Bridgestone accepts Ferrari blame

[Neutrino]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/4373357.stm

Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone has admitted that it is to blame for Ferrari's poor showing in Malaysia.

World champion Michael Schumacher came seventh in last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix while also failing to finish in the opening race in Australia.

"The responsibility for such a negative result is undoubtedly down to our tyres," said Bridgestone's technical director Hirohide Hamashima.

"We have learnt a lot from this defeat and we are ready to respond."

Ferrari are currently in fourth place in the constructors championship with 10 points, 16 behind Renault, while Schumacher is in 11th place in the standings with two points.

Renault have won both races so far this season and are one of the seven teams in Formula One that use Michelin tyres.

"The fact that Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli lapped a couple of seconds faster than us is certainly not explainable by different fuel loads," Hamashima added in Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There are no attenuating circumstances, it was a lesson for us but a healthy one.

"Obviously we have had long discussion with Ferrari to create tyres of a new generation and we are counting on having found some that will allow us quickly to be competitive again."

Ferrari are still using last year's car but will test their new F2005 before deciding whether to introduce it at the Bahrain GP on 3 April.

[RallyRaider]

Bridgestone are historically a bit off the pace in the heat like at Sepang last week. When the weather is cold and damp on the European rounds, their superiority will be to Ferrari's benefit once again. Although I hope I'm wrong and we can have a real fight of a season between the Michelin teams. As we did for a while in 2003...

Also, the other nine teams are shooting themselves in the foot with their self imposed testing limitations. Ferrari are breaking all previous testing agreements in trying to get their problems solved, they have enough money to throw at the problem and the rulemakers in their back pocket. It would be incompetence of the highest order if they didn't return to domination soon.

[Neutrino]

Originally Posted by RallyRaider

It would be incompetence of the highest order if they didn't return to domination soon.

Well it sounds like they are ready to bring the 2005 car early at Bahrain rather than Barcelona. So I would not be surprised if their start winning again starting with the next race.


Both Schumi and Bari seemed very pleased with this new car.