Ferrari's Alonso predicts tighter 2013 F1 race

Fernando Alonso said on Friday the battle for Formula One supremacy could be a lot tighter this year ahead of his bid to improve on two runner-up places behind Sebastian Vettel with a maiden title for Ferrari.

Last season's world championship was remarkable for the fact there were seven race-winners in the first seven races before Alonso went toe-to-toe with Red Bull ace Vettel in a decisive, thrilling finale at Interlagos.

Vettel, the sport's youngest-ever three-time world champion (2010, 2011, 2012), finished sixth at the legendary Brazilian circuit, where Alonso was second, to beat his Spanish rival to the title by only three points.

Alonso, speaking at the launch of Ferrari's new F138 car for the upcoming season, indicated that their anticipated duel in 2013 could leave rivals trailing in their wake from the season-opening Australian GP in March.

"I think the likelihood of seeing seven different race winners in the first seven races, like last year, will be impossible," he said.

"There will be a maximum of two or three teams" battling for the title, he added, "and one of those will definitely be Ferrari."

Alonso, a two-time world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, joined Ferrari for the 2010 season and finished runner-up to Vettel.

He finished a disappointing fourth in 2011 but in 2012 won three times and secured a total of 13 podium places before being pipped by Vettel at the finish.

Afterwards, he said: "Next year, we will try and improve the car, trying to start further up the grid, thus avoiding accidents. Let's hope we also have a bit more luck."

The F138 - whose name represents the current year and the car's V8 engine, which will be used for the last time this season - was unveiled at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters in northern Italy on Friday.

Ferrari described it as "an evolution of last year's race-winning car, although every single part has been revised in order to maximise performance while maintaining the characteristics which were the basis of the F2012's superb reliability".

"The rear of the car is much narrower and more tapered than before," said Ferrari, although "significant modifications will be made to the car's aero package" before the Australian Grand Prix on March 17.

One major change Ferrari has made, one year ahead of schedule, is in the electronics domain with the early introduction of the single control unit that will be used in 2014.

Alonso is set to get his first taste of the F138 at a pre-season testing session in Barcelona from February 19. It means Brazilian Felipe Massa will be at the wheel for the first pre-season test at Jerez in Spain next week.

Massa, who finished seventh overall last season, believes the car is equipped sufficiently to allow Ferrari to aim for both the drivers' and constructors' titles.

"I hope it will bring the two titles to Ferrari. It's the only thing we want," he said.

Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo said last year he wants to see three-times champion Vettel race for the Italian team in the future.

But on Friday Di Montezemolo ruled out the possibility of seeing Alonso and Vettel in the same team. "Absolutely not," replied Di Montezemolo.

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The final year of the V8 era in Formula 1. Will this finally be Ferrari's year after Kimi last won the title with the scarlet red outfit in 2007? We will know when the season kicks start in Melbourne on March 17th.

Schumacher wrong to return, says Ecclestone

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Michael Schumacher was wrong to return to the sport, claiming the German had severely damaged his legacy as a seven-time world champion.

The 43-year-old Schumacher quit the sport in 2006 before being tempted into an ill-fated return in 2010 at Mercedes where he spent three seasons being largely outshone by teammate Nico Rosberg.

He brought the curtain down on his second spell at last month's Brazilian Grand Prix where he finished seventh.

"I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time world champion than stopping now," Ecclestone told www.formula1.com.

"People new to the sport -- people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently -- will remember Michael now, not as he was. They don't see the hero that he was but the human that can fail."

But Ecclestone had some words of comfort for Schumacher, admitting that three-time champion Sebastian Vettel will find it hard to break his record of seven crowns.

"He is not half way there. It will be a question of how good his team will stay -- or how bad the others are," said Ecclestone.

"When Michael won his five titles with Ferrari it was because Ferrari did a better job than any other team -- that is the same with Red Bull at the moment. Whether they can continue, you don't know. Let's wait and see."

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Schumi, as we affectionately call him, like all other sports greats, made a comeback in 2010. Still remember in 2009 when Massa had a life threatening accident, Schumi almost made a return for Ferrari as a backup. Suddenly everyone was buzzing about the prospect of the greatest F1 driver of all time getting into the cockpit again.

Sadly that didn't materialise due to a neck injury and Luca Badoer took over instead, to much dismay considering how crappy he is as a racer. But the comeback did arrive, not in Ferrari but at the newly formed team Mercedes GP.

We all thought they can make a huge challenge considering how Brawn GP blown everyone away with their maiden season in F1. Sadly, Mercedes GP failed to reproduce such performances with their many issues with the car.

I wouldn't say Schumi wasted the 3 years. Try putting yourself in his shoes. The temptation is always there, though the outcome isn't what as desired, it put to rest what's left in the basement, like how Rocky Balboa made a last hurrah in the ring.

I believe to all Schumi fans, he still is the best with 7 world titles. Vettel has the biggest shot at breaking that record but there's still a long long way to go for Schumi's fellow German.

Ferrari speeding at 178kmh before fatal crash

SINGAPORE - The driver of the Ferrari involved in the horrific crash in May was speeding at 178kmh before smashing into a taxi at Rochor Road.

This is almost three times the speed limit of 60kmh set at that stretch of road.

The Ferrari's speed was determined from three videos that were shown today at the coroner's inquiry into the accident which left three people dead. Those killed include driver of the Ferrari Ma Chi, a Chinese national who was working as a financial advisor here in Singapore, taxi driver Cheng Teck Hock, 52, and the taxi's passenger, a Japanese female passenger in her 40s.

A motorcyclist and a female passenger in the Ferrari were also injured.

One of the videos that were played in court today was taken via a video recorder installed in the Ferrari. It showed the supercar speeding towards the junction of Victoria Street and Rochor Road. This is despite the traffic lights turning red, reported a local broadcaster.

The ComfortDelgro taxi then appeared on screen from the right.

Both Ma Chi and the woman passenger had seat belts on, the court heard.

The Straits Times reported that an autopsy indicated that Mr Ma had traces of chlorpheniramine, used to treat flu, in his urine.

The inquiry is adjourned till Friday.

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Finally, the truth is out. A whopping 178kmh on a road like Victoria Street at 4am in the morning. Ma Chi is indeed very brave, and very crazy. His actions were seriously very irresponsible. Being at that kinda speed, it is very hard for him to react in time if there is any changes to the road. He isn't Fernando Alonso I reckon.

Bugis Ferrari Fatal Accident

The coffin of Ma Chi, the Ferrari driver who was involved in Saturday's three-vehicle pile-up, arriving at Mandai Crematorium on Monday afternoon. (Yahoo! photo/Elizabeth Soh)

Relatives and friends of deceased Ferrari driver Ma Chi, who was involved in a three-vehicle pile-up on Saturday, gathered for his cremation at Mandai Crematorium on Monday afternoon.

About 18 people, including Ma’s younger brother, attended the cremation. Visibly absent were Ma’s pregnant wife as well as his mother, although both were at Ma’s wake at Mount Vernon earlier in the afternoon.

According to Chinese customs, an elderly person should not show respect to someone younger and, similarly, it is considered bad luck for Ma’s pregnant wife to attend his cremation.

Ma, a financial advisor from Sichuan, was behind the wheel of a red Ferrari on early Saturday morning when it slammed against a taxi, which subsequently cut into the lane of a passing motorcycle at the intersection of Rochor Road and Victoria Street in Bugis.

The three-vehicle accident killed two others -- taxi driver Cheng Teck Hock and his passenger, believed to be a 20-something Japanese woman.

A young woman reportedly from China was with Ma in the Ferrari during the crash and she suffered head injuries and fractured her right leg.

According to AsiaOne, Ting Ting, 28, Ma’s wife, was surprised when reporters asked her about the identity of the female passenger.

Motorcyclist Muhammad Najib Ghazali escaped with a spine injury, dislocated right arm and a rib fracture.

Ma's younger brother (in white) walking out after the cremation (Yahoo! photo)



Friends of Ma reportedly flew in from China on Monday morning just to attend the cremation, which lasted less than an hour.

Most of them appeared well-heeled and sported branded bags and stylish clothes. Ma’s bespectacled and small-built brother who looked to be in his 20s was seen with an unshaven face and shoulder-length hair.

When contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, the undertaker in charge of Ma’s funeral processions was not sure whether the family’s planned to have Ma’s ashes sent back to China. He added that the family is still mourning and has not made a decision yet.

Ma’s relatives and friends refused to speak to the media.

According to The Sunday Times, Ma had relocated to Singapore with his wife and child four years ago and was said to be applying for permanent residency in the city-state.

It is not known whether his family will continue staying in Singapore.

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Biggest traffic news in Singapore for the past two week. Many condemn the irresponsible attitude of the Ferrari driver, Ma Chi, for dashing through a red light, killing himself and two other innocent victims. That car, by the way, is a S$1.3m Ferrari 599 GTO.

Please drive responsibly. Having so much power in your foot doesn't give you the right to abuse it. If you want to speed, please do it in the racetrack

RIP to the innocent deceased.