Ferrari & Italian Drivers

**ArrowsFA1** · 28th Feb 12, 10:19

Riccardo Patrese has suggested Ferrari should take on a young Italian driver in the light of there being no Italians on the grid this season.

Riccardo Patrese urges Ferrari to give a young Italian an F1 race seat soon - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

Both Red Bull and McLaren have well establised driver development programmes which have already produced results, and WDCs, but Ferrari's driver academy hasn't made much of an impact.

Given that Ferrari are the dominant motor sport force in Italy, and could do more to support Italian drivers do you think they should? Or should they just get the best talent available regardless of nationality?

**N4D13** · 28th Feb 12, 10:47

What about both? Yes, they should do more to support Italian drivers, but they should also get the best drivers then can.

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 28th Feb 12, 13:36

No I don't think so. Its been almost 20 years since they've had one,(not including that pathetic demonstration by Luca Badoer in 2009) and theve gotten along quite well. Not that I'm against it you see.

**Mark** · 28th Feb 12, 13:43

Originally Posted by Mr Alcatraz

No I don't think so. Its been almost 20 years since they've had one,(not including that pathetic demonstration by Luca Badoer in 2009) and theve gotten along quite well. Not that I'm against it you see.

And Fishichella the same year?

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 28th Feb 12, 14:03

Originally Posted by Mark

And Fishichella the same year?

Of course Fisi, his performance was a little better having scored 2 points, but pretty pathetic as well.
He gave up a good thing when he left Force India, now he is a Ferrari test driver, which isn't the worst job in the world.
It's not like their aren't tons of Italians racing Ferraris, there just isn't any in F1.

**Knock-on** · 28th Feb 12, 14:39

I've said YES!

They don't have a responsibility to promote only Itallian drivers but Ferrari is such an emotive marque in such a obsessed Country that they really should do whatever they can to nurture that passion.

I'm a McLaren man and it is a source of great pride that they have not only 2 of the best drivers racing for them but 2 Englishmen as well; one of which came through a development program.

I would go further and wish McLaren only promote English drivers (ok, British then

) to maintain our dominance as the only F1 Superpower but McLaren is a business as well. At least Ferrari shold do the same.

**pino** · 28th Feb 12, 15:03

Nice post knockie and I totally agree with you so I am now waiting for Luca to call me.

**Knock-on** · 28th Feb 12, 15:08

Originally Posted by pino

Nice post knockie and I totally agree with you so I am now waiting for Luca to call me.

I know there's been a trend of Ferrari putting talentless drivers in their cars over the past couple of years but seriously.....

Enzo was never keen on Itllian drivers and this seems to have followed through the years. Perhaps it's the expectation?

**jens** · 28th Feb 12, 15:10

Those two parts of the question can be combined. For sure Ferrari is interested in best talent, who can potentially achieve big things for them. But they can try to find them from Italy as well. It doesn't mean there are no talents in Italy, but the problem is that sponsorship money is really scarce there at the moment and talents don't get proper opportunities. Hence it may seem that Italy hasn't got any talented drivers.

**ArrowsFA1** · 28th Feb 12, 16:59

Originally Posted by jens

...the problem is that sponsorship money is really scarce there at the moment and talents don't get proper opportunities...

That's where I think Ferrari should step in. Their driver academy seemed to be set up to do just that but are there any Italian drivers who are a part of that scheme?

**Zico** · 28th Feb 12, 19:18

Originally Posted by N4D13

What about both? Yes, they should do more to support Italian drivers, but they should also get the best drivers then can.

I didn't vote as this is my view also... they should try and employ at least one Italian driver but only if he (or she)

.. is an asset to the team.

**Garry Walker** · 28th Feb 12, 19:18

Ferrari should do the most they can to get good drivers. Them being from Italy is irrelevant.

**ArrowsFA1** · 28th Feb 12, 20:43

Originally Posted by Garry Walker

Ferrari should do the most they can to get good drivers. Them being from Italy is irrelevant.

But Ferrari being from Italy obviously is not irrelevant so why shouldn't they do what they can to promote young Italian drivers, or is it that there aren't any good young Italians coming up through the ranks?

