Luca Badoer Finally Gets Ferrari Drive

I feel very sorry for Luca, but also think Ferrari made a mistake. I think I have been following F1 for longer than 90% of you guys. I have personally seen Luca raced, even in F3, when he beat the likes of Villeneuve, while in F3000 he beat the likes of Barrichello and Coulthard. Even in his (earlier) F1 career he was OK.

I'm sure lack of track times is a big reason for his slow performance. Plus, testing does not really count as far as racing is concerned. The reason why some previous testers did very well as substitutes is because most of them also had been racing in other categories at the same time, or most recently past. Both Damon Hill and David Coulthard were Williams testers when they got their chances, but while Hill was already racing in F1 (Brabham) as a rookie, Coulthard was racing in F3000., plus there were no restrictions of testing.

I think the idea of having a career of being *only* a test driver is bad. Gene raced in Le Mans. That kept him up to speed. Times in testing is as meaningful as an NFL preseason game.

Ferrari should have let Gene raced in Valencia, then Badoer races in Spa. After that they can decide who will have the seat for the remainder of the season.

I think it is correct that Ferrari should give the seat to Luca. It is not a matter of rewarding a long term employee, after all, Luca *is* the reserve driver. I think nobody in charge knows what would ended up happening.

I think Ferrari should put in Gene in Monza, regardless of Luca's performance in the race in Spa. After that they can decide to give the seat to anyone outside of the organization.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BDunnell

I am sure that, had he not taken these two race drives and then had his contribution to Ferrari's success insulted by a member of this forum for some reason, you would have defended him to the hilt.

---

He would have been insulted for what without this disgraceful showing?
Try being a bit more precise in your vague allegations. I can't take a decision based on day dreaming.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alcatrazhack

I think Ferrari should put in Gene in Monza, regardless of Luca's performance in the race in Spa. After that they can decide to give the seat to anyone outside of the organization.

---

That isn't as simple as that.
Teams are limited to 4 drivers per season and if they put Gene in that seat than they will be stuck with him and BADoer for the rest of the season.

They have to take a fast guy from outside the team for the next race, there is no question about that.

Badoer's performances during the last two Grands Prix have been dire. Nobody could sensibly dispute that. However, it's not right to start deriding his contribution to Ferrari's success in previous years. He's obviously a sound test-driver, or else they would've ditched him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ioan

As for Badoer's contribution to MS championship I have no doubt that MS could have done whatever Badoer was required to do and at least twice as well.

---

If you had listent to MS interview on Sky Italy at Valencia you wouldn't have said this. Michael has a great respect for Luca and supports him a lot at the moment. And answer me this : if you were Luca would you have said no to Ferrari offer ? I don't think so. And yes he's a joke as driver so far, but he's been a great test-driver and a very professional and loyal employeer at Ferrari for many years, and deserves some respect no matter what. I honestely can't understand you hate him so much, and bash him so much in here, afterall he's trying his best doing somenthing he was asked to do, somenthing millions of people are dreaming to do (you included).

Our moderator is right!
I have also heard this interview and MS really supported Badoer!
This man made one of his dreams true,let him enjoy it.
Although,Ferrari can't do something big this year and this isn't Badoer's fault...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pino

And answer me this : if you were Luca would you have said no to Ferrari offer ?

---

Yes I would have said no. Why? Because one has to keep his self esteem, IMO it's most important in life.
I wouldn't have put myself in such a loser situation also knowing that I'll be destroying the team's image in the process.

I know he's Italian and you guys are going nuts over having Italians in every possible place on Earth, but he's pants.

PS: Weren't you one of those who said he drove the F60 and other such fantasist claims?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimakos

Our moderator is right!
I have also heard this interview and MS really supported Badoer!
This man made one of his dreams true,let him enjoy it.
Although,Ferrari can't do something big this year and this isn't Badoer's fault...

---

The team wasn't going to behave like Flavio, for instance, but it's enough to see their body language when Luca signed anothetr slow lap or when he destroyed the car yesterday, Rob Smedley was like: 'OMG he's unbelievably bad!'.

Just because they don't publicly criticize him and try to be supportive of him given that they put him in that position too it doesn't mean they think he is any good. I'm rather convinced that they are thinking how to tell him to get lost right now with hurting him too much, and I also believe that this is teh end of his career as a race an test driver for Ferrari. They saw the light and are going to get someone better to replace him in both duties ASAP.

He nearly crashed Vettel out of qualifying. Oh dear.

Badoer's past it...big time.

But I'm not going to complain about. It is fun watching him go around like this. We're due this kind of comical treatment once in a while. Though, I have to say, I really did expect much, much more from him this weekend. I'm still happy for him though, just to see him back in the car :)