

The team president also backed the mechanics who gave Massa the green light during a pit stop despite the fuel hose still being attached to the car as he sped away.

"We have extraordinary mechanics who in other occasions have swung results our way. We must stay close to each other because Ferrari are always world champions and are still in the running to win," Montezemolo added.

Reuters

Comment 243 - 262 of 262

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  1. I agree. Singapore GP shouldn't be held.. What a shame!!

    From skudai r, on Fri 3 Oct 12:07AM

  2. Singapore @#$%!!!

    From skudai r, on Thu 2 Oct 11:59PM

  3. Damn, why did those Singaporeans have to mess with Massa's pit stop? Damn, what did the tracks do to Kimi's driving skills? Damn, the Singaporeans messed up their lights and they blinked to green by random. Damn those Singaporeans and the tracks ... waaaaaah, waaaaaaaaaah. Our drivers, engineers and pit team are perfect, never made a mistake that is why we think the tracks are a blame.. waaaaaaaaah, waaaaaaaah. Grow up and take the loss like a man, please. We have enough whiners in this sport.

    From First L, on Thu 2 Oct 12:25PM

  4. I would like to clarify that I am not jbolan, I am arshad_iceman2
    (Note: This is not a FIA-style clarifcation)

    From arshad_iceman2, on Thu 2 Oct 11:40AM

  5. the Italians are the best at putting their hands in the air and surrendering when it goes against them

    From Russell P, on Thu 2 Oct 10:15AM

  6. I've got to say I agree with him about the circuit. It was rubbish. Bumpy & almost impossible for the frontrunners to overtake each other. F1 doesn't need street circuits like this. We need more circuits like Spa, Imola & Silverstone. or even Turkey. Street circuits and Night racing are just gimmicks for the TV to boost Bernie's Coffers

    From Mike, on Thu 2 Oct 9:27AM

  7. I'm truly dissapointed...

    Why aren't Kimi and Massa wearing their FIA Approved clown suits?

    From Mark, on Thu 2 Oct 8:38AM

  8. quit your jibber jabba iceman2 take it like a man your losing...going to lose....and will lose both championships this year coz the better team won.
    And tifosi4ever well baby where have you been? I have missed you and still waiting for my answer....will you have my Mclaren babies lol xxxxx

    From JEFF F, on Thu 2 Oct 8:29AM

  9. why is kimi sniggering. lol

    From Tam, on Thu 2 Oct 8:01AM

  10. must say i do agree that what he says is right u dont want so called tracks like this in f1 because f1 is boring at the best of times never mind on tracks that there is hardly any overtaking the only thing that made this race any better than other f1 races was the safty car that split the field and let alonso win u want more overtaking in f1 not less its just boring after the first 5 laps when all the overtaking is done with

    From sci, on Thu 2 Oct 7:52AM

  11. this is a circus certainly, for Ferrari crews, Massa and Kimi. Dont blame Luca, he tells the truth.

    From Jacky Lin, on Thu 2 Oct 5:36AM

  12. typical ferrari when they chaet and win there happy but when they lose its everyone elses fault. they seem like a baby throwing there toys out of the pram. GROW UP AND TAKE YOUR DEFEAT LIKE ADULTS AND STOP WHINNING.

    From ANNOYED DISABLED GUY, on Thu 2 Oct 3:32AM

  13. Ferrari is a sore loser.

    From Tay H, on Thu 2 Oct 1:55AM

  14. Who left the door unlocked ? I see jbolan has escaped from his padded room again .

    From barry w w, on Wed 1 Oct 11:01PM

  15. Ferrari are a joke full stop, i have no time for them as a team because of the "extra help" they get...after whats happened with decisions.

    From Soggy, on Wed 1 Oct 10:37PM

  16. Radcliffe P post 209 , You left out Kimi running over his fuel man and sending him to the hospital with a broken toe .

    From barry w w, on Wed 1 Oct 10:28PM

  17. "When we race on tracks which should be used for the circus, anything can happen..."
    Yeah, like you can employ clowns to work in the pit lane...

    From Matthew L, on Wed 1 Oct 10:27PM

  18. Ferrari deserve everything they get....cheating gits, too many links to the F.I.A. I wet my pants laughing at the rookie display by them...omg sorry i've said too much, Mclaren might have points deducted for what i've said...(thats a joke btw F.I.A.) in case you read this :P

    From Soggy, on Wed 1 Oct 10:19PM

  19. wonderful site here reserved for little cry baby kids to throw up !

    From yekaterinabelle, on Wed 1 Oct 9:38PM

  20. Well there its folks ....our Peruvian comedian genius Marnio, has been arshad_iceman2 all along. Certainly fooled me, but about par for the course on this blog. F1 seems like a side issue.

    From Farmer of Sheep, on Wed 1 Oct 9:30PM
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