 Baldisserri in conversation with Michael Schumacher in 2003 |
Ferrari have reorganised their pit team for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix. The struggling world champions, who are without a point after two races, have handed team manager Luca Baldisserri's track duties to engineer Chris Dyer. Baldisserri has been criticised in the Italian media for his decision-making at the Malaysian GP earlier this month. Ferrari insisted Baldisserri would play a key role in the team's working group looking at new technologies aimed at closing the gap on F1 leaders Brawn GP.  | 606: DEBATE |
"A crucial element of this group is Luca Baldisserri," said a Ferrari statement. "The Scuderia team manager will follow the single-seater's development step-by-step, while his role at the track will be covered by Chris Dyer." Ferrari, who have won eight of the last 10 constructors' championships, have got off to their worst start to a F1 season since 1992 and the reigning constructors champions sit bottom of the table. At the Malaysia GP the Italian team sent out Kimi Raikkonen on extreme wet tyres too early, a gamble that backfired as the Finn lost time on other drivers. Felipe Massa was handicapped by starting back in 16th on the grid after another strategic decision had gone wrong in qualifying and was unable to make any gains on the leading pack. He finished ninth in Sepang, while 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen was five places further adrift in 14th place. At the Australian GP, Massa sustained a reliability failure on lap 45 when he was third, three laps after team-mate Raikkonen had spun out. After the Malaysia GP Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo warned his team against becoming the laughing stock of F1.
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