OFFICIAL: Santander to switch to Ferrari for 2010

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Originally Posted by Mark

It is indeed fair comment that it is unsporting. But personally I think it's just using the way the sport is structured to your own (and the teams) best advantage. If you have one driver who is faster than the other it makes sense to concentrate on them and have the other in a backup role.

Has to be said again that if Ferrari had concentrated on Massa from day one in 2008, he would be champion, no doubt.

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Interesting point you raise there Mark.

On paper, they should have put full support behind Kimi as the #1 driver and reigning WDC.

As such, Massa would have been cast in position as a Lapdog to the faster driver. A driver who was there on credit and had proven himself at the highest level. A man that had raced against Schumacher and proven himself worthy. A driver that some suggest might have scared MS out of Ferrari.

If they had adopted this strategy, then where would Massa have been at the end of the year.

If they had of adopted their current strategy with Rubins and MS, what would the outcome have been..... we will never know.

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Originally Posted by PolePosition_1

Point I make is that no other teams purposely get a "second rate" driver to support its top driver.

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Really?

Heikki Kovalianen seems to fit that description perfectly.

Fisichella likewise at Renault with Alonso.

Oh, and Brabham were not above putting a make-weight or cheque-book driver in their second car when Nelson Piquet Sr was in the Number 1 role. Step forward Riccardo Zunio, Hector Rebaque, Teo Fabi, Corrado Fabi and, certainly in terms of the way he was treated by the team if not his actual talent-level, Riccardo Patrese.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

Interesting point you raise there Mark.

On paper, they should have put full support behind Kimi as the #1 driver and reigning WDC.

As such, Massa would have been cast in position as a Lapdog to the faster driver. A driver who was there on credit and had proven himself at the highest level. A man that had raced against Schumacher and proven himself worthy. A driver that some suggest might have scared MS out of Ferrari.

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Maybe they did, and Kimi just didn't perform even with the Number 1 status.

Unlike Michael, who was beaten on pace by Ruben's about four times in 6 seasons.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

Really?

Heikki Kovalianen seems to fit that description perfectly.

Fisichella likewise at Renault with Alonso.

Oh, and Brabham were not above putting a make-weight or cheque-book driver in their second car when Nelson Piquet Sr was in the Number 1 role. Step forward Riccardo Zunio, Hector Rebaque, Teo Fabi, Corrado Fabi and, certainly in terms of the way he was treated by the team if not his actual talent-level, Riccardo Patrese.

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Well, thats pretty arguable. Heikki was seen as a big talent with his solid second half season at Renault. And you'd have to say he is given equal opportunity to win at the beginning of championship.

With Heikki or Fisichella, I don't think it was in either of their contracts to play second fiddle to their team mates. And I don't think their support role was anywhere near as concrete as Schumachers team-mate, who played a support role from race 1.

With both current / recent examples you use, both had equal chance of winning the title at start of each season.

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Originally Posted by PolePosition_1

With Heikki or Fisichella, I don't think it was in either of their contracts to play second fiddle to their team mates. And I don't think their support role was anywhere near as concrete as Schumachers team-mate, who played a support role from race 1.

With both current / recent examples you use, both had equal chance of winning the title at start of each season.

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I think it was the same with both McLaren and Ferrari this season. Both teams gave both their drivers an equal chance of winning. By by the end of the season a clear number 1 had emerged from both teams.

The interesting part is how things will play out in Ferrari in 2009.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

Maybe they did, and Kimi just didn't perform even with the Number 1 status.

Unlike Michael, who was beaten on pace by Ruben's about four times in 6 seasons.

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I seemed obvious to everyone except you that Ferrari were allowing their drivers to race this year and rightly so.

I for one was sceptical of Massa's ability to step up and although I have some reservations still about his performance, do concede he has made great steps forward.

What justification or evidence do you have that there might have been a #1 / #2 contract in favour of Kimi or are you just arguing with me for the sake of it again :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Mark

I think it was the same with both McLaren and Ferrari this season. Both teams gave both their drivers an equal chance of winning. By by the end of the season a clear number 1 had emerged from both teams.

The interesting part is how things will play out in Ferrari in 2009.

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Yep, good to see two top teams allowing their drivers to race from the off.

I expect Ferrari might employ the same tactic next year as Massa rightly wont accept #2 and Kimi wouldn't even consider it.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

As such, Massa would have been cast in position as a Lapdog to the faster driver. A driver who was there on credit and had proven himself at the highest level. A man that had raced against Schumacher and proven himself worthy. A driver that some suggest might have scared MS out of Ferrari.

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That's just dog crap.

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Originally Posted by ioan

That's just dog crap.

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Why do you and Tamburello have to constantly be so rude?

If you disagree with a statement I make, kindly impart on the rest of us the wisdom used to define your conclusions.

Just a suggestion?

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

Why do you and Tamburello have to constantly be so rude?

If you disagree with a statement I make, kindly impart on the rest of us the wisdom used to define your conclusions.

Just a suggestion?

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And a good one. If you are going to say something is wrong; fine. But say why.