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Automotive industry

Pit Stop

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Richard Drew

What is going on at Ferrari? The team who have earned the reputation of being the slickest outfit in F1 looked a complete shambles in Singapore, and it wasn't the first time this season.

How embarrassing must it have been for the mechanics to make that mad sprint down the pit lane to take the dangling fuel hose off Felipe Massa's car. Being cheered on by the watching McLaren crew, unable to hide their mirth, would have further dented their pride.

This is not what we are used to from the Prancing Horse. In the Schumacher era it would have been unthinkable for the red car to conk out on the third from last lap, as happened to race leader Massa in Hungary. As for the fuelling fiasco, it's not the first time it's happened in the pit lane and it won't be the last, but you just don't expect it from Ferrari.

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Of course, there's a new team heading up Ferrari, led by team principle Stefano Domenicali, and you would forgive them for struggling to fill the boots of Ross Brawn, now at Honda, and Jean Todt, promoted out of the race team. It was telling that Todt was in the Ferrari pits in Singapore.

Luckily for the team, the car continues to be fast, if fragile. Even if they may be struggling by their high standards, those same standards mean they are still in with a big shout of the drivers' championship with Massa.

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If will power were a factor, Ferrari would be right on top of their game. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is spitting teeth after Singapore. Earlier in the season he had been on hand at Maranello the day after a race to put a rocket up his underperforming team.

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