The future of Ferrari's #2?
The future of Ferrari's #2?
With another disappointing result for Felipe Massa, Ferrari is getting impatient with him by each day passing by. They have already urged Massa to raise his performance starting from Monaco. And by the way he is driving it seems Monaco is going to be another nightmare for the Brazilian. With Alonso sharing the championship lead with Vettel @ 61 points, Massa is right @ the bottom of the table with 2 points.
With Ferrari losing ground to Lotus-Renault in the Constructors because of no contribution from Massa the question is how quickly they are going to axe him & replace him with another driver. Ferrari is also understood to be evaluating Force India duo Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg as well as Lotus test driver Jerome d'Ambrosio. With Ex-Force India driver Adrian Sutil visiting the Paddock during the Spanish GP & his manager sneaking into the Ferrari Motorhome the big question is who will be Ferrari's next number 2 who can perform on the track and bring important points to the teams & at the same time support Alonso.
So come on guys & join the dicussion. Let's see what the majority of the comminuty thinks of it.
With Ferrari losing ground to Lotus-Renault in the Constructors because of no contribution from Massa the question is how quickly they are going to axe him & replace him with another driver. Ferrari is also understood to be evaluating Force India duo Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg as well as Lotus test driver Jerome d'Ambrosio. With Ex-Force India driver Adrian Sutil visiting the Paddock during the Spanish GP & his manager sneaking into the Ferrari Motorhome the big question is who will be Ferrari's next number 2 who can perform on the track and bring important points to the teams & at the same time support Alonso.
So come on guys & join the dicussion. Let's see what the majority of the comminuty thinks of it.
Last edited by phil1993 on 16 May 2012, 13:36, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Poll added
Reason: Poll added
The future of Ferrari's #2?
I don't want to suggest Massa gets hung out to dry, as he's such a nice guy and and has been so successful in the past but it could be more embarrassing for Ferrari if another driver comes in and struggles as well.donald29 wrote:The talk of mid-season replacements, I still think it's best for Ferrari to grin and bear it as there is zero guarantee a replacement with no testing and no experience of the car will do any better.
The future of Ferrari's #2?
I agree. As they did a Major mistake trying Luca Badoer during the 2009 season. He made a fool out of himself & bought lot of embarrassment to Ferrari. But taking a driver from the current season should not harm them as it did in 2009. But the point is who will jump seats in season & that too when Ferrari will not be committed to the driver on a long term.donald29 wrote:I don't want to suggest Massa gets hung out to dry, as he's such a nice guy and and has been so successful in the past but it could be more embarrassing for Ferrari if another driver comes in and struggles as well.donald29 wrote:The talk of mid-season replacements, I still think it's best for Ferrari to grin and bear it as there is zero guarantee a replacement with no testing and no experience of the car will do any better.
It would be better they start giving the young drivers an opportunity from the Ferrari Young Drivers Program. In this way they can save money by not participating in the Young Drivers assessment at Silverstone or Abudhabi
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
Teams tends to remember just what happened last time and that, sometimes, determine their decisions.
In Ferrari's case, it's not just what happened with Badoer, but what happened with Fisichella: the guy went from almost winning in Spa to be nowhere to Räikkönen for the rest of the season in the other Ferrari (while Ferrari was, I never understood why, expecting Fisichella to arrive and trash Kimi). When those things happen, teams tend to think twice or three times before changing a driver in the middle of a season.
Nevertheless, there is something pretty interesting with these new Massa rumours: they've appeared at the same time in the German and British media. Motorsport-total wrote about it yesterday, before Autosport. Moreover, both media give the same names as possible replacements. I doubt very much Autosport uses Motorsport-total as their news source, what make me think there are really important voices in the paddock telling Massa's head is in real danger.
Let's see what happens.
In Ferrari's case, it's not just what happened with Badoer, but what happened with Fisichella: the guy went from almost winning in Spa to be nowhere to Räikkönen for the rest of the season in the other Ferrari (while Ferrari was, I never understood why, expecting Fisichella to arrive and trash Kimi). When those things happen, teams tend to think twice or three times before changing a driver in the middle of a season.
Nevertheless, there is something pretty interesting with these new Massa rumours: they've appeared at the same time in the German and British media. Motorsport-total wrote about it yesterday, before Autosport. Moreover, both media give the same names as possible replacements. I doubt very much Autosport uses Motorsport-total as their news source, what make me think there are really important voices in the paddock telling Massa's head is in real danger.
