
Sebastian Vettel beats Michael Schumacher. It's not a victory earned on the track, even though the Red Bull Racing driver dangerously challenges the seven-time World Champion's titles won by the former Ferrari driver. Instead, it's among the fans. According to a study promoted by the German newspaper Bild, the three-time World Champion seems more likable than Michael Schumacher: 74.7% of the surveyed expressed their preference for Vettel, while Schumacher is appreciated by only 68.5% of German fans. The Formula 1 legend redeems himself with popularity: 99% of those surveyed know the now-retired driver, while the current leader of the world championship stops at 96%. The survey goes beyond Germany, where Vettel is the fifth most beloved athlete, behind Magdalena Neuner, Vitali Klitschko, Pelè, and Steffi Graf. In England and Spain, Schumacher takes his revenge, scoring 64.1% across the Channel and 68% in Iberian land, with Vettel just over 60% in both cases. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton cannot be satisfied: the Spaniard has the lowest success rate (63.2%), with the Englishman just slightly ahead (63.7%), both well surpassed by Nico Rosberg (68.6%). Speaking of the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso plays at home. In the land of the beloved samurai, he has been an authentic icon for his behaviors and challenges for the past year. He returns to Japan, Suzuka, where he has never won with Ferrari but triumphed in 2006 with Renault, a key success for his second world title. He appears on a beloved track, but probably, he can do nothing but bow (like any Japanese) to the unassailable Sebastian Vettel, a dominant force for quite some time, especially now with a monopoly on victories. Just think that he has been leading (including pit stops) since halfway through the Italian Grand Prix. Between Singapore and Korea, he left nothing for his rivals, with two consecutive Grand Slams, pole position, victory, fastest lap in the race, and the car leading from start to finish, an achievement that, if repeated in Japan, would make him a historical figure since no one in F1 has achieved it three times in a row. The current Vettel seems not just unbeatable but even unapproachable. Yet, Ecclestone has pronounced:
"In 2014, he won't win anymore; it will be someone else's turn".
Waiting to understand whether this is a hope (for the audience, exhausted by so much dominance) or a certainty, the brake to Red Bull Racing's dominance could come from the technical and regulatory revolution in F1. It happened in 2005 after Michael Schumacher's five consecutive world titles: the rules changed, and Ferrari stopped. Now, Vettel's rivals hope for the same. Hamilton has stated that at his home, they turn off the TV after the start and turn it back on for the podium. A monotonous ride for the now four-time World Champion, which the next season is called to interrupt. Firstly, because the new regulations (different front and rear wings) foresee a 40% reduction in aerodynamics, Red Bull Racing's extra weapon. Montezemolo has always hoped for it:
"Forza to drivers and engines, enough with aerospace engineers".
On paper, it should be like that. The problem is that even the engines will undergo an epochal change: no longer 8 cylinders but 6, displacement from 2400 cc to 1600 cc, albeit turbocharged. Pay attention to fuel consumption because the tank can hold 100 kilograms of fuel, and it has already been established that at full throttle, it is destined to empty in an hour. Since the race lasts two hours, you will have to manage it, perhaps by reducing the number of revolutions not to 15.000 RPM (the maximum) but to 12.000 RPM if you don't want to park before the finish line. As for the tires, after the 2013 issues, it's easy to think that Pirelli will build very hard tires, with the risk (experts claim) that the cars will turn into soapboxes. Finally, the Ers unknown, replacing the kers: double power (from 800 to 1600) and six times longer duration, from 6 seconds to 35 seconds. It fuels and gives speed: since it is activated for almost half a lap, if it doesn't work, you're in trouble. A lot of novelties to ensure that the dominators are unprecedented. For now, the cry of pain comes only from Scuderia Toro Rosso:
"We will spend 20.000.000 euros more".

