“Before doing a fantastic season, we took six or seven years before
being competitive, to win in a continuous way. So we are putting down once
again the basis to be strong for a long time,” he added.
Domenicali said the current situation differed from Schumacher’s time because
the landscape of Formula
One had changed markedly since the days when there was no limit on
spending and teams blew fortunes on the test track.
The current cost constraints have meant that “apart from one single
specific situation with (Red Bull designer) Adrian (Newey), there are no
more big egos that make the difference,” said Domenicali, tipping his
cap to Newey, who has designed title-winning cars for three teams.
“Now it’s a matter of team work that has to be really working close
together in the best way. So I think that now we are in this process to
build up the team and I think that in one year we will be hopefully ready to
start again another long series of victories.”
As part of that, Ferrari brought in Pat Fry from McLaren last year with former
technical director Aldo Costa leaving the company. Australian Chris Dyer was
also replaced as head of racetrack engineering.
The key to it all, however, is Alonso.
“Fernando is a big asset for us and he is another responsibility that we
have because if he trusts the team in such a way to be part of us for such a
long time, it means he really believes we can do a good job together,”
said Domenicali.
“We want to give back to him this trust and we want to win together.”
The Italian was quoted recently in the German media as saying that there were
only two team leaders among the current drivers in Formula One – Alonso and
Schumacher, now with Mercedes and making little impact in an uncompetitive
car at the age of 42.
Domenicali made clear he had meant no snub to 24-year-old Vettel, who is
cruising to his second successive title, and was referring to specific
qualities.
“What for me is a leader is someone that really has achieved something
very important and is showing something unique,” he said. “Sebastian
for example is a fantastic driver. He has won a world title and I would say
that he is going to win the second one and is becoming a leader. He’s
younger.
“When you don’t say that he is a leader it doesn’t mean that he is not
good. The way that he is driving and the way that he is behaving is really
very close to be there,” continued the Italian.
“Numbers, age and experience make the difference in that respect.
Sebastian will be the next one.”
If Vettel, winner of seven of 12 races so far this season, was once dubbed
‘Baby Schumi’ by the German media, it is Alonso who is the great German’s
heir apparent at Ferrari.
The Spaniard, like his predecessor, has spoken of Ferrari being his ‘second
family’ and both have known how to mesh the team around them.
“Fernando is very similar (to Schumacher) in the way that he is fitting
in the team,” said Domenicali. “I think that his period of getting
into the team was much shorter than the one that it took Michael to get in,
maybe because of the characteristics of the personality, the language and so
on, but I see them very similar on a lot of things.
“The more that I know Fernando, the more I can compare them,” he
added.
“Of course to win seven titles is something almost impossible in the
future, in my view.
“But if we at least start again to win for Fernando the first title with
us, then we will see. The downhill will be easier. That is of course our aim.”