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Bullish Ferrari eye 2016 title challenge

SINGAPORE — They may be the most successful and recognisable team in Formula 1, but a seven-year title drought has blemished Ferrari’s otherwise consistently stellar record in the sport.

Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland drives at the Marina Bay street circuit during the second practice session of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix September 18, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland drives at the Marina Bay street circuit during the second practice session of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix September 18, 2015. Photo: Reuters

SINGAPORE — They may be the most successful and recognisable team in Formula 1, but a seven-year title drought has blemished Ferrari’s otherwise consistently stellar record in the sport.

Their failure to register a single victory last year — their first winless season since 1993 — led to a significant overhaul in team management, with Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene taking over Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Marco Mattiacci as chairman and team principal respectively.

They also signed four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to replace Fernando Alonso, who ended his five-year tenure with the Prancing Horse to join McLaren.

The changes appear to have worked. Ferrari are currently second in the constructors’ championship with eight podium finishes, including two wins, to their name this season.

While the all-conquering Mercedes team expected to secure both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles again this year, Ferrari test driver Marc Gene believes the huge strides forward that his team have taken this year bodes well for a successful 2016.

Speaking to the media at the Shell Hospitality Sky Suite yesterday, the 41-year-old said: “We’re probably the most improved team of the year, and everyone is happy with the progress made. From the way we’ve raced this year, everyone can see that there is good potential in the team.

“The target this year was not to win the world titles, but to take a step forward, as we had a lot of new key personnel coming in. Our competitors are strong, but we’ve shown we can beat them already this season. So next year could be the year where we make the step to challenge for the championships once again.”

Ian Albiston, who is the Formula 1 project manager of Shell — a partner of the Ferrari team — added: “We’re confident of catching up with Mercedes (next year). We will have another few improvements, hopefully before the end of this year. We’re definitely on the right track for next year, and I believe it’ll be a very close fight for the title next season.”

With Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen behind the wheels, Ferrari are just one of two teams to boast lining up on the Formula 1 grid with two world champions. While both drivers are committed to Ferrari till at least the end of next season, their future with the team past 2016 remains uncertain.

Nonetheless, Gene believes Ferrari will have no problems in attracting the very best drivers, as he said: “We are a team with a lot of rich history and top drivers. Everybody knows where we came from and the amount of passion we have for the sport.

“We managed to attract the likes of Vettel and Kimi and both are former world champions. So it shows that all drivers dream of coming to Ferrari. To be a legend in the sport, you got to win a title with Ferrari.” NOAH TAN

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