Gene would have been a better choice

[Scott]

I agree, plus Gene has raced in the past 10 years - Badoer hasn't.

From Planet F1

Carlos Gracia, president of the Spanish motor sport federation, has slammed Ferrari's decision to select Luca Badoer for the European GP ahead of Marc Gené.

With Felipe Massa recuperating from his crash in Hungary and Michael Schumacher ending his comeback plans due to a neck injury, Ferrari turned to test driver Luca Badoer to fill the void, a move criticised by Gracia.

The Spaniard would have preferred to see his compatriot and Ferrari's other test driver, Marc Gené, in the race seat.

"It is one of the most absurd things which the people in charge of Ferrari have ever decided," Gracia told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"I consider Marc to be better prepared and I would have thought that winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in June would have been an important factor for Ferrari," he added.

[John S]

Would that be the same Carlos who stated a month or so ago that it is not obvious to vote against Max's chosen candidate for FIA presidency. So do I think Luca gives a fying fart what he thinks - I should say not!.

Could it be that Badoer has always been the faster of the two? or does Gene have commitments a bit further into the season. The team knows both of them well so There must be a reason for one getting the nod over the other.

[Scott]

Another report was also saying that Badoer hasn't even been in the F60 at all.  Pre-season testing was done by Gené, Massa and Kimi.  If that's true, how could they know he would be faster (unless he's been faster anytime he jumped into a new Ferrari since the two of them have tested together)?  I have no explanation why Ferrari would choose Badoer over Gené, but maybe like you said Gené has commitments somewhere else during one or two of the upcoming races.  It really doesn't make sense since Ferrari should be trying to please its' new Spanish sponsor as well.  I'm sure it will come out sooner than later. 

[Jericoke]

Another report was also saying that Badoer hasn't even been in the F60 at all.  Pre-season testing was done by Gené, Massa and Kimi.  If that's true, how could they know he would be faster (unless he's been faster anytime he jumped into a new Ferrari since the two of them have tested together)?  I have no explanation why Ferrari would choose Badoer over Gené, but maybe like you said Gené has commitments somewhere else during one or two of the upcoming races.  It really doesn't make sense since Ferrari should be trying to please its' new Spanish sponsor as well.  I'm sure it will come out sooner than later. 

Maybe Ferrari doesn't want to upset their future other Spanish driver.

Maybe Fiat stepped in an insisted on the Italian.

[Scott]

Maybe Ferrari doesn't want to upset their future other Spanish driver.

Maybe Fiat stepped in an insisted on the Italian.

If Gene worries Alonzo, then they shouldn't hire Alonzo.  I would have thought having MS back in the cockpit might annoy Alonzo, but certainly not him.

More likely the latter, but I thought Luca was the Chairman of Fiat?