Mika Salo is a widely known identify within the Method 1 world. He participated in 111 Grand Prix weekends, however we now have additionally seen him commonly within the paddock, because the Finn is a part of the FIA stewards’ panel at varied F1 races.
RacingNews365.com spoke extensively and completely with Salo, who made his debut in F1 in 1994 with the Tyrrell workforce, the place he was a teammate to Jos Verstappen.
He would finally find yourself at Scuderia Ferrari, as a alternative for the injured Michael Schumacher in 1999, coming very near a race victory in Austria, however he needed to let by teammate and chief Eddie Irvine. In the long run, Irvine was three factors in need of denying Mika Hakkinen the world title.
Ferrari has been ready for a brand new World Drivers’ title for 15 years. It was in 2007 when Kimi Raikkonen took the championship in Brazil within the ultimate race.
Since then, Ferrari needed to watch as opponents equivalent to Mercedes and Pink Bull saved taking the prizes. This season has regarded significantly good for the Scuderia for the primary time in years, however as soon as once more they might want a miracle to take the title.
Salo: The Ferrari is quick, however one thing all the time goes incorrect
“The Ferrari is actually very quick, however one thing all the time goes incorrect. I do not know what it’s,” Salo mentioned critically.
“Generally the drivers make errors, generally the workforce once more. You do not win world titles on this method.
“When the season began, Ferrari have been very robust and [Max] Verstappen and Pink Bull had again luck and reliability issues. It regarded prefer it was going to be a straightforward title for Ferrari and [Charles] Leclerc.
“However Pink Bull had utterly turned this round. Max could be very, very robust.”
At Ferrari, after a flying begin in 2017 and 2018, issues additionally went incorrect attributable to a mix of driver errors (from Sebastian Vettel), failing ways and reliability issues. This season, too, issues are going incorrect once more in these areas.
So, do Ferrari have structural issues in these areas?
“It is exhausting to say what causes these issues, I am an excessive amount of of an outsider for that,” Salo continued.
“However I do imagine that one thing goes incorrect each time. It is a very tough scenario, however I’m certain they’ll totally examine, analyse and clear up this, as a result of that is how they only give away the title.”
Ferrari doesn’t need to win F1 title, in accordance with Salo
In response to Salo, the stress from the Italian media and the Tifosi shouldn’t be a purpose for the collection of errors and disappointments. He doesn’t imagine {that a} reorganisation is critical and compliments workforce boss Mattia Binotto.
“There may be actually loads of stress on the workforce, however that applies to any workforce,” defined Salo.
“The administration is all the time below stress to carry out, and naturally in Italy they’ve robust opinions and Ferrari has additionally modified the workforce administration a number of instances.
“I feel Mattia did a extremely good job of bringing Ferrari again to the highest. It’s simply small issues they should repair.
“They’re doing nice on Saturdays, however on Sunday. It looks as if the workforce assembly is already going incorrect earlier than the race, that they are tips on how to lose a race as an alternative of successful.”
The F1 season could have 9 races after the summer time break. Leclerc has to make up 80 factors on Verstappen, and Ferrari nearly 100 to Pink Bull.
Salo believes that is an excessive amount of to overtake and that the title won’t return to Italy this yr.
“The best way it’s at Ferrari, I do not suppose they deserve the title in any respect, he added.
“It could be good in the event that they all of a sudden solved all [their] issues after the summer time break, as a result of all of us wish to see thrilling races and an thrilling title battle, and in addition with Mercedes there [so] additionally they battle for the victories.”