Ferrari to chop ugly nose for 2015

Ferrari is pushing ahead with improving its turbo V6 engine and car after a faltering start to the current era in F1. The Maranello brand, of the sport's three engine-makers in 2014, was the only one not to win a race. Ferrari, the works Renault team Red Bull, and now even McLaren-Honda have admitted they want an end to the current development 'freeze' that could see Mercedes' dominance continue for years. ENGINE DEVELOPMENT New Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said recently, according to Italy's Omnicorse: "F1 must be the ultimate expression of automotive technology. I hope we realise more powerful engines on the track but without jumping into the void of further driving up costs." The publication said Ferrari was now collaborating with engine development giant AVL, even though the Austrian company has been more closely aligned with Red Bull. Omnicorse said a team of AVL engineers was already hard at work at Maranello. La Gazzetta dello Sport said the latest developments followed the radical shake-up at Ferrari after Marchionne reportedly analysed the 2015 project and concluded as late as October2014 that it was too similar to the failed 2014 car. The 2015 car is therefore unlikely to have the familiar 'vacuum cleaner' nose of the '14 cars but instead more closely resemble the front of a Red Bull. 'INCREDIBLE FEEL' Ferrari's new lead driver Sebastian Vettel, however, struggled notably alongside Daniel Ricciardo with the 2014 Red Bull and his 2015 team mate Kimi Raikkonen was a conspicuous under-performer with Ferrari. Former Lotus team mate Romain Grosjean was quoted by Speed Week as saying: "Kimi has an incredible feel for the front of the car but it was not possible (for him) with the 2014 tyres." IOL MOTORING