Zoom Rule changes make it hard work for the teams

Following the first test of the new F60 yesterday at Mugello, Ferrari technician’s Gilles Simon, Nikolas Tombazis and Aldo Costa gave their views on the new challenger as well as the rule changes and the season ahead.

There will be eight engines for every driver over the whole season. But will they be all the same?
Gilles Simon: "As of 2009 the engine speed is limited to 18,000 rpm and every driver can use up to eight engines over the 17 GPs of this Championship. Therefore distance target for each unit is now around 2,500 kilometres."

The F60 is a single seater which is very different to the previous ones, due to the 2009 regulations. Will Ferrari make more use of the test stands?
Costa: "The work at the test stands will be more important than in the previous years. We've several facilities to test sub-components and complete groups; that's where we'll do most of the work. The race track is and remains the final test. We'll work a lot before the start of the Championship, just like last year; but this time we'll concentrate our work on one car in five test sessions. During the season we'll have the Fridays to set up the cars for the circuit and for development."

This year the single seater is completely different from the ones in the past. Are you happy with the result or did you have to compromise?
Costa: "Last year we were fighting for the Championship until the last race and we were concentrated a lot on the car's development. Today we presented a complete car, which refers also to the level of the engine speed, fitted with KERS; although we had very short time. I want to congratulate everybody: Gilles, Nikolas and everybody at Maranello. We managed to be the first having a crash test and we have several homologated chassis. We tried as much as possible to cover the time gap between the developments, which have been done on the car at the end of last year."

Do you think that this year, considering the changes, it won't be possible to redo the car during the season to make up an eventual disadvantage at the start?
Costa: "We're used to thinking that we can still work on a technical level; so as far as we concerned it's possible."

Tombazis: "Many rules, as far as the aerodynamics are concerned, are completely new. The speed of development will be the main issue. Whoever knows how to develop faster will be better than the others. We can work on the development in the Fridays at every GP. Before the season there's still some good margin. And if we're ahead at the first race, it means that we can keep our cool."