Ferrari Need to Redeem themselves

Fernando Alonso says he has sensed a desire within Ferrari to “redeem themselves and to prove their worth” in the final five races of the season in wake of the disappointing way their championship challenge has petered out.

The Spaniard had hoped to go one better in his second season at Maranello after being pipped to the drivers’ title by Sebastian Vettel in the final round last year, but his Red Bull rival’s dominance from the very first race in Australia has meant he has never been in realistic contention.

After Alonso mathematically dropped out of the running last weekend in Singapore, and with the team 85 points behind McLaren for second place in the constructors’’ standings alone, Ferrari would appear to have little left to play for this season – yet Alonso believes pride is still at stake.

The former two-time champion, who has already urged the team to “experiment” with 2012-specific developments between now the Brazil finale, insists they will strive to add to their solitary 2011 race victory in the concluding rounds.

“When you see that the entire team is doing its utmost and maybe even more, you can only be satisfied,” he told Ferrari’s website.

“Obviously, we hoped for better here, but I have great faith in the work we are doing. We were convinced we could make a step forward after the summer break, but it did not turn out that way, while our rivals progressed even more.

“That does not mean we cannot be in the fight in the next few races: it will be tough, but I can feel the team has a great wish to redeem themselves and to prove their worth.”

Alonso says that kind of ingrained determination and spirit explains why he committed his long-term future to Maranello earlier this year.

“It is this type of attitude which, last spring, convinced me to extend my contract to the end of 2016," the 30-year-old added.

“If I did not believe in the quality and determination of the people and the potential in terms of the structure and resources, then I would not have made that decision.

“Now we must knuckle down after a difficult weekend and prepare as well as possible for the race in Suzuka, one of the greatest tracks on the whole championship calendar.”

With Ferrari’s development focus having switched to the 2012 car, the team have confirmed some new parts will be trialled on the 150º Italia with a view to next year.

The Italian outfit also want to get to the bottom of the reasons why improvements to the blown diffuser concept an upgrade at Spa were expected to produce didn’t materialise.

“The remaining kilometres of the season will provide a test track for some solutions and ideas that could be useful for 2012,” an editorial on the team’s website read.

“There will be some aerodynamic updates on the cars in Suzuka and other new elements should be seen in Korea.

“In the meantime, the team will be looking to get on top of the reasons why the step forward expected at Spa, linked to a particularly aggressive interpretation of the exhaust system, did not materialise: a new version of the floor should have been tried out in Friday’s second session in Singapore, but the shortening of the earlier session and some technical glitches meant the team has had to postpone that test until Suzuka.”