UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Glitches cast cloud over Ferrari

Problems continue to plague team

Sep.15 (GMM) A rear damper component that is part of Ferrari's current formula one package could be causing the Maranello based team trouble, just four races until the end of the 2007 title.

Felipe Massa at Spa-Francorchamps confirmed that a broken rear damper caused his retirement from the Italian grand prix a week ago, even though he said the piece was in use prior to Monza.

The Brazilian then admitted that a similar problem with the damper might have caused Kimi Raikkonen's high speed crash in Saturday practice at Monza, despite Ferrari insisting more than once that the Finn simply lost control of the car on a bump.

But asked if the damper actually caused Raikkonen's problem, Massa answered: "I think so. Maybe, yeah."

Perhaps realising that he had accidentally let the cat out of the bag, however, the 26-year-old said in a news conference two questions later: "I don't think so ... (Kimi's) was a different problem."

Maranello based Ferrari, despite dominating qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, then encountered two more unspecified problems in the session with the rear of both F2007 cars.

In its post-qualifying press statement, Ferrari made no mention of the fact that Massa only made it out on track in Q1 with a few minutes to spare, after mechanics worked feverishly on the back of his car.

Pole sitter Raikkonen then revealed to reporters that he had grappled with a strange feeling at the rear of his red car, although in the official statement, he corrected himself by mentioning that "apparently everything was okay".

But Kimi told reporters: "After the first run (in Q3) I found the car was not the same any more as it was. I think there is a little problem at the rear of the car because it felt too soft.

"Hopefully we can find the issue and fix it."

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella, meanwhile, will start the race from the rear of the grid after an engine change following the qualifying session. The Roman qualified 11th.

Written: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 02:21:35