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Ferrari is a team again, without politics - boss

Ferrari is a team again, without politics - boss

  • Published on 21 Feb 2015 09:00
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Ferrari's new boss is not changing his targets for the 2015 season, despite a strong showing in winter testing for the fabled team. Before the SF15-T emerged with consistently chart-topping pace at the Jerez and Barcelona tests, Maurizio Arrivabene - newly arrived at Maranello in the wake of the disappointment and calamity of 2014 - said he would be satisfied if Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen win once or twice.

Introducing himself to F1 reporters at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday, and faced with the perception that Ferrari has been the surprise of the winter, the former Marlboro executive insisted: "I do not believe in the winter world championship. The car is a step forward compared to last year, nevertheless we keep our feet on the ground and will not say now that we will take on Mercedes for the world title," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

In contrast to the now departed Marco Mattiacci, who said little, Arrivabene is a breath of fresh air, and it seems to have infected the moods of all those wearing red. "We are a team again," he insisted. "Without politics. All marching in the same direction."

Arrivabene used the usually reticent Kimi Raikkonen as an example, revealing: "He talks, he laughs! I asked him 'Are you sick?' Last year he did not get along with the car because the front (of the car) was not what he liked. But that is different with the new car. Whoever thinks that Kimi has become a discontinued model overnight, is mistaken," he insisted.

Notwithstanding the new enthusiasm, and an apparently very fast car, Ferrari's new chief is not getting carried away. "Two wins would be good," he said, "three perfect, and four -- I would run 100 kilometres to Maranello. Barefoot."

As for the high-profile signing of Sebastian Vettel to replace former number 1 Fernando Alonso, Arrivabene admits it was not easy to convince the German. "Our sponsor Philip Morris wanted him after it became clear that Alonso is leaving," the Italian revealed.

"But Sebastian had his doubts. He talked to the manager of Michael Schumacher, to find out how the Ferrari family ticks. The really important call came from our boss Sergio Marchionne, and Sebastian eventually changed his mind," Arrivabene recalled. (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Mercedes

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World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
141
2
Ferrari
120
3
McLaren
69
4
Mercedes
34
5
Aston Martin
33
6
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7
Haas F1
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 526
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 148
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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