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Berger criticises Ferrari’s F-duct, not strategy

Gerhard Berger has refused to join those critical of Ferrari’s strategy mistake that cost Fernando Alonso his third drivers’ title in 2010.

Sections of the Italian press as well as some F1 pundits have called for consequences, after strategists called Alonso in for an early pitstop in Abu Dhabi that ultimately stranded the Spaniard behind Vitaly Petrov.

But Berger, a former Ferrari driver and ten-time grand prix winner, as well as former Toro Rosso team owner, said he knows how difficult is the task of calling the shots from the pitwall.

“Afterwards, when you’ve got all the information at hand and you have time to think about it, you’re always smarter,” the Austrian told Auto Motor und Sport.

“It was easy to criticise Ferrari after that race but it’s incredibly difficult to do the right thing in the crucial second,” added Berger.

If Ferrari is criticised, it should be for not giving Alonso the right car with which to pass the less competitive Petrov’s Renault, Berger insisted.

“It shouldn’t happen with Ferrari that Renault has better F-duct technology than you.  The F-duct is a thing that everyone knew about well (by season’s end).”

He also predicted a long period of dominance now for Red Bull.

“They won’t be beaten as long as they have Adrian Newey,” said Berger.  “What can Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes do in this situation?  I would try to take away Newey as a tool (to Red Bull).

“So that’s on the aerodynamic side.  If I was Red Bull’s competitor I would be doing everything politically to reduce the importance of aerodynamics.  Today this is done simply with the whole cost argument about wind tunnels,” he added.
 © RIF | GMM