How good is Bad oer?

The way I see it is since he is on the payroll but is sitting around with his thumb up his A$$ die to the testing ban. Ferrari can be working on stuff for the 2010 season with Badoer doing his job as a test driver. Since Ferrrari has stopped development of the F60 they can now get a jump start on the competition, develop the next car all in a legal fashion.

 

Don't forget that Badoer's role is that of a test and RESERVE driver. He travels to all the races helmet in hand ready to jump in. Badoer is merely being asked to do the job he is employed for and he cannot do 'extra' testing and development if he is already at the race anyways.

 

True, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors. Max has a hard on for Ferrari this year in a big way, and I wouldn't be surprised if they had to come up with someone with a superlicense quickly... and may not have the chance to pick and choose. It also was clear from Luca M's comments that Badoer was in the seat for Valencia, and anything after that would be based on performance. If he does well, I bet he'll be at Spa. But I bet he won't be at Spa (not racing, anyway)

It may also be that he's the development driver, so having him run the car for 3 days will aid in development better than if they used someone else. They (Ferrari) must feel he has some skills as an R&D driver to keep him around this long.

Over/under on Badoer being in the car @ Spa?

 

I expect Gene or somebody other than Badoer in the Ferrari at Spa.

If he is lucky they'll grant him the Monza GP for patriotic reasons. Seem to dominate the scuderia recently.

 

Well firstly he's going to race at Valencia, which is a very hard place to pass. It's not like it's a wet race at Fuji or something. Also, despite him not actively racing in F1 for 10 years, he still has years of experience to fall back on, and still races karts to this day. I expect him to do a a job reflective of his abilities, which is an average job. If Kimi is able to run in the top 3, then I expect to see Luca running further back, struggling to get in the points. He deserves the shot, although Gene might have been a slightly better choice.

 

It seems that nobody likes Badoer, or Gené, but who would you put in that car? Would you give a try to those young guys from F3 they tested last year (they have no license anyway)? Bourdais now he´s free (his manager is Nicholas Todt)? Rescue Jacques Villeneuve (again)?

 

Whether Luca can do the job or not we´ll see in Valencia. He has a lot of experience with the Scuderia, and not being in the points or winning races-well, look at Jenson Button this year....He as clearly been in better teams than Luca has (thus earnes WC points) but still only had real success this year. From zero to hero in a couple of months.

Not that Luca Badoer is my all time favourite driver,but it is only when you have a decent car and full back-up from a team that you can achieve any real results. F60 is better now than it was in the beginning of the season so who knows. Clearly, the cars from Forti Corse and Scuderia Italia was never even close to being even midfield.

When you think of it-what´s best?
Being a son of a WC driver,and because of that getting a drive for a half decent team as their #2 driver with an inferior car to your teammate,disappointment at every race,politics and hard feelings ending after not even two seasons with a kick in the ass and without a chance to secure another drive for next season......Or Sebastien Bourdais-kicked out in the same way to be replaced by a 19 year old with no experience whatsoever......

Or being part of the Ferrari family and a dream come true,well paid,for many years being handed the best car in the field to test and develop in close cooperation with the test/race team,learn massively from the best F1 driver in history and so on....and MAYBE have a chance to get a race drive for Ferrari if something unexpected happens......
I know what I would have done. I would gladly waited ten years like that to get my Ferrari race drive.

Luca has deserved this drive and I hope he does well, even if I would rather have seen M Schumacher give the other drivers a lesson or two. I still think MS will be in Massas car for Spa and Monza. Then Gene will jump in for the remainder of the season.

 

Well said

 

Would be cool to see an Italian driver driving for Ferrari at Monza. Ferrari hasn't had an Italian driver since who, Ivan Capelli in the early 90s?

Gio P

 

BET! Ill give you my adress where to send my case.Tsintao preferrably.

 

Deal, Christian.

Now we'll see if I can win one. I lost to Andreas and Art, but I have a good feeling about this one

So just so we're on the same page, if Badoer gets a podium in the races he is in this year, or if he wins, I will send you a case of your choice of beer.

Now I have something to make it interesting

 

You would have won this hands down if it had only been about Valencia.

But since you're willing to bet for the rest of the year, things might change: Badoer will get better with more seat time and the Ferrari is likely to get better towards the end of the year. Final race is on a track new for everybody, so all bets are off.

Then again I think you're not expecting BAD-Doer to return after Valencia and you're probably right on that...

 

I don't get where all this negativity is coming from. Firstly Luca has been a solid part of Ferrari's success for the past decade. Additionally he won the F3000 championship in his first year! For those that are unaware, F3000 was the predecessor to GP2. He has had a few 8th place finishes that were before points went to 8th. If you look at his F1 career look what he's driven! The absolute heaps of the field! He had a Minardi running 4th at the European GP in 1999 before retiring [I think gearbox?]. Give the guy a break and wait until the race.

I'm not saying he's going to be magical but I am thrilled he was finally given the chance. If he's Ferrari's test driver for so long he isn't going to be extremely slow.

 

In case christian wins (which I doubt, unless Ferrari have had a significant new upgrade), double check he is 21 though. I think he was 20 and you don't want to be arrested buying alcohol for minors.

 

I think that the big problem with Luca is not his lack of success. Nobody can win with a Forti. The big problem is that his lack of success was ten years ago. He hasn´t raced anything since then.

 

No points + most races without scoring = HUNGRY. He'll do as well as can be expected and he'll have plenty of assistance as he isn't a threat to anyone in the Scuderia. Luca will score point(s) in Valencia.

 

I wanted him to have a sporting chance... betting only for Valencia would be like taking candy from a baby

I also am not so sure Badoer will make it past Valencia, but we shall see.

Plus, I'll be at Spa, so I can dump some white powder into his gas tank and hedge my bet a bit

 

Well, I guess I'll either have to take his word that he's 21, or send him porno mags and cigars instead

 

What will he get you if he isn't 21 yet then, I think you can buy your own porn.

 

I agree with Alex1015, Luca is a big part of the sucess Ferrari has had. This pick is not for points or wins,
but an extended test sesssion that will hopefully set us up for sucess next year.

 

Easy - he can send me some hot 20 year old girls.

We'll call it even

 

well then, lets hope for your sake he is 20 after all

 

Mike, seriously be very cautious. Here's one of his posts from the "third Ferrari thread" page 2 -> "dude i'm 20 and done with college." The dude he is making reference to is me!!! after comments made to him that you don't address a lady with the word dude and that at 20 years old you don't call people dude (again thanks to dinodan for trying to teach the kid respect). You could get yourself set up in a very awkard situation....just ignore him.

Carol

Back on the subject of Luca, he's a man who has been loyal to Ferrari for quite some time and he'll do his absolute best to continue his support in Valencia. Granted he may not be the best of the driver lot, but his enthausiam, loyalty and attitude will be his strong attributes at Valencia. Let's not damn him and say he'll have a lousy drive, but rather think positive for him and for Ferrari in Valencia. I don't discount Isobel's thoughts on this issue either, she's quite correct.

 

Just nice to see a Italian in a Ferrari F1, instead of just giving it's drives to every other countryman on this earth , and not its own [ok a few have been Italian, but way not enough]

Never mind, we will have Valentino # 46 in a few years time

FORZA LUCA!