Ferrari and Sauber engine problems not related

A cursory look back at the opening three races of 2010 would seem to indicate a major engine reliability problem for Ferrari.

As well as his gearbox glitch during Sunday’s race, former championship leader Fernando Alonso retired in Malaysia with a spectacular engine failure.

Both Ferrari drivers also had to change engines in Australia, and before he even got to the grid in Malaysia, Pedro de la Rosa’s Ferrari-powered Sauber stopped at the side of the track.

The sister C29 of Kamui Kobayashi also retired in Malaysia with an engine failure. Both Ferrari units had been fitted new on Saturday.

But it has emerged that Sauber and Alonso’s engine problems on Sunday were not related. The Swiss team said the fault was actually caused by the car’s pneumatic system, while Alonso’s problem was a sudden engine failure.

"In this regard, we believe we have the situation with the engines under control," said Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali.