Ferrari: Fluke or Future?

Ferrari Driver Fernando Alonso at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix
Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

     With the surprising victory of Ferrari driver Fernando Alsono at the rain-soaked Malaysian Grand Prix, many have begun to wonder if we could soon see more of the boys in red at the front. Was this race just a fluke due to crazy weather or is this the start of a resurgence? Can Alsono push the car to achieve more than any one thinks possible? While I don't doubt Alonso's skill as a driver, I do seriously doubt the ability of the Ferrari to drive up front.
   
     The biggest factor holding back the car is the terrible qualifying positions relative to their rivals. Although we are only two races into this young season, Ferrari is one for four getting drivers into Q3 (Alonso at Malaysia) while their rivals at Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren are four for four (with McLaren locking out the front row in each race). Lotus has almost matched the top three at going three for four, and even the mid-pack is doing as well as Ferrari. Poor qualifying usually translates into being in a poor position during the race and poor results. The changing conditions in Malaysia obviously mixes things up quite a bit, but even in these conditions the Ferrari was no match even for the Sauber of Sergio Perez who was consistently lapping close to a second faster during parts of the race even though Perez wasn't able to close out the race due to team and driver mistakes.
   
     If Ferrari is going to turn this result into something other than a fluke of the weather they will need to push hard developing it over the next three weeks. The upcoming race in Shanghai will be a key test for the car, especially if it is a dry race. They have benefited from failures by other drivers and the weather to get where they are now. A good performance in Shanghai from Alonso will give the team greater confidence, but in truth the team needs to see a better race out of Fillipe Massa. As Massa stuggles, so does Ferrari. He needs to be able to not only turn in a good result, but show that he can match Alonso in pace even if the car isn't up to standards. Should Massa improve over the next three weeks and lodge a good result in China, Ferrari as a whole will have shown some good progress. They may not challenge the top three teams for a manufacturers championship but at least the season won't be a total disaster. Ferrari has many challenges ahead and little time to fix them. So was Malaysia a fluke or the true future of Ferrari? Only time will truly tell.

Introduction

Welcome to the Formula 1 America blog! This blog is dedicated to covering Formula 1 (and occasionally other motor sports) from an American point-of-view. During race weeks we will be keeping up to date with the happenings on and off the track including my own personal commentary and views. Off race weekends will feature in-depth previews of coming races, detailed looks at how the teams are progressing, and taking a look back to great races and cars of the past.

With the upcoming renewal of the United States Grand Prix this year in Austin, TX and the hopeful arrival of a second Grand Prix in New Jersey in 2013 times have never looked better for America in F1. By increasing not only the awareness of Formula 1 in America but giving a point of view from the states will hopefully help these events and the sport itself excel here once more.

I hope you enjoy reading and please leave comments or questions.

Thank You,
Litchfield