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Ferrari working on cooling issues

Ferrari had some concerns over cooling in the heat of Bahrain © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Bahrain Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Jenson Button
• |
• Lewis Hamilton
• |
• Felipe Massa

• Teams:
• Ferrari
• |
• McLaren

Ferrari will address the cooling on the F10 in time for the next race, after it emerged Felipe Massa backed off towards the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix to preserve his engine.

Ferrari changed the engines in both its cars ahead of the race in Bahrain, and although Massa said in the press conference that he backed with 30 laps to go to preserve fuel, it has now emerged that the team had some concerns about overheating. However, team boss Stefano Domenicali is confident there will be a quick and easy remedy.

"The temperature of the engine is the result of the aerodynamics of the car, so we have to work on that in order to make sure we don't have any more of these kinds of issues for the next hot races," he said.

Rumours have also resurfaced that the team is working on a B spec car in order to incorporate a new diffuser. It is reported that ex-Toyota CFD expert Giuseppe Azzollini, who now works in Maranello, is behind a diffuser concept that was intended to be used on the TF110.

Meanwhile, McLaren has continued in its drive to close the gap to Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button visiting the Woking-based factory this week to work on developments to the car. Hamilton finished third at the weekend behind the Ferraris while Button ended up in a disappointing seventh place.

"Our pace in the race is not bad - certainly not as bad as we first thought - but we still need to push really hard to close up to the Ferraris and Red Bulls," Hamilton told the Daily Express. "We believe we can close the gap on these guys and hopefully be at the top of the podium. I need to go back and give the team the biggest push."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.