Red Bull Racing remains silent, with Vettel focused only on the fourth consecutive title. Can we assume that, for once, Adrian Newey will be caught off guard? We'll see. Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing continues to dictate the rules. The 2013 World Championship is also in the hands of Sebastian Vettel, who could mathematically close the games and win the fourth consecutive title already in Suzuka, a feat achieved so far only by Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher. The duel with Fernando Alonso, who is 77 points behind the leaderboard, is coming to an end. At the eve of the Japanese weekend, he seems to have abandoned any hope of a miracle. Fernando Alonso doesn't appear too worried about Kimi Raikkonen's arrival for the next season.
"With Kimi, we will be able to have an excellent championship for Ferrari and achieve as many points as possible, but I think that in terms of speed, Felipe is not slower than the Finn. In fact, when they raced together, the Brazilian was often the fastest of the two".
On the other hand, the Spaniard hopes that the Maranello team can provide him with a faster car:
"If we have a competitive car, Kimi and I will be able to enjoy the season and do very good things. If the car is not competitive, we will have a year similar to this one".
Alonso adds that there is no need to be so dissatisfied with the upcoming season's conclusion:
"Obviously, when you practically have no hope of winning the world championship, it's harder to give your best. However, there are 22 other drivers who are in a worse condition than mine. I have always recognized the value of Vettel, as well as that of Red Bull. Last year, I said that we could fight on equal terms, even with Mercedes, but only until Singapore. Then Sebastian had a car faster by a second, and we can't compete. A leap forward made with the help of Adrian Newey, who did even better this year: they went faster right from the start".
Alonso then acknowledges the skill and greatness of his opponent.
"Vettel is having a great season, has done an excellent job, and is close to perfection. It's true that he has a very competitive car, but he has driven very well and has not made mistakes".
Indeed, Sebastian Vettel has dominated the season, supported by the team's growth, fast from the start but able to increase the gap against opponents in the last four Grand Prix, not only Ferrari but also Mercedes.
"I think it's fair to say that we had a very strong car from the beginning of the season, strong enough to always finish in a good position. Lately, I think we've been very strong even in qualifying, while at the beginning of the year, Mercedes seemed to have something more. I don't think there is a real explanation on our part; there is no part that we put on the car, making it suddenly much faster. We managed to improve it, and so, when we arrived in Spa, the car was better than in Hungary. From there on, we have always tried to improve; there are always new details that come every weekend, even if sometimes it's a very small package. But we keep pushing very hard, and I'm sure others are doing the same. Apparently, lately, we've had quite a few good updates that have made the car faster".
According to Sebastian Vettel, it's also a matter of understanding the car:

"We can understand it better than at the beginning of the season. You can react more quickly or find the right setup. Clearly, there's not much time because if you drive on Friday, there's only one night to improve and make changes, but we managed to work very well as a team and get close to 100% by Saturday morning".
Sebastian Vettel also receives compliments from Lewis Hamilton.
"I can only reciprocate; I believe there is respect among the drivers, and I think that's the most important thing. Lewis is one of the best F1 drivers, and I get along quite well with him, so I can only say thank you and reciprocate".
However, Hamilton also says that Vettel's consistent winning makes Formula 1 boring and predictable.
"Firstly, it's a compliment. I think it's very different; there was a race that was an exception because in Singapore, we managed to keep digging every lap. If you take Korea, which is more similar to Spa, the gap was something like six seconds throughout the race. If we think back a decade ago, it was thirty seconds, sixty seconds per race, which is quite different. Don't get me wrong, of course, it's a significant margin, but a small mistake, and three seconds mean nothing".
For Sebastian Vettel, Suzuka is one of the best, if not the best, track in the World Championship. And he concludes by talking about climbing Mount Fuji.
"Climbing might not be the right word because you don't need a rope to get there. Yes, we started very early; it was a very fun journey. We reached the summit at dawn. A unique experience".
