Badoer cofirmed for Spa

[Scott]

Kinda reminds me of a 3 stooges movie where curly gets hit again and again in the head.  Why would they even bother to make the statement?  It makes them look stupid(er - ok, more stupid).  Plus when they come to their senses in the morning, they will have to explain not only why did they choose him in the first place, but why after the most disastrous race by a Ferrari in history (just a guess), would they choose him again!!.  They've got Gene on staff for crying out loud - he certainly couldn't do any worse.

From F1 Live:

Ferrari on Sunday confirmed that Luca Badoer will contest his second Grand Prix for the Italian team this coming weekend in Belgium.

The team's 38-year-old test driver struggled notably at the wheel of injured Felipe Massa's car at Valencia, qualifying last and then finishing 17th while his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen took the other F60 to the podium.

Moreover, Badoer made mistakes throughout his first F1 weekend since 1999, featuring four pitlane speeding fines on Friday, being overtaken in the pitlane during the race, and incurring a drive-through penalty for crossing the pit-exit white line.

Even so, team boss Stefano Domenicali on Sunday said Badoer retains the drive for the second leg of the double-header at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.

"Luca managed to finish the race, thus completing this learning weekend, which served as an introduction course prior to tackling the Belgian weekend in the best way possible, next weekend," he said in a team statement.

Badoer commented: "I am looking forward to Spa with confidence: it's a track I know and I will also be able to count on the experience gained this weekend."

Ferrari's chief engineer Chris Dyer said Sunday was another difficult day for Badoer, but noted the improvement he has made throughout the weekend. "It should be stressed how much he improved, continuously day by day, lap after lap," said the Australian. "We are confident that he will find himself in much better shape next weekend in Belgium.”

[Dare]

1  He has something on Luca

2  They don't have any extra coveralls for a new driver

3  Badoer took the car's steering wheel and won't return it

4  Someone has a big life insurance policy on Badoer

4  There's a bunch of morons at Ferrari

[FW14B]

I agree with all those points Dare.  Perhaps they wanted someone who might not upstage their existing drivers, so they picked a guy who is now just slow?

[cosworth151]

Maybe Stefano Domenicali woke up with a horse's head in bed beside him.

[John S]

Like everyone else I find Ferrari's decision strange, the only plausible explanation I can come up with is a weird game of politics.

Max is the one who put in place the no testing rule and Di Montezemola wants it changed so he is using an embarrissing tactic to try to highlight the stupidity of not allowing preperation for reserve drivers.

[John S]

Badoer's embarrassment continued even after the chequered flag had fallen according to Jonathan Noble at Autosport

http://twitter.com/NobleF1/statuses/3496614226

[PG_Gabriel]

Personally i think that Ferrari is just not going to give it there all and just use the rest of the season.... or just the next race to thank Badoer for the many years of testing that he gave the team

[Jericoke]

Maybe Gene is scared of looking worse?

Badoer will never drive an F1 car byond the Ferrari this season.  Does Gene want the same fate?

I know Ferrari doesn't like to use untested drivers, I guess the list of available F1 drivers isn't doing it for them. 

If Badoer IS staying on as a test driver, might as well get some extra test miles in.

[Scott]

Davidson has now said he's ready to drive if Ferrari want him.  He's got recent experience, a super-license and certainly he couldn't do any worse.  I know there is someone who doesn't agree with me here (Steven, for one), but I think Davidson would be Ferrari's best choice.  I thought he still had a reserve driver contract with Brawn, but I'm sure he could wiggle out of that if he had to.

[John S]

Davidson has now said he's ready to drive if Ferrari want him.  He's got recent experience, a super-license and certainly he couldn't do any worse.  I know there is someone who doesn't agree with me here (Steven, for one), but I think Davidson would be Ferrari's best choice.  I thought he still had a reserve driver contract with Brawn, but I'm sure he could wiggle out of that if he had to.

Ross may be glad to lend him, if he does really good it will solve the problem of who to put in the no 2 Brawn for next year in place of Ruby the selfish showoff.

[Jericoke]

Davidson has now said he's ready to drive if Ferrari want him.  He's got recent experience, a super-license and certainly he couldn't do any worse.  I know there is someone who doesn't agree with me here (Steven, for one), but I think Davidson would be Ferrari's best choice.  I thought he still had a reserve driver contract with Brawn, but I'm sure he could wiggle out of that if he had to.

I'm sure most 'reserve/test' drivers have a clause that lets them move on to a full time seat?  Mika Salo drove for BAR and Ferrari in one season.

[FW14B]

They could do a lot worse than bring in Davidson, it would also finally put to bed the question marks that linger over his ability as a top level driver.  I would love to see him race full time in F1.

[John S]

They could do a lot worse than bring in Davidson, it would also finally put to bed the question marks that linger over his ability as a top level driver.  I would love to see him race full time in F1.

Mind you Ant has not raced in earnest in an F1 car for a couple of years so it may not be plain sailing, but could it be worse than Luca?  I think not.

[Dare]

Give Fisichella a shot,he's Italian,once tested for Ferrari,he's nearing
the end of his career,and I believe he stills haves a few good races left in him

[Scott]

Now Hulkenberg and Bourdais have joined the 'I can't do any worse than Badoer' chorus. 

Here's how I rate their chances at the moment:

1 - Gene - He's on staff, vaguely familiar with the car, doesn't cost a penny extra, has a superlicense, familiar with team.  Jumped in a seat for Williams a few years ago and did fairly well considering the late call (I think he had something like two days notice, but that was back in the testing days).

2 - Bourdais - Most recent racing experience, and in cars with the current tech regulations. Has a superlicense.  Managed by Todt Jr (which may or may not be of value depending on what the Ferrari bosses think of Papa), who is also Massa's manager (again, if that makes a difference).  Knows the rest of the tracks (except for Abu Dabhi, which nobody knows).

3 - Davidson - Fastest of all most likely, has current superlicense.  Not so familiar with current cars or tracks.

4 - Hulkenberg - Sure, fast in GP2, but unknown quantity in F1's current cars.  Managed by Wili Weber (Ferrari tie, but hard to say how much value that has since I wouldn't let Weber onto my front veranda, much less my house...not sure if some at Ferrari might agree with me), meaning he will cost money, and probably not just a little bit.