Article re Massa's (Poor) performance thus far!!!

[markb]

http://www.f1pulse.com/news/massa_under_the_scanner/news-2010-may-news_20100510_42/news_article.aspx



Massa under the Scanner
Timely "article" bearing in mind the other article I posted on Kubica's link to Ferrari a few days ago...

[lkjohnson1950]

Typical Ferrari. If your driver is struggling, put a bit more pressure on him: Get on with it or Get out!

Lonny

[Jericoke]

Typical Ferrari. If your driver is struggling, put a bit more pressure on him: Get on with it or Get out!

Lonny

Not typical at all for Ferrari.  They spent an entire decade happily having one driver miles behind the other - even holding one driver back if he became too competitive.

In fact, barring injury, Ferrari is one of the few teams that has NOT replaced a poor performing driver midseason since I've started watching.  (I think replacing Badoer was an act of mercy, and not to be included in this discussion)

[markb]

Typical Ferrari. If your driver is struggling, put a bit more pressure on him: Get on with it or Get out!

Lonny

Not typical at all for Ferrari.  They spent an entire decade happily having one driver miles behind the other - even holding one driver back if he became too competitive.

In fact, barring injury, Ferrari is one of the few teams that has NOT replaced a poor performing driver midseason since I've started watching.  (I think replacing Badoer was an act of mercy, and not to be included in this discussion)

Badoer was only a "temporary" driver who was used a a stop-gag when Massa got injured...and his replacement, Fisi didn't do all that well either.

As regards other teams replacing poor-performing drivers midseason, not sure it's happened (much) if at all over the past few season, unless somebody on the forum can enlighten us please?

[lkjohnson1950]

OK. Pre Schumacher Ferrari. Read Phil Hill's stories about driving for Enzo and the politics at Ferrari. MS obviously does not like competition within the team.

Lonny

[Jericoke]

As regards other teams replacing poor-performing drivers midseason, not sure it's happened (much) if at all over the past few season, unless somebody on the forum can enlighten us please?

2009
Renault:  Piquet -> Grosjean
STR:  Bourdais -> Alguasari

2008
None

2007
Spyker:  Albers -> Yamamoto
STR:  Speed -> Vettel

2006
McLaren:  Montoya -> De La Rosa
Sauber:  Villeneuve -> Kubica
Aguri:  Ide -> Montagny -> Yamamoto
RBR:  Klien -> Doornbos

2005
Minardi:  Friesacher -> Doornbos

2004
Renault:  Trulli -> Villeneuve

My memory of drivers replaced by injuries (and a few 'injuries' (*cough*Ralf*cough*Juan*cough*) made me think it was more, but that's still a substantial list.

[Jericoke]

OK. Pre Schumacher Ferrari. Read Phil Hill's stories about driving for Enzo and the politics at Ferrari. MS obviously does not like competition within the team.

Lonny

I never watched F1 pre Schumacher/Ferrari, so can't speak to that but what I read.

However, pre Schumacher/Ferrari F1 was still wide open... a team could show up for one weekend with a driver, a chassis and an engine and have a go.  The silly season lasted all year long; not just for Ferrari, but any driver who couldn't pull their weight.

[markb]

Thanks for that Jeri, thought I could rely on you, 2009 :: Piquet / Grosjean speaks for itself doesn't it, hardly a performance issue, Bourdais / Alguasari = Ok but hardly a top team, !!

2008 = NONE

2007 well Albers and Yamamote , heard of the former but not the latter ???

2006 Mclaren ...Montoya  &  De la Rosa, hardly big names in F1 are they, I think Montoya was the biggest sulker tin F1.

2005 Minardi....???

2004 Trulli & Villueneve .....so?

But when all said and evaluated, you have just mentioned a handful of names, but in al honesy, not big names were they?

[John S]

I fail to see anything in the original article as a critism from Ferrari, it is the journalist linking various statements to make it seem as though Felippe is in big trouble. From Ferrari's point of view they are right up there in both the drivers, and more importantly to them, the constuctors lists. Alonso's present performances are proving the team was right to sideline Kimi, and Massa is playing a great supporting role to Modena's new prodigal son  - so what is the beef?

[Williamsfan]

Montoya was dropped not for a lack of pace so much as he had signed up to race in NASCAR in 2007.  McLaren let him go early as he was given the opportunity to begin his NASCAR career earlier once he had been sidelined.  Montoya was a big name racer but really a terrible fit for McMerc.  He should never have gone there.  Almost an Alonso like personality.  Look at his race records in F1, he had 7 race wins (keep in mind he spent most of his career with Williams) and during his career he finished 6th, 3rd, 3rd, 5th, 4th and 8th in his final unfinished season.  Not too bad at all! 

Also Williams dropped an 'injured' Heidfeld after he agreed to move to the BMW Sauber team in 2007, thus enabling him to make the move a year earlier. 

As for the original article, I also saw nothing wrong with it really, and the quotes again do not really follow the headline of the article about Ferrari being mystified with Massa's pace.  That being said, I do reckon this could be Felipe's last season with the team, but that's a separate discussion and won't be based on his pace so far this season.

[stealthhaggis]

Maybe they were mystified until Massa broke his front wing the other day and found an extra half a second!

[Williamsfan]

Could well be!  That was extremely weird.  Maybe we should challenge them for having movable aero parts... that wing was definitely flapping 

[stealthhaggis]

They certainly were, are we talking about the wings or Smedley again?! Seriously though I noticed the angle that part dropped to was more towards where McLaren have theirs. Wouldn't be surprised if they adjust the winglets to be like that from now on.

[cosworth151]

I don't think Montoya signed to drive in NASCAR until after he was booted out of F1. The last straw for him was when he took out his team mate, himself and a few innocent bystanders on the first lap of the USGP.

[Williamsfan]

Yes, Alonso had been signed for the following season and so Montoya's contract would not be extended for 2007, but he announced he was racing in NASCAR two days before McLaren announced he would no longer race for the team again in 2006.