Japanese Grand Prix – Fuji, 30th September 2007
Kimi Raikkonen: 3rd + 9.478 67 laps chassis 262 Felipe Massa:
6th + 49.042 67 laps chassis 263 Weather: air temperature
18/17 °C, track temperature 20 °C, rain.
Jean Todt: “The race was held in weather
conditions so extreme that the start had to be given behind
the safety car and it stayed on track for no less than 19
laps. In light of the weather forecast we had obtained, we
chose to start on standard wet tyres but, after a few laps,
we were informed of a decision of the stewards that demanded
the use of extreme wets. The team had not been informed and
only after the race, did we find that an e-mail had been sent
to Stefano Domenicali which arrived after the start of the
race. We were amazed and had to immediately call in the drivers
to the pits to change tyres. From then on, our target was
to make up for lost ground in a manner that was somewhat perplexing.
After a strong climb up the order both drivers managed to
get back into the points, with Kimi ending up on the podium
in third place. Clearly, given the result, the situation in
the Drivers’ Championship is now compromised with only
Kimi still in the hunt. It will need a miracle, but what is
certain is that we will do our utmost to win the final two
races of the season.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “We raced with virtually
zero visibility. The hardest thing to work out was where the
other drivers were and what they were doing. My race was ruined
by the enforced pit stop on lap three. We had chosen to start
on standard rain tyres but we will never know now if this
decision would have paid off. Once I was back at the pack
we tried our best to move back up. All in all, third place
is not a result to complain about. I did a lot of overtaking
always in very difficult conditions. Our set up might have
been more competitive in the dry, but all the same the car
was very quick and I certainly didn’t lose any time
because of this choice. Clearly the situation in the championship
is now much more difficult, but I will still give it my all
right to the end of the season as usual.”
Felipe Massa: “The result of this
race has put an end to my chances of fighting for the title,
but over the whole of the championship, I think I have always
been competitive. Unfortunately, sometimes the reliability
was not there and that cost me valuable points. As for today’s
race, I knew that, given the championship positions, I could
take the risk of running different tyres to our rivals, but
it was not the right choice, on top of which there was the
decision of the Stewards that we were unaware of and which
is nevertheless serious. Then I tried to do my best. I managed
to get up to the front places again but I had to pit again
because I did not have enough fuel to get to the end. Winning
the duel with Kubica on the final lap was the best moment
of this race.”
Luca Baldisserri: “Our race was ruined
by the stop both drivers had to make to switch from standard
wets to the extreme ones, which came as a result of a decision
of the Stewards of which we were unaware. We had specifically
chosen to start on those tyres because the start was behind
the safety car and we though that weather would improve. Stuck
at the back of the pack, we tried to save what we could from
the situation. Both drivers drove a great race in virtually
zero visibility, given they were always behind other cars.
The cars, despite being set up with a dry weather bias, worked
well.”
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