UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Ferrari scraps 'traffic lights'

Safety first at Ferrari

Oct.7 (GMM) Ferrari has decided to bring back the pitstop 'lollipop' for the three final races of the 2008 championship battle.

Following problems with the Italian squad's unique 'traffic lights' system in Singapore and also elsewhere, team principal Stefano Domenicali confirmed to Sky Italia that Ferrari will fall in line with the rest of the formula one teams for the decisive races in October and November.

He insists that the traffic lights system usually delivers "significant time savings" at pitstops.

"But we are going back to the old system, with a lollipop, because we have recognised that the team needs to be calm," Domenicali said.

At the last race in Singapore, when a mechanic wrongly pressed a button while Felipe Massa's car was still being refuelled, the Brazilian driver ripped the hose from the rig and dragged it the entire length of the pits.

Instead of taking the championship lead from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, he fell a potentially terminal seven points behind with just the Japanese, Chinese and Brazilian grands prix to go.

Domenicali continued: "At this stage of the season and with all the tension, it is better for everyone who works in the heat of the battle to do so with as little stress as possible."

He acknowledges that Massa's points position now makes the title less likely, but vowed to push hard to the finish.

"I am convinced that we have the right ingredients to win the next three races," Domenicali said.

"It will not be an easy task, but it is definitely not impossible either," he added.

Written: Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:38:04