Ferrari standing behind recovering Schumacher, ailing F1 team

The head of Ferrari Australasia has expressed support for both the recovering seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and the manufacturer’s own ailing Formula One team.

Speaking to CarAdvice at the local premiere of the new Ferrari California T, Herbert Appleroth said there had been a groundswell of support and well-wishes from fans all over the world following news that former Ferrari F1 driver Michael Schumacher has emerged from an induced coma almost six months after a skiing accident in the French Alps.

“I think we’re all a bit cautious about predicting anything and we leave it up to the family and the doctors to comment on that more than us but of course we’re all standing behind him, rooting behind him, and we really hope for a speedy recovery,” Appleroth said.

Appleroth is also hoping that the fortunes of the Scuderia Ferrari team improve in the 2014 F1 season.

“As passionate Ferrari followers we all would wish that we were on the podium, from our chairman down to the five-year-old with the Ferrari cap.”

“Of course we wish for us to be there and we’ve got a determined team there to make sure we get back.”

The comments echo those of team principal Marco Mattiacci who recently addressed his staff, stressing that Ferrari’s one goal was to get back on top.

Currently sitting in third place in the constructors championship â€" behind Mercedes AMG and Infiniti Red Bull Racing â€" Ferrari’s best finish this year came in China in April, with Fernando Alonso claiming the final spot on the podium.

As for the flow on affect of F1 technology into the brand’s road cars, using HY-KERS in the LaFerrari as well as improved transmissions, suspension and brakes as examples, the local chief said: “We’ve already seen it.”

“The latest technology from Formula One will always go through to Ferrari. That’s our unique selling proposition.

“There may be a new technology that comes out beyond HY-KERS. Who knows,” he said.

Ferrari’s Formula One team consists of world champions Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso.