Ferrari have just one win this season, but the warm Indian conditions could facilitate a turnaround
Ferrari have just one win this season, but the warm Indian conditions could facilitate a turnaround
Ferrari is the oldest team on the Formula One grid and has the distinction of having participated in every F1 race to date. Their first race dates back to 1950. This is also one of the reasons why Ferrari holds most of the F1 records till date. It is said that you either love Ferrari or hate it. And that's exactly how F1 fans are.
Night rider: Ferrari's felipe Massa during last month's Singapore GP.
Pic/Getty images
Ferrari is also the most celebrated team on the grid considering most drivers harbour ambitions of becoming a Ferrari driver someday in their career. Some of its top former drivers include Juan Manuel Fangio, Alberto Ascari, John Surtees, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher.
Ferrari is based in Maranello, Italy and has a test track in their backyard (Fiorano) which is used extensively for testing road and racing cars. The name Ferrari is based on its founder, Enzo Ferrari, who initiated the team in 1929. The term 'Scuderia' is means 'stable' in Italian.
Ferrari is also one of three manufacturer teams in F1. This means that they manufacture each and every component of their car. Ferrari is also the official engine partner for two F1 teams -- Sauber and Toro Rosso.
2011 is Ferrari's 61st year of participation in F1. While the season is historic for the Italian racing team, it has been far from successful as per Ferrari's standards.
The team currently lies third in the World Constructors Championship on 310 points, 108 points behind their arch-rivals McLaren Mercedes. Of the two drivers, Fernando Alonso only has been able to win one race this entire season (2011 British Grand Prix), while Felipe Massa has struggled to keep pace with competition.
Alonso lies third in the Drivers Championship with 212 points and is engaged in a close fight with Jenson Button (222 pts) for second place. Massa lies in 6th with 98 points. In the 2011 season, the team has failed to clinch a single pole position, have just one win (British GP) and are positioned third with 310 points.
Indian GP prediction
Ferrari started this season with a slow car and hasn't been at a race yet where their car has been the fastest on track. Add to this the fact that Pirelli's hard compound tyres aren't suiting the car, and that has led to their downfall this season.
The weather in India will be in the mid-30s in October, which is good news for Ferrari and its fans, since the car does seem to perform better in warmer conditions. However, the Pirelli hard tyre compounds could be a worry for the team.
Fernando Alonso is arguably the most complete driver on the grid and should be able to adapt to the Buddh International Circuit faster than his competitors. Don't write off the Scuderia on their first ever visit to India!
Scuderia Ferrari
*u00a0Established: 1929
* First Race: 1950 Monaco GP
* First victory: 1951 British GP
* No of Championships: 16 (Constructors), 15 (Drivers)
* Key Management: Luca di Montezemolo (Chairman), Stefano Domenicali (Team Principal)
2011 driver line-up
* Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa
* 2011 Car: Ferrari 150 Italia
* 2011 Engine Type: Ferrari Type 056
India Connect
* Tata Consultancy Services provide IT and engineering services to the Italian racing team.
Pre-Indian GP activities
* Shell (the official fuel and lubricants sponsor) have undertaken a series of rare photo exhibitions displaying their 60-year-old partnership with Ferrari.
* Shell are running consumer promotions across the country for their up-market engine oil brand, Helix.
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