There was hope on the track too: the 1992 Ferrari F92A featured a ‘double flat-bottom’ floor and revised front suspension that was supposed to provide the downforce needed to compete with the Williams FW14B of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese.
But Capelli says that the car was clearly flawed from the first test — more so for him as the second driver, who had to make do with parts from the previous year’s car for the first seven races.
And he could have little confidence in the team to resolve it, describing members who refused to acknowledge a problem; disputes between departments; and the need to temper his criticism to avoid offending engineers.
Little wonder that he considers his earlier years with Leyton House as happier moments in a Formula 1 career that never recovered from the Ferrari debacle of ’92.
