Comments on: How do the new Alonso-Ferrari rumours affect the 2009 F1 driver market?

By: Fixy

Fixy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:31:09 +0000

Because you shouldn’t.

By: Fixy

Fixy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:28:50 +0000

Not bad predictions Keith! Grosjean and Piquet were right!

By: DG

DG — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:42:53 +0000

@Journeyer – I think that makes sense, Alonso and Ferrari waiting to see what Kimi does, and the performance of the new engines before committing themselves. On the other hand, since Schuey is still on their books, are Ferrari collecting World Champion Test Drivers?
@Diacho – OK, so Kimi has been out-qualified and out raced by Massa, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been pushing! So he’s gone off the boil recently, and you really have to ask why, since he is such a good driver!
Perhaps he is waiting on a decision himself?
I think that unless Bourdais scores some points this year he will be heading back to the IRL.
Overall, I think the teams are making a big mistake in not ‘maturing’ a batch of new talent in a similar way to McLaren, and I was surprised that Ferrari did not suddenly produce a couple of Italian/German ‘Wunderkind’ this year. Are they waiting for Schuey 3? Does anybody know if there is a Ferrari or Alfa Romeo racing school? I think there ought to be one.
Generally the current ‘young’ drivers are not being allowed to race properly, and since there is no ‘Rookie’ Championship, the teams have no incentive to push them and only use them as distinctly ‘No2′ and ‘No3′ drivers. How are they to going learn the skills required to be Champions?

By: Gman

Gman — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:42:42 +0000

In terms of Bourdais, his future with the outfit curently known as Toro Rosso must be linked to whatever will happen with the team after this season. Last I heard, the team was up for sale and looking for interested parties, and the ban on customer cars puts it’s very future into some uncertainty. If anyone has new insight on this, please pass it along, but any new change in ownership could have consequences for any of the drivers currently with the team.

I think Bourdais is a talented driver who can bring a great deal to any team- I would think he would be in demand by many teams if suddenly available, but with many teams developing their owne talent, even a quality driver may face uncertain times on the F1 market.

By: Journeyer

Journeyer — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:39:30 +0000

OK, time to start catching up on commenting.

Bourdais will do well at Montreal, but a Top 10? That depends on a bit of luck. But I think he can easily finish 12th or 13th.

Now, the big one: has Alonso signed for Ferrari? I think he did sign something, but he probably didn’t sign a contract. For that to happen, Ferrari would’ve been sure someone was out by 2010. Massa’s contract is until the end of 2010, so unless he does dismally within the next few races (which I doubt), he’ll stay. As for Kimi, while it is known he won’t stay as long as Schumi in F1, I think a retirement decision from him would be much more spur-of-the-moment and not planned 2 years ahead.

So what DID Alonso sign? He probably signed a document signifying his intention to drive for Ferrari, such that, IF there IS a vacant seat there in 2010, he gets it. But there are no guarantees there will be one.

I hope that makes sense.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:35:02 +0000

Also, Bourdais has won at Montreal before, can he get a top 10 next weekend?

By: Steve K

Steve K — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:33:49 +0000

Does anyone see Bourdais staying with Toro Rosso another year? He is inexperienced at F1 to be great now, but give him a year and a competitive car and he could score points on a regular basis. He was too good in Champ Car to be too patient. Back to the USA for the IRL or a real F1 ride. Renault is an interesting possibility. What do you all think?

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:26:44 +0000

I like the Alonso to BMW rumour a lot more than the Alonso to Ferrari one.

Seems like a better fit to me – I can see Alonso, Kubica and Theissen all working well together. Can’t see that same harmony from an Alonso, Massa and Domenicali/de Montezemolo team. And I do think it will be Kimi leaving rather than Felipe – he has never made any secret of the fact that he is not in F1 for the long haul.

By: theRoswellite

theRoswellite — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:34:29 +0000

I think I saw some evidence of Alonso’s move to Ferrari, in a very reliable location…………Massa’s eyes.

@ milos: He would commit himself this far ahead because if he waits to see how competitive the car is……it will have another driver in it.

@ William: Anyone looking at the established “systems” producing the cars will see that, at present and for the near future, there are only two CONSISTENT winners….the F boys and the M boys. Alonso sees that. He sees it at every race. It would be smart for him to sign something……..as soon as he can. He is less of a dependable quantity considering his production vis a vis Hamilton. But, Ferrari know talent. Look at how long they have hung on to Massa, and look how he is performing now. It was a very smart decision by them and it is paying off.

Just like the decision by Dennis to “grow” a driver in-house. In retrospect the Hamilton connection may be viewed as the smartest move of Ron’s entire career (remembering that it took a lot of savvy to sign Senna, but certainly no smarts were required to figure that one out, ditto for Prost).

It certainly looks like you need to culture them young, ask Flavio, and sign them early.

By: Number 38

Number 38 — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:12:04 +0000

Massa fan club here …… sorry I’m late Keith. It’s the first cutting here on the plantation, long hours on the tractor. Alonso to Ferrari? It’s fun to read all the authorities but the bottom line, it’s ALL speculation.
I’m more interested in replacing trainees like Piquet, Glock, Sutil, Vettel, Nagajima with more experienced drivers like Klien, Davidson, Sato, Luizzi, De La Rosa, even Montagny. F1 is WASTING talent while we suffer with a flood of un-qualified rookies.