Probably the team with the biggest fan following in India, Scuderia Ferrari’s Alonso was third in the first practice session with a time of 1.28.044 and Massa seventh at 1.28.542. The team says the track is slippery due to to the fact that it is used very rarely.
Fernando Alonso who is also a Unicef Ambassador attended an event to promote the benefits of washing one’s hands with soap to combat disease. He visited a school in Turgapur, one hour south east of New Delhi to take part in the “Handwashing Day” campaign. It is aimed at encouraging people to wash their hands using soap, in a country where over a thousand children die every day from diarrhoea caused by a lack of drinking water and basic sanitation. On the BIC “This is one of the most challenging tracks and after the first sector, there is no time to breathe, with corner after corner, very high speed ones, so I think we all enjoy this track,” said the Spaniard. “Maybe it will be a bit difficult tomorrow through lack of grip, but as the grip comes by the end of Friday and into Saturday, it is a track we all enjoy driving and I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”
About losing the lead in Driver’s Championship to Vettel in Korea, he said “My situation is quite good, you could say it’s the second best situation as we are almost on the same points total as Vettel, with four races to go and there is every possibility open for the championship.”
Felipe Massa was asked if he had been concerned about his future at any point? “Yes there were moments when I was worried, but then, after things started to improve, I was very calm about what would happen. I did look around at the situation in other teams, but I never had what one could call real discussions with them, because I always wanted to stay here,” he admitted.
In the end, the contract was signed in Maranello after a meeting with Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo. “We spoke of many things. I was alone with him and we looked back at past years, the bad ones and the good ones and we talked about the future as we have so often done and, in the end, everything was decided on that day.”
“Why did Ferrari decide to extend my contract? You the press also know me well and know what I can do,” continued the Brazilian. “I am capable of doing a good job, knowing how to put together all aspects, from my driving, to the way I work with the team, the car, it’s set-up and so on and that way, I’ve been able to enjoy myself and win what I have won. I am sure if I do all that again then the results will come.”