The rain pouring down on the Japanese asphalt at night may refresh the ideas, but it won't create upheavals. Vettel is now the World Champion for the fourth time in a row; only the comfort of arithmetic is missing, whether it comes in Suzuka or in India. Alonso, in Ferrari for four years, the era of Vettel, has lost once again. He feared it, now he knows it for sure, and perhaps that's why he shows clear nervousness, with sharp phrases and scattered accusations: even in Japan, Pirelli is again in the crosshairs, along with the car he now drives and a Kimi Raikkonen who continues not to bring him joy. It's as if Fernando Alonso wants, with pronounced agitation, to break free from the uncomfortable present, the dominance of Sebastian Vettel, but according to some, even coexisting with Ferrari has become difficult. For sure, he and the team have never been so distant, not for the famous, never clarified, epithet at Monza against the people in the pits (idiots, much more likely, or geniuses), but for the repeated criticisms of this year's performance. It's hard to imagine that the Spaniard is seeking an immediate separation: he can't find anything better with Red Bull Racing at full capacity; McLaren is a bigger leap into the unknown than Maranello, and Mercedes already has its two drivers and the rest are followers. Perhaps the separation could be imagined for the end of 2014, in the case of another failure, and the hypothesis of his retirement in twelve months is even less credible, given that the Spaniard would leave behind two years of a contract with around 50.000.000 euros in the Ferrari safe. The fact is that even on Thursday, October 10, 2013, at the beginning of the weekend that gives Vettel the first seasonal match point, Alonso swings his sword left and right. It is excluded, for example, that Raikkonen can bring miracles with him:
"Besides, Massa is no slower than him, he showed it when they were together at Ferrari; in fact, he was faster, especially in qualifying. It all depends on the new car and how competitive it will be. Kimi and I can form an excellent pair, but if the next car is like the current one, the results will be the same as this year".

In other words, if I don't win, it's difficult for him to do so. Where was the mistake, though, considering that in the first five races, the Spaniard won two?
"We made a mistake in the development direction, hitting rock bottom at Silverstone, at the end of June. We realized it, went back, but by then, it was too late; the others hadn't waited for us".
Especially Red Bull Racing:
"They worked better than us. Every race brings something that guarantees a leap in quality".
Plus, there's Sebastian Vettel:
"In 2013, he came close to perfection. Currently, he forms the best possible combination with the car. However, let's judge him over the long term. Let's see if he will manage to win in the coming years".
Not that he has spared himself so far, launching towards all records, while this Sunday he could become the driver who has scored the most points in history, surpassing Schumacher. Seven more points are needed, a sixth place will do it, while the eighth is the minimum required to postpone the celebration of the German rival.
"I would like to set a record, even though the new points allocation system favors me. However, the important thing is not to give up, defend the second place in the constructors, go on the attack, have fun, and finally win in 2014. Since it's impossible this year".
While in Japan they prepare to face the next Grand Prix, Maria De Villota, test driver for Marussia who had been seriously injured (losing the functionality of her right eye) after an accident on July 3, 2012, at Duxford while conducting a test for her team, is found lifeless in a hotel in Seville. The news is reported by the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser and soon picked up by other local media. According to initial information, the Madrid-born driver was in Seville for a conference where she was supposed to share her experience, but around 7:00 a.m., emergency services were called: attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. The cause of death was brain damage, a consequence of the previous year's accident. Her family releases a statement that reads:
"Dear friends, Maria has left us. She had to go to heaven like all angels. We thank God for the year and a half that he left her with us".
The autopsy conducted on the former pilot's body confirms that the death occurred due to natural causes, according to a source close to the investigation into the Spanish driver.
"I can't say more out of respect for the family".
According to initial information, no drugs or signs of violence were found in the room where Maria De Villota was found lifeless. The confirmation also comes from Carlos Gracia, president of the Spanish Motorsport Federation:
"For what I know, her personal assistant, Arancha, entered the room to wake her up, but saw that she wasn't moving. She was already dead, and it seems to have been a natural death, although we don't know much more".

María de Villota was born in Madrid on January 13, 1980, and she was scheduled to speak at a conference in Seville titled "What really matters" to share her experience. The daughter of Formula 1 driver Emilio De Villota had competed in Spanish Formula 3 and the 24 Hours of Daytona, making her debut in the F1 circus in 2009 as a test driver for Renault. Last February, she had also received the green light to return to driving. The news quickly circulates around the world in a matter of seconds, reaching Suzuka where the weekend is underway. The condolences of Fernando Alonso:
"You take off your helmet, and they give you news like this, it's strange. All that remains is to pray for her and be close to her family".