Let's see what happens.
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
Maybe Ferrari leaked this information to the press, while they say on their site they support Massa to do better for next raceMar wrote: Nevertheless, there is something pretty interesting with these new Massa rumours: they've appeared at the same time in the German and British media. Motorsport-total wrote about it yesterday, before Autosport. Moreover, both media give the same names as possible replacements. I doubt very much Autosport uses Motorsport-total as their news source, what make me think there are really important voices in the paddock telling Massa's head is in real danger.
According to Autosport there are 3 candidates: Hulkenberg / Di Resta and D'Ambrosio.
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
I hope for Massa's sake he leaves Ferrari and joins another team. I cant see him ever getting back to form specially in Ferrari with Alonso as his team mate. He needs a fresh start.
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
Competition for drives is so high and money such a factor it's sadly hard to see where else on the F1 grid Massa would go.
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Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
Perez remains the likely candidate for next season, but as he can't be released by his sponsors' indorsed contract to Sauber, Ferrari are left with a problem for the rest of this season.
However all this might change as soon Fiat might land a mega deal in Mexico...
If not, then Di Resta or Hulkenberg are likely drivers for this year.
However all this might change as soon Fiat might land a mega deal in Mexico...
If not, then Di Resta or Hulkenberg are likely drivers for this year.
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
To be honest, id like Sutil in the rest of the year.
To partner fernando? Id say someone like Perez. Di Resta dont deserve anything, he has yet to show any form of potential. Its got to be Perez, and replacing perez at Sauber would be Bianchi (he is the young driver right?)
To partner fernando? Id say someone like Perez. Di Resta dont deserve anything, he has yet to show any form of potential. Its got to be Perez, and replacing perez at Sauber would be Bianchi (he is the young driver right?)
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Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
I'm not convinced of Sutil. My personal favorite for Ferrari remains Kobayashi. Although I'm also taking a liking to Grosjean. But yeah, Perez will have to be the understudying of Alonso.mikhailv wrote:To be honest, id like Sutil in the rest of the year.
To partner fernando? Id say someone like Perez. Di Resta dont deserve anything, he has yet to show any form of potential. Its got to be Perez, and replacing perez at Sauber would be Bianchi (he is the young driver right?)
Perhaps all the managers of the Force India drivers, are publically trying to get that unstable second seat at Ferrari, and just haven't accepted it's already got Perez's name on it.
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
I don't mind Sutil or Perez, but I agree with Mikhail, Paul Di Resta has only proved he is an average driver, capable of beating his teammate... nothing more, nothing special.
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Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
What can he do with the Force India machine? Last year and already this year he's consistently in the points. Has had some impressive top six finishes, but he isn't driving a Red Bull.tderias wrote:I don't mind Sutil or Perez, but I agree with Mikhail, Paul Di Resta has only proved he is an average driver, capable of beating his teammate... nothing more, nothing special.
Take away Malaysia and what has Perez done? Eventhough I do rate Perez superior to Di Resta, I'm just saying it's not kind to highlight a driver in a midfield car just by one good race.
Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
Well thats the thing though... if he hasn't proved anything yet, then why shall Ferrari hire him and not anyone else? Last year it was a total farce that Sutil got the boot when he had more points than Paul. You know what I think of Paul? The young Mark Webber. Nothing too special, just drives around to the limits of the car, you never feel his presence in the race and rarely does anything out of the ordinary, like overtakes and such.
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Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
Although it would be very difficult to sack one driver in the middle of the season, I believe Ferrari and Massa needs an air change. That relationship is not working at the moment. Candidates?
Alguersuari - No (but have experience and in the groove)
Buemi - No
Fisichella - Err
Kubica - Fairy tale
Liuzzi - Pass
Chanhok - Next?
Bianchi - Too early
Villeneuve - Too late
So I say Alguersuari for the remainder of the season.
Alguersuari - No (but have experience and in the groove)
Buemi - No
Fisichella - Err
Kubica - Fairy tale
Liuzzi - Pass
Chanhok - Next?
Bianchi - Too early
Villeneuve - Too late
So I say Alguersuari for the remainder of the season.
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Re: The future of Ferrari's #2?
The problem is that which sane driver - who knows that Sergio Perez or Jules Bianchi is the future of the team - would go up against Fernando Alonso in a terrible car?