**call_me_andrew** · 29th Feb 12, 01:30

No one ever pressured Renault to hire French drivers or Williams to hire English drivers. Why does Ferrari have to hire Itallian drivers?

**EuroTroll** · 29th Feb 12, 07:57

I also think it would be too much to ask of Ferrari to have an Italian driver just because he's Italian. Ferrari are too good for that. On the other hand, they could secure a seat for an Italian in a lesser team, as part of an engine deal, say. Lesser teams are where rookies are supposed to prove themselves, aren't they? I know Hamilton is an exception, but generally the principle holds.

**ArrowsFA1** · 29th Feb 12, 08:16

Originally Posted by call_me_andrew

No one ever pressured Renault to hire French drivers or Williams to hire English drivers.

Mmmmm...I recall the elf programme of the 1960's & 70's that supported many French drivers into F1, very successfully, and ultimately led to Renault becoming the national team of France. Vast numbers of journalists were flown to Kyalami for the 1983 title decider when the nation expected Prost to win the title for Renault. The pressure was certainly on Renault to have French drivers and win with them back then, as it has been on Williams at times.

Originally Posted by call_me_andrew

Why does Ferrari have to hire Itallian drivers?

They don't. No-one is saying they have to but given their dominant position in Italian motor sport they certainly have an opportunity like no-one else to support home grown talent.

I find it hard to believe that there are no good Italian drivers coming up through the ranks who are deserving of support and an opportunity in the same way that McLaren supported Hamilton, and Red Bull have supported many drivers. If a driver who shows potential isn't given the kind of opportunity that Ferrari are capable of offering how can they ever realise their potential?

You can certainly argue that the $m's invested in 'buying in' talent like Schumacher, Raikkonen and Alonso has reaped rewards for Ferrari but couldn't a small proportion of that money be used to find talented Italian drivers who must surely be out there?

**SGWilko** · 29th Feb 12, 08:51

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Mmmmm...I recall the elf programme of the 1960's & 70's that supported many French drivers into F1, very successfully, and ultimately led to Renault becoming the national team of France. Vast numbers of journalists were flown to Kyalami for the 1983 title decider when the nation expected Prost to win the title for Renault. The pressure was certainly on Renault to have French drivers and win with them back then, as it has been on Williams at times.

They don't. No-one is saying they have to but given their dominant position in Italian motor sport they certainly have an opportunity like no-one else to support home grown talent.

I find it hard to believe that there are no good Italian drivers coming up through the ranks who are deserving of support and an opportunity in the same way that McLaren supported Hamilton, and Red Bull have supported many drivers. If a driver who shows potential isn't given the kind of opportunity that Ferrari are capable of offering how can they ever realise their potential?

You can certainly argue that the $m's invested in 'buying in' talent like Schumacher, Raikkonen and Alonso has reaped rewards for Ferrari but couldn't a small proportion of that money be used to find talented Italian drivers who must surely be out there?

I suspect that Ferrari does support young and upcoming Italians in the various Formulae in Italy. However, if none of those Italians are good enough to put in the F1 team, then that is not the blame of Ferrari. As a team, responsible for many millions of sponsor (Philip Morris) money, their remit is to build the best car, and have the best pilot available driving it.

If the best pilot happens to be Italian, then so beit. As it is, they do have 'one of the best' drivers in the team - Alonso.

**ArrowsFA1** · 29th Feb 12, 08:58

Originally Posted by SGWilko

I suspect that Ferrari does support young and upcoming Italians in the various Formulae in Italy...

Let's hope their driver academy does just that in the future.

**Knock-on** · 29th Feb 12, 12:42

There have been 2 Itallian drivers that have been sponsored by the Ferrari acadamy; Zampieri and Botti

**ArrowsFA1** · 29th Feb 12, 14:18

Originally Posted by Knock-on

There have been 2 Itallian drivers that have been sponsored by the Ferrari acadamy; Zampieri and Botti

Perhaps you mean Mirko Bortolotti

2008 Italian F3 Champion & FIA F2 champion last year. IIRC he didn't do badly in the Williams at the Abu Dhabi young driver test either but doesn't seem to be a part of the Ferrari academy any more.