Will Ferrari ever be the same again in F1?

Ferrari has had great success with Schumacher, but it doesn't seem like Kimi can keep them up there.

Massa seems to be trying harder, but they don't have the 1-2 combination like Alonso and Hamilton.

Personally, I think that Alonso and Hamilton make a great team with McLaren-Mercedes.

With Kimi and Massa, do you see Ferrari staying at the top? Or do you think they will stay in second place until Kimi's contract runs out?

I heard the commentators talking about the possibility of getting Schumacher working behind the scenes, but Kimi won't stand for it.

Discuss!

~shahedc
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The season is still young.

I still think there is realistic hope of a Ferrari 1-2 finish in the drivers championship this season.

 

If Ross Brawn returns in 2008, I will stick my neck out and say that Michael will not be too far behind in some sort of technical role. He is done driving F1.

I heard that Luca had a private meeting with Kimi just after Monaco (can anyone confirm?), shipped up in the heliocopter, so I see Kimi doing much better and sooner than later. And Kimi will not have any say about Schumacher's return. Kimi's manager has always said that Kimi would have had no problem driving along side Michael.

If Ross Brawn returns, much will change and the team will be in great form.

I really believe that Kimi will step up and at least finish second in points to Massa's first in 2007. I believe that in 2008, the order will be reversed and Ferrari will be dominate in that season.

 

+1

 

I agree... but with Alonso's seemingly effortless wins, and Hamilton's rise to success, they also have a very good chance of winning.

After all, Hamilton and Alonso are tied for 1st place (even though Hamilton is put in 2nd place because he hasn't won yet)... I do expect Hamilton to win a Grand Prix this year.

Whatever happens, this is a great season to be an F1 fan... !

I hope Kimi puts up a good fight and wins a couple of races too... I'm not a big Massa fan though...

~shahedc
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To answer the title, "Will Ferrari ever be the same", probably not.

You don't win 6 CC and 5 WDC in a row and expect that to happen again. That was a re-image of a Ferrari Golden Age in F1.

However, Ferrari will stay a top team for a long while.

-dsd

 

Shame. :}

 

I remember the time when I was ecstatic when a Ferrari-driver finished on the podium. I was even very pleased if one ended up in the points. I mean, the early nineties were pretty much the dark ages for any tifoso.

today, Ferrari isn't cruising to the championship, but they are still in it with a very good shot. So, yes, I am happy. Everything is relative.

 

Massa is an excellent driver; Kimi just needs to learn to become a team player...and quit moaning and groaning. As to be the same again, no, Alonso and Hamilton are great competitors, but Ferrari will win some and lose some.

 

+1

 

Well said. For us old-timers, Ferrari being at the front with a chance to win is a huge step up from days gone by. I think it's also a huge improvement for F1 in general from the days when Williams and McLaren were the only two teams with any chance at the championship for many many years.

The Schumacher era was unique. Such domination in any sport is a once in a lifetime event. Enjoy the memories, but don't expect to see the like of it again.

 

very nicely put. i suppose that'll never happen again. it took something like 50 years for that to happen in the history of F1. i wonder if it'll take another 50 years for it to happen again..

 

For some of us who have watched F1 for decades (my case since the mid 60's), we've seen Ferrari struggle for years when their competition was a bunch of "Garagists" as the old man liked to call them. There is no reason to expect Ferrari not to suffer again now that the competition is big and rich.