False polemics and Checkmated by the volcano

Maranello, 19 April – Some news outlets used some statements by Felipe Massa after the Chinese GP, which were somehow taken out of context: obviously someone is trying to create bad blood between the two drivers after Fernando Alonso's overtaking manoeuvre of his teammate at the pit lane entrance on lap 19. Furthermore both drivers were very clear after the race: this episode won't change anything at all regarding the relationship between the two. Felipe and Fernando are travelling back to Europe on the same flight, together with the Scuderia's technicians.

A spokesperson for the team from Maranello said on the phone from Shanghai: “What happened yesterday with Fernando overtaking Felipe was just an episode in a race and I should be treated as such. Our drivers know how to behave on the track and they have shown it also this time. Naturally both want to win and they both bring fighting spirit to the races, while respecting a very simple rule: the team's well-being is of more importance than the individual's well-being.”

The day after the Chinese Grand Prix is dominated by insecurities as far as the return home of the Formula 1 teams is concerned, due to the volcanic ash blocking the sky over Europe. Yesterday only some of the numerous members of the teams managed to get on board of planes leaving for Europe: for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Team Principal Stefano Domenicali and Technical Director Aldo Costa. The remaining members of the team will leave gradually: a first group tonight and another one early tomorrow morning, followed by the third and last group on Wednesday morning. Where the groups will fly to is still not sure. Everything depends on the weather conditions over the next hours.

Meanwhile all the teams are in the same condition, although the Scuderia set up an emergency plan, which will enable also Toro Rosso and Sauber to come back to their home countries by Wednesday night. It will be slightly more difficult to foresee the date when the material, single-seaters included, will arrive. Fortunately the Eyjafjollajokull erupted before a relatively long break of the race calendar: the next Formula 1 race will be held on the Circuit de Catalunya on 9 May. Otherwise Formula 1 would have experienced the same problems as Moto GP, the motorbike racing series had to postpone the race in Motegi until autumn. In case the material from China should arrive too late, then there might be some problems as far as the preparations for the Spanish GP are concerned.

Source: Ferrari.com