The Ferrari driver, in addition to being her compatriot, was a close friend of the Marussia test driver.
"Maria was very loved by all of us".
Sergio Perez echoes him.
"It's very, very sad news. When someone who has given their life to this sport and taken risks like all of us passes away, it's very sad. Maria really wanted to be someone in life and had fought a lot for it. It's very sad news for everyone".
New Grand Prix, new controversies for Alonso, today tenth in the free practice of the Japanese Grand Prix:
"We can't have Toro Rosso ahead".
Difficult to blame him, of course, on the usual day when Sebastian Vettel soars, freezes the timers in a spectacular 1'33"852, and gives him almost two seconds of lead. But Alonso is no longer holding back: after the famous you are idiots and after attacking Pirelli, he's like a river in full flow. And some say that he brought his new flame, the beautiful Russian model Dasha Kapustina, here to Suzuka just to take it out on someone. Let's hope not, meanwhile, the nervousness rises.
"We weren't competitive as we wanted. And now we have to try to improve, putting together a series of changes that we already have in mind".
Certainly, among his problems, there was also a spin, but the tenth place behind Toro Rosso is really too much.
"Fortunately, the tires didn't deteriorate: we managed to use them even on the long run at full load, although we certainly lost those extra tenths of the first lap. Tomorrow we hope to make a clean lap and do better than those cars - like Toro Rosso and McLaren - that we can't have in front, as happened today".
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel rejoices because he could already be crowned World Champion in Suzuka. For this hypothesis, Fernando Alonso should not even score a point. But as the drivers know well, nervousness is the real enemy in these difficult championship situations. Furthermore, as if that were not enough, Stefano Domenicali, the team principal of Ferrari, makes everything clear. He congratulates Sebastian Vettel on the fourth world title even before arithmetic delivers it. He won, says the head of the Racing Management of Maranello in an interview with a German newspaper, and he deserves it because his dominance recalls the good times of Schumacher with Ferrari.

Times that are really gone, considering that now, according to the verdict of the first Japanese kilometers (fifth Massa and sixth Alonso in the first free session, Massa eighth and Alonso even tenth in the second), Ferrari not only looks from afar at Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, and Lotus but even risks succumbing to McLaren (clearly in crisis this year) and Scuderia Toro Rosso. Domenicali understands the current situation and moves forward with the work: after all, if the Japanese Grand Prix were to end like the last free practice session, with Sebastian Vettel first and Fernando Alonso tenth, the German would already be the World Champion with four races to go. But this slow pace doesn't sit well with the Spaniard, who is also aware of Ferrari's poor competitiveness. On Friday evening, before leaving the circuit, he explodes once again:
"We absolutely have to improve the car, with some changes that we already have in mind. Because it's okay to take a beating from Red Bull or Mercedes, but Ferrari cannot afford to have Toro Rosso in front".
Instead, at first taste, it was like that, while Maldonado's Williams wheel ran undisturbed on the track (60.000 euros fine), Bianchi, a product of the Ferrari school and freshly confirmed in Marussia, destroyed his car in the first session, and the Red Bulls, Vettel and then Webber, as usual, went to sleep as dominators. On Saturday, October 12, 2013, during the third and final free practice session, Mark Webber sets the fastest time, preceding the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Sebastian Vettel, the other driver of Red Bull Racing, closes only with the ninth time as problems with the Kers of his car limit his session to only eight laps. Adrian Sutil goes off the track at Spoon, without suffering physical consequences. Jules Bianchi closes more than seven seconds behind Webber's time, having to test the reserve car prepared for him after the Friday morning incident. At the end of the third free practice session, Nico Rosberg receives a reprimand from the stewards for obstructing Charles Pic. A few hours later, the pole position of the Japanese Grand Prix goes to Mark Webber, closely followed by his teammate, Sebastian Vettel. Behind them are the Ferraris, with Brazilian Felipe Massa fifth and Fernando Alonso eighth. The Australian driver of Red Bull Racing completes the lap in 1'30"915, securing the 12th pole position of his career, the first of the season that allows him to interrupt Sebastian Vettel's streak.
