Out with the new, in with the old for Ferrari

Tuesday 7th October 2008

Ferrari won't be using their electronic pit stop lighting system during this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix following a couple of embarrassing incidents.

The system first made headlines for the wrong reasons at the European Grand Prix when a mechanic ended up in hospital after Kimi Raikkonen drove over his foot when he pulled away too soon.

Another botched pit stop at the Singapore Grand Prix not only left a mechanic lying on the ground, but it also saw World Championship contender Felipe Massa leave the pits with a fuel hose attached to his F2008.

The system, which tells the drivers when they can leave the pits, usually works automatically when the fuel hose is removed from the car, but in Singapore it was operated manually.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali confirmed on Thursday that they will be using the "lollipop" system at the Fuji Speedway this weekend.

"Right now we need calm and therefore we've preferred to go back to the old lollipop system because, even if the traffic light system gave us an advantage, at this stage it is better to give all the people who work on the car in these very tense moments an important psychological boost," he is quoted by Gazzetta dello Sport.

The latest incident cost Ferrari dearly in Singapore. Massa appeared to be on course to win the race when disaster struck. He eventually finished in 13th place and is now seven points behind Lewis Hamilton in the World Championship.

The Scuderia, though, have indicated that they will again switch back to automated system when the 2009 season gets underway in Australia, and they also claim several other teams could follow their example.

Japanese GP Race Winner. Click here to bet.

Your Comments

Franco_Baracca

"The problem was and still will be the 'Human'. The electronic system is the one to have but without a manual switch (perhaps if the manual switch is only live when the hose has been disconnected?). They then need to work out what the plan will be if the lights fail."