It’s been 14 years since an Italian last started a Grand Prix for Ferrari, but that could change in the near future.
Among the changes introduced by the new management at Ferrari is a young driver scheme and yesterday at Fiorano three up-and-coming Italian racers got a chance to sample a Ferrari F1 car. Here’s a selection of pictures of Edoardo Piscopo, Salvatore Cicatelli and Mirko Bortolotti in action.
Chaz
27th November 2008, 21:41
Great pictures Keith.
Is it true Santander have moved their sponsorship away from McLaren across to Ferrari now (or perhaps from 2010 onwards)? What does this mean for Alonso as I bet we will see Alonso in a Ferrari sooner rather than later.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
27th November 2008, 23:08
Chaz – I saw a report on that which originated in a Spanish newspaper called AS which I’ve been warned not to trust in the past. The Santander rumours had been around for a while and it was originally connected to Alonso joining the team. I’m playing ‘wait and see’ for now on that one.
Chaz
27th November 2008, 23:17
Keith – do you think this story from F1Live.com could be considered reputable as they seem to quote Santander’s boss – see
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/081126084333.shtml
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
27th November 2008, 23:44
Chaz – this touches on the debate we were having earlier this week about whether I should use GMM’s news reports on the site. I was offered the same story as F1-Live (see the credit at the bottom of their story) but I chose not to use it on the basis of where the story had come from originally.
DG
28th November 2008, 8:13
Isn’t it amazing that Ferrari, who have been in Motorsport since Enzo drove for ALFA, do not already have a young driver scheme for Italian hopefuls? You would think it would be part of the nation’s heritage, with dozens of young Italians in every racing series wearing a prancing horse.
Not that the Brits have done any better in the past….
Journeyer
28th November 2008, 13:41
DG, Enzo was always hesitant to hire Italians. No one was sure why. Some say it was because he didn’t want a driver with a fiery, Italian attitude. Others say it was because he did not want Italian blood to spill in a Ferrari if one of his driver got hurt, or worse…
guille2306
28th November 2008, 17:07
I think that the ‘official history’ says that after the last Italian was killed in a Ferrari (I don’t remember who) Enzo swore that not anymore an Italian driver would die in one of his cars.
alberto
29th November 2008, 0:27
hi keith, whatever you do just don’t ever trust any information coming from ‘diario AS’ at least not regarding racing… not a single formula one fan does in Spain.. they usually announce the greatest deals in motorsport.. happenning just in their football-shaped heads.
;)