The German, as mentioned, will start next to him on the front row, behind them the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and the Lotus of Sebastian Grosjean. Fifth time and third row for Felipe Massa, who will be alongside the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg, only eighth for Fernando Alonso, who will also start behind the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg. Closing the top ten will be Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button. Sergio Perez (McLaren), Paul Di Resta (Force India), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber), Pastor Maldonado (Williams), and Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) were left out of the fight for pole position in the second round. In Q1, eliminated were Adrian Sutil (Force India), Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso), whose qualifying was interrupted three minutes before the end of the session due to a fire on his car with a red flag, Max Chilton (Marussia), Charles Pic (Caterham), Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham), and Jules Bianchi (Marussia). Sutil also had to replace the gearbox, and he will incur a five-place grid penalty.
"It's beautiful to be on pole on such a phenomenal circuit. It's an excellent result. I really enjoy driving here, tried to push to the maximum, and it went well. Vettel had some issues during qualifying, but he managed to put in a fantastic lap. Fortunately for me, the electronics worked well, and that's what matters. We had to consider setup management with the wind in mind; the circuit changed a lot from yesterday to today. We did what we could to be as fast as possible. Let's see what happens tomorrow".
Sebastian Vettel doesn't seek excuses for the KERS problem that affected his qualifying.

"It didn't make a big difference in terms of pace. Congratulations to Mark (Webber) for his fantastic lap. Yes, I had some problems in qualifying, but I'm not interested in ifs and buts. We're in a beautiful position, both of us on the front row, an excellent result for us and the team. The car was fantastic, behaved well, we have a good feeling, and I'm happy with the second position. We pushed to the limit and did our best; some mistakes can always happen".
Fernando Alonso prepares for the usual comeback race in the Japanese Grand Prix.
"Everyone gives everything they have in Q3; we can't have that luck and must give our best from start to finish. That's how it goes every weekend. Does Ferrari have good pace? Yes, the long-run tests went better than in Korea. Hopefully, we can have a more positive Sunday compared to Saturday; let's try to recover. The start, strategy, and race pace will be crucial".
Felipe Massa explains:
"Putting together a perfect lap on this incredible track is always a great satisfaction. It reminded me of the pole in 2006, and even though it's a fifth position, it's still essential for tomorrow's start. Since yesterday, I felt that the car had a good balance, and today we did a good job, managing to extract all its potential. More than this was not possible, but I am still very happy".
On Sunday, October 13, 2013, at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing cars got off to a slow start and were both overtaken by Romain Grosjean. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, with his right rear tire, touched the front wing of Sebastian Vettel, resulting in a puncture that forced the Englishman to pit and later retire during the eighth lap. As Fernando Alonso overtook Nico Hülkenberg shortly after the lights went out, a collision between Giedo van der Garde and Jules Bianchi at the back of the pack forced both to retire. At the end of the first lap, the standings saw Grosjean in the lead, followed by Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Alonso, Hülkenberg, Sergio Pérez, Esteban Gutiérrez, and Jenson Button. The latter would be overtaken by Kimi Räikkönen during the sixth lap. Tires wore out quickly, and between laps 10 and 14, all leading drivers entered the pits to switch to Hard tires. The best strategy was adopted by Hülkenberg, the first to change tires, who returned to the track ahead of the two Ferraris. In the meantime, Rosberg, in the restart after the pit stop, risked contact with the approaching Pérez and was subsequently penalized with a drive-through. The only driver not to pit was Daniel Ricciardo, who entered fourth place. During the 19th lap, Fernando Alonso passed Felipe Massa. Then, during the following lap, Alonso and Hülkenberg overtook Ricciardo (who later returned to the pits for a tire change). Felipe Massa made a mistake on the 20th lap, allowing Gutiérrez to get closer. However, the Mexican couldn't overtake and was in turn passed by Kimi Räikkönen.
