Printable View
I remember the Canadian GP of 2006. Ralf was absolutely lost (as usual).Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkmoon
After this season, when a couple of rookies and another couple of almost-rookies finish the season on top of him, he'll be totally lost (maybe he can be his brother's assistant in "Scuderia Schumi Rosso").
I see that a thread about how RS may rank in todays F1 grid turned into a bashing party, like always!Quote:
Originally Posted by andreag
BTW, how many drivers were that extraordinary in Montreal 2006 with a fast degrading track? (I give you a hint: MS and FA maybe).
As for the moment RS is one of the drivers with most F1 wins on the grid, yet people will rate Fisichella,under achiever in the championship winning car, and Button the one time lucky man better than Ralf.
As for the rookies better wait and see.
For both, rookies and non-rookies, let's wait and see.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
I have never seen any hunger or desire from Ralf. He never seems sure of why he's in F1. Of course he's talented, and he has shown flashes of a winning mentality, but it's as if he doesn't know where that comes from or how to apply it consistently.
I said, when Toyota announced Jarno & Ralf as their drivers, that they were not a combination to drive the team forward, and while they're not the only factor in a comparative lack of success, they are a factor. Both can produce superb performances when everything is in their favour, but when it's not they disappear.
With a fresh batch of rookies coming into F1 Ralf seriously needs to up his performances and show that he's up there with the best, but I don't think he can or will.
A simple answer to the question raised at the topic: No. Yes would imply that he has been not-crazy before and now turned somehow different. I cannot see such a change.Quote:
Originally Posted by Osella
:)
Nothing is wrong with Ralf's comment. If you don't believe in yourself, then why on earth are you racing? If you ask a similar question to anyone among the F1 drivers, most of them would put themselves quite close to the top, if not to the very top. So answer to the title of the thread: if Ralf has gone crazy, then probably everyone on the grid is crazy of rating himself highly!
I think it's quite obvious that Ralf is underrated. He has been well-tested against strong team-mates and has always been at least very close. Well, no-one insists that he is among the brightest stars, but for some reason he is one of the most-criticized drivers on the grid. Maybe there is something to do with the famous name and people somehow find it weird that he is not on the same level as Michael? Sometimes it seems that people are jealous to Ralf that he earns so much (more than their favourite driver!) and therefore are trying to express their frustration. What concerns salary, then there is nothing in Ralf's fault, so I can't get, why do you criticize him that he is paid so highly - actually thickness of wallet shouldn't be your worry at all. It's team's care, how much they think a driver is worth to be paid.
People's memory is short. In seasons like 1999 and 2001 probably many people thought that Ralf is if not a Top3 driver, then surely a Top6 driver. Like Murray Walker said during 1999 Nürburgring race: "Ralf is making his elder brother proud." Or something like that. And on those days it looked that it's just a matter of time, when he will become a serious title contender. It seems that Ralf was rated higher in Williams than in Toyota as Toyota has such a low reputation. When Ralf was driving for Williams, then before every season (02-04) he was nominated as one of the title candidates and there wasn't so much speculation whether he can do it - he was driving in a competitive team and it looked obvious that he couldn't be ignored when talking about top contenders.
Interesting that you rate DC higher than RS - DC never looked that convincing at a top team than RS and he didn't look so close to his team-mate than Ralf tended to be (although Montoya probably can't be put on the same level as the Finns). It means - Ralf always looked more convincing and more "on the picture" than DC when they were driving in Williams and McLaren respectively. And if you say that Rubens can be as good as anyone "on his day", then the same can be said about Ralf, although his best races haven't been so shining and convincing than maybe Rubens's.
And finally a remark about Toyota's drivers, who are put responsible for their team's competitiveness. It looks as though as Honda and RBR are also not going to be great this season, but I haven't noticed anyone criticizing their drivers for team's mediocre car! So if Toyota drivers are responsbile for their team's form, then how come that other drivers are not responsible for their team's form? :eek:
Despite that, he still managed to very often beat the so-called Super Montoya in equal cars. Imagine if he had been hungry - he would have killed Montoya :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Title only a matter of time? Well, I know one acquaintance, who said golden words: "It would be a miracle if Toyota won't win a title in the next 20 years!" :D So his logic is - takes what it takes, but one day they will be "there"... if they of course want to wait and participate so long. Toyota reminds me a bit of Chinese ski-team that is tried to be built up from blankness, but has a lot of potential. I'm also eager to see, what the Chinese can do in the next 10-20 years. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Osella
Yes, COMPLETELY insane :p :
But he wasn't, and he isn't (or at least doesn't appear to be).Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker