Ralf's gone crazy!! Or has he..?

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Originally Posted by jens

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:

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Good points jens, you know not too many around here can judge drivers objectively. :up:

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Originally Posted by jens

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:

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Of course they are all a part -just one of many - of making their own team competitive, but we're discussing Ralf.

I do agree with you that every driver needs self belief, but regardless of what has happened in the past, what makes anyone think Ralf will be able to back up his claim of being a top three driver in 2007, or in the future?

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Of course they are all a part -just one of many - of making their own team competitive, but we're discussing Ralf.

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Well I doubt that a driver can make chassis or aero improvements on his own, so let's not exaggerate.
A driver can only give feedback on setups and try to find the right setup, they do not design the cars, and we should all agree that the Toyota F1 car is less than good in chassis and aero department.
As for setup and technical feedback Ralf is one of the best out there.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Well I doubt that a driver can make chassis or aero improvements on his own, so let's not exaggerate.

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Exaggerate? What exactly?

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Originally Posted by ioan

As for setup and technical feedback Ralf is one of the best out there.

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I'd be interested to know what this is based on. If true then it rather supports Ralf's view of himself as one of F1's top three, but then it also begs the question of why Toyota are sliding backwards.

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

I'd be interested to know what this is based on.

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Quotes that I won't dig up from the years when he was at Williams. You should know as much as this.

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

If true then it rather supports Ralf's view of himself as one of F1's top three, but then it also begs the question of why Toyota are sliding backwards.

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Maybe because Toyota changed their technical direction almost every year, changing the design philosophy every time maybe? Because no matter how we look at it if the car's basis is not good than a driver can do squat, no matter how good a driver is (i.e. MS and the 2005 Ferrari, R. Brawn said the car was simply a flawed design).

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Originally Posted by ioan

Quotes that I won't dig up from the years when he was at Williams. You should know as much as this.

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I genuinely have not seen that said. I do recall that Sam Michael has been a big supporter of Ralf since their days at Jordan and Williams, which may explain it. It would be good if you could back up your comment with those quotes though ;)

I agree that a change of technical director doesn't help any team, which is exactly why I said that a driver is "just one of many" parts going towards making a competitive team.

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

I genuinely have not seen that said. I do recall that Sam Michael has been a big supporter of Ralf since their days at Jordan and Williams, which may explain it. It would be good if you could back up your comment with those quotes though ;)

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I have to earn a living first and than I might have time to dig up very old quotes. ;) :p :

Well the Toyota will be so far back he wont need to hide.....

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Originally Posted by Osella

However, Fisi is fast, no doubt, but not champion material. Wurz is no better than him, as team-mates neither were Ralf, Heidfeld, Massa or Sato. Button was slower, Barrichello's slower than Button, Kubica's no quicker than Heidfeld, Kovaleinen no quicker than Fisichella!

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You did point out that this is all subjective but this I dont agree with in the slightest. You say Button is slower than Fisi but they were only partnered together for 1 year, in 01, when the Benetton was a pile of junk for most of the year and JB was only in his second year of F1 and having never driven a bad race car before in his carrer. I agree with what you say about Wurz (about equal to Fisi in ability), Massa seemas to be making some big improvments recently, the rookies (and I'll include Kubica in this as he's only done 6 GP) cant be compared with the established drivers and the same goes for those that have only done 1 or 2 years. Barichello definitely seems to be past it to me though.

Overall I would say that Button is the third fastest driver in F1 at the moment as he doesnt make many mistakes, and whe the car is balanced he can get everything out of it. I do have some questionmarkes over Raikkonens overall ability but his speed isnt in question, and Alonso is quite clearly the best driver out their.

I suspect that if his name was Ralf Schwarz, he earned 2 million $ per year and he was driving for Williams (generally liked team), then people would like him a lot more.