Ferrari regrouping after disastrous Singapore GP

MARANELLO, Italy – Ferrari's humiliating performance in the Singapore Grand Prix marked a "black day" for the Formula One outfit, team director Stefano Domenicali said Monday. Felipe Massa, who held pole position and was locked in a tight duel with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton for the championship lead, finished out of the points after a pit-lane mishap in F1's first ever night race. In an embarrassing blunder, Massa was given a green light to drive off while the fuel rig was still attached to his car. The hose was yanked off its moorings and trailed Massa's car all the way to the end of the pit lane before he stopped. Massa knocked over one of his mechanics, who needed medical treatment, and almost collided with another car. By the time the Ferrari crew was able to sprint the length of pit lane and wrestle the rig out of the car, Massa had dropped from the lead to 18th and last. He then incurred a drive-through penalty for the pit stop mishap and finished 13th. With three races remaining, Massa now trails Hamilton by seven points. Things grew worse for Ferrari when reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen crashed while running fifth with three laps remaining. Raikkonen finished 15th — last place. "Today is really a black day," Domenicali said. "The best car finished last." Ferrari's pointless finish and Hamilton's third place lifted McLaren atop the constructors' standings by one point. "The goal is clear. There are three races remaining and we enter them knowing that we have to finish first or second every time," Domenicali said on Ferrari's Web site. "We're capable of doing it." Massa's race was ruined when he pitted after the end of a safety car period at the start of the 20th lap. "The safety car often affects the race, but this time it was too much," Domenicali said. "I don't want to discuss the situations that may arise under safety car conditions, because it's unpredictable. Sometimes they go in the right direction and sometimes they go wrong." Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said the team will bounce back. "It was a bitter day but there are still three races remaining and I'm confident in Ferrari's men and the car, which is the best," he said, according to the ANSA news agency. "Ferrari has been through tougher times. The car was far and above the best this weekend. Massa was extraordinary in qualifying, showing that right now he's the most inform driver. From Raikkonen, I'm expecting that he shows he's the world champion." Domenicali said the mechanic who was knocked down would not be used in pit stops for the rest of the season in order to ease "some tension." The pit stop manager, meanwhile, will not lose his job. "We win together and lose together and that philosophy will not change because of one unfortunate mistake," Domenicali said. – AP