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May 21st
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Ferrari keep the lights on in 09

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The endlessly "controversial" Ferrari traffic light pit stop system that was culpable of ruining at least half a race for one of their drivers last year will make a return for the 2009 season, the team have confirmed. Meanwhile, their 2009 car will debut next week.

The swanky system, whereby the driver is released from his pit box by a convoluted button-pressing system resulting in a green light being displayed rather than the traditional lollipop system, gained notoriety in the Singapore Grand Prix last year after Massa was released with the fuel hose still attached. That championship-ruining incident followed a similar issue at Valencia which resulted in Kimi Raikkonen running over a pit crew member.

Although the lights were removed from the pit lane after the Singapore muck-up, in favour of the default lollipop system, team manager Luca Baldisserri confidently prattled that "We've analysed the mistakes made in 2008 and we've improved the system. An electronic program will prevent the car from leaving when the fuel hose is still attached."

The mistake at Singapore was apparently down to the crew switching to a manual system because of the safety car period, meaning that a single mechanic was responsible for releasing Massa, rather than the usual method of release being dictated as the fuel hose is released.

Meanwhile, Ferrari also confirmed that their 2009 car would be launched on Monday next week, at the team's Fiorano test track. Which is all very exciting.