Ferrari's quality control issues: the fix is in!

After a disastrous Asian leg which has practically crushed Sebastian Vettel's title hopes, Ferrari is boosting its quality control department with a new hire.

The Scuderia has appointed Maria Mendoza, an expert in metals and chemicals, to help the red squad with its efforts in improving reliability.

A crash in Sepang, a power unit failure in Malaysia and a defective €59 spark plug in Japan have left Vettel hopelessly behind Lewis Hamilton in the title fight, with a 59-point deficit with just four races remaining.

Ferrari's season 'not lost' says Marchionne

"It was a technical nonsense that had an impact on a car that costs millions of euros," fumed Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne after last weekend's race.

"It's a problem we've probably ignored over time because it was never of much importance.

"We now need to renew our commitment to the quality of the components we use for F1.

"On at least three occasions it has had a devastating impact on the Scuderia's performance. We will fix it," he promised.

Marchionne has promoted Mendoza from another department within the Fiat-Chrysler group, where the Spaniard was in charge of a 25-person quality control group for the past five years.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.