Sunday: Disappointment for Ferrari, which hopes for another podium soon
The two Ferrari drivers didn't have the necessary pace this Sunday to hope for a strong comeback. Fernando Alonso maintained the same position as in qualifying, while Massa, having made a mistake on the first lap, ultimately lost two positions. Second place in the Constructors' Championship now seems to be the only position they can aim for.
Fernando Alonso – 6th
« We knew it would be a tough race, and unfortunately, the results confirmed the concerns we already had on Friday when we experienced some issues with tire degradation over the long stints. It wasn’t a surprise not to be on pace in qualifying, as it’s been the case since the beginning of the season, but the fact that we didn’t have the pace during the race was. Unfortunately, at the start, I couldn’t keep the Sauber behind me, which meant I had a stressful race, especially in terms of tires. What happened to Felipe at the third corner wasn’t a problem for me; I tried to avoid him and continued without it affecting my race because, at that point, I was already behind Hülkenberg. Now, we only need to think about Suzuka and try to get back on the podium by rediscovering the form we usually have on Sundays, which allows us to fight at the front. Vettel is very far ahead in terms of points, but especially in terms of performance, and we can’t expect miracles between now and the end of the championship. The 2nd place in the Constructors’ Championship is undoubtedly a more realistic target, but one thing is certain, we are not giving up now, and we will give our best until the end. »
Felipe Massa – 9th
« Today’s race was really very complicated because my chances of getting a good result evaporated right from the first lap when I found myself in the middle of a group, all fighting and I decided to go inside to try to brake later. Unfortunately, some of the cars were slower and to avoid hitting one of the Mercedes, I had to move to the right and I spun. Fortunately, the car was good at that moment but I was at the back of the pack. Thanks to some nice overtakes, I still managed to bring home a few points, which is a good thing compared to what it looked like after the start. Today, we were not competitive and there were at least three or four teams faster than us, notably Sauber, but I hope our car will be better suited to the Suzuka track. »