The top three positions in the standings were still occupied by Grosjean, followed by Webber and Vettel. Around the 25th lap, Mark Webber, unable to attack Romain Grosjean, changed strategy and switched from two to three stops, allowing Sebastian Vettel to move into second place. During the 28th lap, Felipe Massa was the first driver to make a second pit stop, followed by all the other leading drivers. However, the Brazilian did not respect the speed limit in the pit lane and was penalized with a drive-through, as was Daniel Ricciardo, who gained an advantage by going off track. Sebastian Vettel was the last to make a pit stop, during the 36th lap, and returned to the track in third place, 14 seconds behind Mark Webber but close to Romain Grosjean, who had stopped on lap 29. While positions stabilized in the midfield, the last laps were crucial for the podium composition. On the 41st lap, Sebastian Vettel overtook Romain Grosjean at the Casio Triangle and passed him at the end of the pit straight. During the next lap, Mark Webber returned to the pits for the third time and rejoined the track in third place. However, using the new tires, on the 52nd lap, the Australian overtook Romain Grosjean. On the 46th lap, Fernando Alonso overtook Nico Hulkenberg on the main straight, a feat later achieved by Kimi Räikkönen on the penultimate lap at the Triangle chicane.

Sebastian Vettel won the Japanese Grand Prix. For the German driver, it was the 35th career victory, the ninth of the season, and the fifth consecutive one. The podium was completed by Mark Webber and Romain Grosjean. By finishing fourth, Fernando Alonso kept his championship hopes alive, but in the next Indian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing driver only needed to finish fifth to secure his fourth consecutive title. Esteban Gutiérrez also finished in the points, seventh, for the first and only time in his career. More than on the World Championship, Vettel had a grip on the world. Because Vettel doesn't give discounts, he wins everywhere, especially in Japan and at the beloved Suzuka circuit, where he has taken home the trophy four times in the last five years. Vettel, a cannibal, inhuman, could even be said to be heartless, since this time everything seemed set for his teammate Webber, a triumph four races before saying goodbye to Formula 1, in his last time at Suzuka. Instead, the Australian had to settle for second place, bowing to the usual bad teammate who had already made it clear what it means to wage war with him back in Malaysia at the beginning of 2013. Vettel champion for the fourth consecutive time, even though the celebrations would only take place in two weeks in India, as 10 points were still needed (a fifth place) for the comfort of arithmetic, assuming that in the last four races, the only rival capable of challenging him, Fernando Alonso, could win every time. In reality, it wouldn't be the case, so for the German, who refuses to talk about a completed feat more for mockery than superstition, much less is missing—three points (four with the eighth place) if Alonso were to finish second in the next Grand Prix, or even none if the Ferrari driver were to finish third. These are the cold calculations, but what sense does it make to count with someone who was born to win and only has that in mind and who in this season finale will probably continue to leave a mark, as he has done all year (9 wins out of 15 races, his record is 11, dated 2011, and he wants to break it) and as he has never stopped doing since he started driving for Red Bull Racing, with 34 victories in five seasons, four of which are adorned with the world championship laurel. He tells at the height of exultation:
"Everything that has come my way in these seasons is incredible; I constantly live thrilling Sundays. However, success hasn't changed me. I love racing; throughout the weekend, I always have the same tension I had at the beginning of my career, the same excitement mixed with restlessness at the start, the same nervousness in the minutes before the race, and the same adrenaline when I clock in kilometers. Everything is always the same, as if it were the first time".
And almost always, it's the same at the finish line: he crosses it first, others arrive centuries later. To the point that he can even plan what to say to the team during the final radio connection. At Suzuka, he indulges in Japanese: Ichiban shouts to his team. You are number one, the best in the world. And then:
"I love you all, fantastic men, extraordinary team, perfect machine".
Adjectives rain down, well-coordinated by him, who is the driving force. Someone who, with the kers acting up for once, starts poorly, gets overtaken by Grosjean with the Lotus, stays behind Webber, touches and damages the front wing with Hamilton, but nothing compared to Hamilton's punctured tire. Someone who, in a rare case, seems stuck in a bad day but, with a well-thought-out strategy (two stops, compared to Webber's three, his teammate who gets entangled with the pit stop and the team) and racing like mad, gives himself a fantastic comeback, tactical overtakes (although Grosjean passes him for real), and the usual final outcome. The World Championship is not over yet, but it's a matter of days; the stubborn Alonso, fourth and the first among mortals (because even Grosjean's Lotus in Japan had an extra gear), can do nothing. Vettel, cunning, showers all the praise on the team:
"It was crucial to have completed a very long second stint, 33 laps. One less stop, many kilometers with used tires, where we were the strongest, and a final sprint with the new ones. Perfect picture".

