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Fisi is reported to be looking to be Ferrari's 3rd driver next season and Domenicali was in contact with him and FI, who ow money to Ferrari for the past engine contracts.Quote:
Originally Posted by christophulus
All that was needed could have been done in a couple days at most.
Spa is longer, I guess I didn't consider that. But even so, the laps are only about 4 secs longer than in Valencia. Its most certainly a drivers circuit but Luca has driven it 5 times in the past. He knows about the track, knows that you can go practically flat through Eau Rouge etc. This experience is valuable. The track has changed only slightly since he used to race there so it should still be fresh in his mind. I can accept that he may be 1.3-1.5 secs off Kimi (given the longer track) but 3 secs if a bit much. Unless of course he has indeed lost it :sQuote:
Originally Posted by jens
Right, even though it's my birthday today and I'm in a good mood, I really have to rant about some of these comments in this thread, mainly by one Ferrari supporter in particular.
Ok, Grosjean and Alguersuari beat Luca all weekend. As the commentators said today, both of them have raced in the last 4 weeks, Alguersuari even raced F. Renault during the break from F1. Luca hasn't driven an F1 car since last year.
He got better as every session went on. His real problem was getting up to speed, hence his poor qualifying. His fastest race lap was decent, especially considering Kimi usually does a couple of very fast laps in the grand prix.
Luca got a good start, made up 6 places, was on pace with the Toro Rosso of Alguersuari for most of the race, and finished the Grand Prix. Good effort.
Yes, he spun off twice and let Grosjean by in the pitlane (probably just a misjudgement or a panicky moment), but he kept out of trouble. Without the spins he would probably have beaten Alguersuari.
Also, someone hit him from behind at the start which can't have helped the car's balance.
Now to his abilities, of which I think Ioan especially has been disgusting in his criticism of. He did a test with M. Schumacher a year or two ago, in which he was only 0.2 behind the great man. In history he has always been close to the pace of Rubens, Michael and even Felipe, within a tenth or two.
There is no way in hell that Luca is a bad driver. I think all he needs are some tips in driving the 2009 car, maybe from Kimi or Felipe. He wasn't pushing very hard, and nobody does when they don't even know the limits of their machine.
I agree, he was slow this weekend, and on board with him you could see that, however I'm CONVINCED he will do much better in Spa-Francorchamps. He's raced there 3 or 4 times I think in F1, he'll know the circuit, and he'll be able to push with confidence I'm sure.
I think he did well considering he's basically been cold with regards to driving all year, and in Spa I reckon he'll only be 0.5 away from Kimi.
Ioan I'm disgusted that you can doubt someone's contribution to a team over TEN YEARS, disregarding how highly rated he has been with Schumi, Brawn, Todt and others, just because of a poor performance in a race in which he had about 5 days to prepare for.
You compare him to Yoong and Ide, well Ide lasted 4 races before he was booted for dangerous driving, and it took Yoong 2 seasons to get within 1.0 seconds of his team-mates (Alonso and Webber).
Luca was extremely rusty and unfamiliar with the car and track (at least Yoong I think had driven some of the F1 tracks before), and yet he only ended up 1.3 down. Not to mention his unfamiliarity with KERS too.
Ferrari fans should be supporting such a loyal member of their team instead of kicking him when he's already struggling.
10 years ago!Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Cummins
Hopefully his memory is better than his driving skills! :laugh:
By your, very low, standards maybe.Quote:
Originally Posted by woody2goody
You don't forget these things overnight. I don't know about you Ioan, but when you're so engrossed in something for a time in your life, that sticks with you right to the grave. Sure, it will take a few laps to get into the swing of things, but it will become familiar again. Whereas in Valencia, there was no history to dig up. It was all learning.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
For the situation. It has nothing to do with me. believe me, I want Ferrari's stand in to do really well, I enjoy when a driver steps in and performs, but cast your mind back to when Marc Gene stepped in for R. Schumacher. He was testing every other week for Williams.Quote:
Originally Posted by ioan
I do agree with people when they say Gene should be in the car, but I think you should judge Luca after Spa, and maybe Monza, and if he's still as bad, then i'll agree with you.
Until Massa comes back, or someone else takes the drive, you should support him 100%.
10 years is not overnight in my book. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Cummins
You Badoer apologists are really cracking me up, keep them coming, at least we won't be bored until next Friday when he starts the clown number again.
Or even when Rubens did his first starts with Honda, he was nowhere near Button...Quote:
Originally Posted by woody2goody
Also, Piquet was 1.3 behind Alonso once or twice I'm sure in qualifying...Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat