The challenges of Malaysia

Maranello, 25 March

Scuderia Ferrari goes into the second race of the season aware that the Malaysian track is extremely demanding in terms of the climatic conditions. “Normally, we assess the tracks based on two parameters; the level of aerodynamic downforce required and the power needed from the power unit,” James Allison, Scuderia Ferrari’s Technical Director, told ferrari.com. “And if one looks at just these two parameters, Sepang is very similar to Melbourne. Therefore, the car’s competitiveness ought to be similar. However, in Malaysia, its much hotter and more humid and this is a factor that stresses both the car and the tyres. Furthermore, usually a sudden storm can require an immediate change of strategy: everyone is constantly monitoring the weather, but reaction time is always vitally important.” Even the car’s cooling system is seriously tested at Sepang, as confirmed by Simone Resta, Scuderia Ferrari’s Chief Designer. “We have various demands to manage: reliability and performance, the latter both in terms of the power unit and the aerodynamics. We are still in the early stages of the season, therefore we need to establish an accurate understanding of our true level: in Melbourne, we managed a good top speed, which could be very useful on the two long straights of the Malaysian track. At the moment, our pace is pretty good too and, at a circuit like this, where tyre degradation is very high, it could prove to be an advantage for us.”