In the distance, Massa whispered: and how do you expect it to go? I said no to the team orders; Alonso passed me anyway. I went through the pits at too high a speed, got a drive-through penalty, and finished tenth. Is there something new?
"Multifunction Strategy A".
It's not NASA, but an F1 track. The words spoken via radio from the pit wall to Massa are in code, hiding a team order. In the early laps of the Grand Prix, the Brazilian is off to a strong start, fifth, ahead of Alonso. The instructions say he must let his teammate pass, but this time the stubborn Felipe refuses. He's looking for a seat for next year, he needs to place well, he can't give away positions. He understands but doesn't comply. And stays ahead, then returns to the pits for the first stop at lap 11. The aftermath will tell that Alonso passed him on the track.
"In a regular way, with a real battle".
Admits the Brazilian, and that Massa, faltering in the second part, will first make a mistake entering the pits, with a speed too high and punishable, then get a drive-through, and at the end of mistake after mistake on the last lap, he will even lose the ninth position to Jenson Button. The grand refusal was in vain. Felipe Massa explains:
"The drive-through ruined my race; I found myself immersed in traffic and couldn't get out".
But the punishment didn't come from the sky; it was due to his mistake. After a good Saturday, the Brazilian once again threw himself away, and the meager point he earns adds little substance to Ferrari's second-place goal in the Constructors' World Championship. However, what is mostly discussed is the refusal pronounced in the pits. Fernando Alonso says:
"Between me and Felipe, zero problems. I understand his state of mind; he's trying to give his best, like me and all the team members. I hold no grudge".
Even Stefano Domenicali plays down the matter.
"It was a precise instruction, necessary for our tactic. Massa didn't comply, but I wouldn't make a drama out of it. He was trying to finish higher; he was pushing to the maximum".
However, the case could plant some bad thoughts in the team's mind regarding the fight for the second place in the Constructors' World Championship, an objective that Domenicali values a lot and for which they will have to resist the assault of Mercedes and Lotus, in great shape with the consistently placed Kimi Raikkonen and the rising Romain Grosjean. The World Championship is gone now, and Fernando Alonso prefers to talk about realistic goals.
"To finish second, we need some podiums. I hope the team doesn't stop development and continues to bring new and winning things. Because here, more than fourth place, we couldn't achieve".

Spanish Grand Prix was conquered with strength, prevailing over the surprising Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and resisting the attacks of Kimi Raikkonen. Moreover, with the 12 points earned, he is the driver who has scored the most in the history of F1, 5 more than Schumacher.
"A record that makes me proud. It's always nice to be at the top of a list, the new scoring system favors me, but I've still scored a lot (1571)".
But now it's time to return to victory, which has been missing since May 12, 2013, in Barcelona.
"Vettel is out of the competition, but the others are all behind us, a sign that the level reached by Ferrari is still very high. I don't expect miracles; in qualifying, we will remain behind by a second, but we need to find the right form in race pace as soon as possible".
You're a nut case. An insult that Mark Webber, the Australian of Red Bull Racing, shouted at Romain Grosjean in Japan last year, the Lotus driver guilty of having bumped him in a very daring maneuver. Twelve months later, the two find themselves head to head for second place, but this time nothing happens, with Webber cleanly overtaking Grosjean at the beginning of the penultimate lap. A fair battle and, if we want, a passing of the torch between the old one prevailing for the last time and the new one advancing - the former bad boy Grosjean, no longer an aggressive rascal but a mature driver who, in Korea and Japan, has managed to secure two third places, doubling the times he has finished on the podium this year. With a cannonball start (from fourth to first), he held his own throughout the race (the only one) against Red Bull Racing and is proud in the end.
