Ferrari will switch focus to 2014 if it loses ground

2013 Italian Grand Prix

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Ferrari will divert more of their efforts to their 2014 campaign if they lose more ground to Red Bull in the championship over the next two races.

Fernando Alonso has a clear objective for this weekend’s race and the next: “Two podiums and finish in front of Sebastian is, I think, the target for this next two grands prix,” he said.

“I think it’s the target that we want to do in the last couple of grands prix. We didn’t arrive in a situation to close the gap, we only closed the gap in Silverstone when he retired.

“So we need to change this situation and we will be happy finishing in front of him, I think, here in Monza and Singapore. Finishing in front of Sebastian means being on the podium minimum because we know how strong he is and how competitive Red Bull will be.”

Failing to do that will mean their chances of winning the titles this year will be too remote, said Alonso: “If we cannot do so we keep losing points obviously we need to start thinking of 2014 project because will be only six or seven races remaining with massive points so important weeks coming, for sure. ”

Alonso said he was “optimisitc” about their chances this weekend. “I think in Spa we saw some step forward from us and we hope to continue in that direction and keep improving also here in Monza.”

“I think the characteristics of the track should help our performance as well so we have everything in place to do a good weekend. We need to deliver when comes the time, Sunday in the race, but we arrive with some good confidence and ready to fight.”

However he said the next race will provide a truer indication of Ferrari’s current level: “I think for us it will be a better test or stronger test [at] Singapore race, when we come back to maximum level of downforce, etc… There we will see how much a step forward we did.”

2013 Italian Grand Prix

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Image © Ferrari/Ercole Colombo

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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10 comments on “Ferrari will switch focus to 2014 if it loses ground”

  1. seems like a good idea, they might have a better chance to win the championship next year.

    But pretty weird to hear a comment like that from Alonso, he usually talks about closing the gap and this years car.

  2. God have they become this desperate…

    Still eight races to go, so many points and they want to switch to the 2014 car…

    It sounds logical but actually it is very sad to see they might want to hand the title to Vettel.

    1. IT could very well be a tactic to make Red Bull Complacent. Just mind games. If they were really switching the complete focus they would just do that instead of the media talk .

      1. Could very well be because this is still Ferrari we are talking about here.

    2. God have they become this desperate…

      I wouldn’t be so quick to label it as desperate, more a change in strategy. Anyway, there’s still two races before they make that decision.

  3. That would make logical sense as Red Bull have brought yet more upgrades I do believe, so Singapore will really show if anybody will have a chance of mounting a consistent challenge. Assuming no massive points changes for Monza, that is. I fully expect Vettel to be on the podium unless he has a failure.

  4. OmarR-Pepper (@)
    5th September 2013, 22:03

    “I think in Spa we saw some step forward from us

    … and like 16 seconds forward from Red Bull. I think these steps he mentions, while bringing real optimistic results to the team, still look little enough to catch up Sebastian

  5. So the bottom line is that 2 more races after which Ferrari might all but concede their chances of winning this year. Red Bull wont mind, 2 more races and their victory assured they might switch to next year’s car as well. They seem the best placed, at this time, to extend their dominance into 2014.

  6. This of this scenario: Red Bull keeps scoring big points, then Merc, Ferrari and Lotus decide that they have very little chances of challenging RBR so they switch focus to 2014 and leave RBR to win the tittle “for free”.
    That would be a big backfire. The 2014 season might be great, but it might just make the 2013 season look pathetic.

    1. ** Think of this scenario: Red Bull keeps scoring big points, then Merc, Ferrari and Lotus decide that they have very little chances of challenging RBR so they switch focus to 2014 and leave RBR to win the tittle “for free”.
      That would be a big backfire. The 2014 season might be great, but it might just make the 2013 season look pathetic.

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