Ferrari defends less ‘extreme’ approach to 2011 car

Aldo Costa has played down fears the new Ferrari is too conservative when compared to its rivals.

Among the new class of 2011 are the new McLaren, with radically shaped sidepods, the Renault with front-exiting exhausts, Williams’ ultra-low rear and small gearbox, and the double-floor of the new Toro Rosso.

“Futuristic projects are not always better than more conservative ones,” Fernando Alonso insisted to La Stampa newspaper last week.

The famous team’s technical director agrees.

“I think the fastest car will be the one with the best performance balance between aerodynamics, the mechanical side and reliability,” Costa is quoted by L’Equipe in France.

“If you attempt something extreme in one area, you might pay in another, so for a car that wins you need a balanced approach,” he added.

Costa also revealed that Ferrari’s F150 will evolve between now and the first race of the season in Bahrain.

“Mechanically, the car will be almost complete at Jerez (this week),” said the Italian, “but from an aerodynamic standpoint, there are still a lot of changes coming.

“More than an extreme approach, we are seeking a productive approach,” he insisted, “and ultimately it will be the laptimes that will make the verdict.”

© RIF | GMM