"The best race of my life; I'm very close to my first victory".
Progress endorsed by Webber:
"His mental approach to work and racing has completely changed. Now he is a true, strong driver. And in the future, he will win a lot".
Stefano Domenicali is not Ferrari's problem. And things will improve in the future. The Ferrari team principal defends what has been done in recent years and sends back the many criticisms against him, starting with those who would like him to be shown the door. Because Formula 1 is not like football, where when things go wrong, you change the coach.
"I'm not just the coach; I'm the CEO of a sports company. And the case of Ferrari is not comparable to that of a football club: it's not that by firing Domenicali, tomorrow we win. Of course, my boss can let me go, and if he does, I would always be grateful to have been at Ferrari. But in Italy, there is a proverb that says: when you leave the known path, the other can be worse. What I can guarantee is that I try to give the best tools to the people who work on the car, who design it, I take care of choosing the drivers, the sponsors, making the system work. My commitment is total, knowing that we can be replaced but not with the logic of football. Buying a defender or an attacker doesn't win the championship; that's not the key to success in Formula 1".
In short, the Ferrari team principal is not willing to be a scapegoat.

"The problem is not Domenicali; Domenicali is a person who arrives first at work and is the last to leave, who commits himself so that nothing is lacking for his men. Changing entails discontinuity and can be dangerous. Take the drivers: how many times have I read in the past that Felipe needs to be changed. And now I read: Felipe must stay. A bit of rationality is needed".
Domenicali confesses that it's not easy when someone allows themselves to be offensive towards a person who is just trying to do their job well, and at home, his family reads certain things.
"I try to isolate myself and keep my family out of this game".
But have you ever thought about leaving?
"I was born into Ferrari; it has given me a lot, just as I have given a lot to this family. I do things out of passion, because I believe in them, but now also to prove to those who take pleasure in offending me that they understand nothing, and that my moment will come sooner or later".
The fact remains that 2013 fell well below expectations, but the strong man from Maranello emphasizes two factors.
"The first is that at the beginning of the season, we had a car that was not competitive in qualifying but very good in race pace: at Montmelo, the two Mercedes had taken the front row, but we won by a minute against Nico Rosberg and lapped Hamilton. But then we couldn't develop the car consistently because unfortunately, as seen in Silverstone or Germany, the developments made instead of improving the car made it worse. Then there was the tire change, and we couldn't exploit the best characteristic we had, which was competitiveness in race pace".
A different situation from 2012.
"When we didn't win, it was because we were unlucky. If you end up out of the race at the first turn twice, it's not because the car is slow".
This season, however...
"The regret is losing points in the first part of the season because we could have done more, and then not developing the car as I expected and as I asked my technicians. When there is no improvement, there are always reasons: lack of creativity, tools not up to the task, but in these three years, we have practically everything - simulation system, software, organization, and we will start again with a new wind tunnel in Maranello, with all the tools that are necessary to win in such a competitive F1".
Domenicali also acknowledges that:
"In recent years, we have not fully understood the use of exhausts with aerodynamic effect, a problem we have had since this effect existed and that we have not been able to solve completely".
But at Ferrari, there is an obligation: to win.

"In such a competitive world, you don't live on the name alone; you have to do everything at the right time, and I believe we have completed the entire framework to be very strong in a consolidated way. And I believe we would not have received so much criticism if we had won last year, which was an extraordinary year despite not having the fastest car".
The 2013 World Championship evaporated in July when Ferrari could not grow as expected. This is Fernando Alonso's analysis, who identifies the summer missteps as the key moment of the season.
"Our problem was development. We did not adapt to the tires, or we did not take the planned steps. In July, in particular, we arrived at the race with updates that were valid on paper but not so much on the track. I think this slowed down the growth".
The Spaniard does not connect the results of the Maranello team to Pirelli's actions.
"The changes made to the tires are an extra. It is clear; some teams have lost something in terms of performance, and others, like Sauber, have gained. But Pirelli had to make the changes because some tires exploded; it was not a decision made to benefit one team or another".