Who's going to fire Luca?
If I were LDM... I would: 1. immediately go see Ross Brawn and give him the F-1 team, and give him a cut of the team. 2. Do a deal for Hulkenberg now. 3. Rory Byrne back in control design wise 4. Offer Vettle anything for a 2016 deal. or 2015 if possible 5. Attend every race and be involved
The management's comments: Stefano Domenicali: "This race was the culmination of a difficult weekend exactly how we imagined before arriving in Bahrain, a circuit particularly difficult for our cars. We said that unfortunately this was a track that enhanced features that are not in our car and it was frustrating to see the performance of our riders: in a straight line could neither defend nor attack. The lack of speed is evident in a track where speed and performance are critical, we have seen what results in the absence of these qualities. This is the main theme on which we are working in Maranello; we have to take a leap of quaità, but we must do it quickly because the first in rank and turn away if you do not react immediately situaizone could become complicated. What we need to do is forget about this race and look forward. Now before us is an important test (always in Bahrain on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9, ed) where I expect to see a first leap. Two days with significant evidence, which will give us the measure of what we can bring to the next races. The objective is to reduce the gap. The team must keep our heads held high, even if things did not go so far as they had, and continue to work to change gears quickly. " Pat Fry: "Today we could not ask for more for our car and our drivers, because here has emerged as the major limitation is in our speed. This has forced us to a defensive race and even if in the middle section of the track - the one with more curves - the F14 T has proven to be more competitive, this was not enough to Fernando and Kimi to attack our opponents. In Maranello, we are working on solutions that can guarantee a better power delivery and better driveability, but also on the aerodynamic're trying to improve the efficiency of the car. The data collected in the race today will reference a view of the important audit program that we have planned for the test which will be held in the coming days right here at Sakhir. "
aha! one can say with some justification that after twenty-one consecutive years of futility from 1979-2001, Luca was responsible for Ferrari's ascension to F1 domination, five consecutive world driver and constructor championships with Michael and Ross Brawn, and, with Kimi in 2007, six such in eight years. And in 2008 Felipe did lose his WDC bid by a single point when Ferrari also won the Constructor's championship. But what have you done lately? Without the best driver of this generation - IMHO - Ferrari would have been even further out of contention during these last few years.
Ross Brawn, one of his real talents is that he can walk into a team and get the best from every single person in there. It is hard to find somebody to fill his shoes, perhaps impossible. I am not sure that Bernie would let Ross to go back to Ferrari.
The chassis and aero have been bad for years, that is nothing new. Now that the power is low, the true nature of the car has been revealed. A POS. And changing drivers would do nothing to solve this. This is a technical problem, not a driver talent problem. -F
My suggestion... hire Flavio Briatore immedately to run the Ferrari team. Lets bring in some hookers and cocaine. That will get them up and running. We've got nothing to lose at this point.
They badly badly need to part ways with Alonso. Alonso may be one of the best drivers on the grid, but when I watch the team dynamics involved him, its not a good situation. Nothing has changed since he crapped Hamilton's qualifying, little things like that to bring down his teammate are still going on every GP. You need a driver that builds the team up, and tries to extract the best, not just insure they are #1 in a small fish bowl with two drivers, instead of #1 in the whole freakin' fish pond. Secondly - bring in a Sebestian Vettel - a driver with promise that only has 1-2 years in F1, maybe even only 2-3 years in formula racing. This will motivate Kimi to bring the best out. If you get a scrappy driver that didn't have the $$$ for a championship ride - but has the talent, even better. Look at how much better DR is than MW. Hulkenburg may have been in F1 a little too long for it to work. Since I do not see the engineering side at work, I cannot comment. They've been building very good cars consecutively, and it looks to me like they have a good car, just down on power.
So you'd trade Alonso for Vettel and keep Kimi? That's preposterous, Alonso is wiping the track with Kimi. They aren't getting it done because the car isn't fast enough and hasn't been for a few years now, plain and simple. "Team dynamics" or however you want to put it is hogwash. This is a sport not a love fest and many teams have done well with two competitive drivers. Even when Senna and Prost imploded, the team won the title. Same with Red Bull the past few years. It's all down to the car in Ferrari's case.
Since about 2009ish. Speccy Domenicalli has no real control over the team...They need a proper leader. He's not bad but he's not a person they need in control right now. Jean Todt is out of the question, of course. Ross Brawn is jobless at the moment so perhaps Ferrari should take him away from the job center and get him to run the team properly...I think he'll steer the team in the proper direction. Look where Mercedes is now!
I said "A" Sebastian Vettel - not "The". Aside from correcting that wrong perception of my post - no point in me arqueing as you see the races through different eyes. If you notice, I do not deny Alonso is one of the best three, maybe two drivers in the grid, however, there are things I acutely notice he does that will keep Ferrari mired. The topic is about a "reset button" and replacing Alonso with a near rookie to F1 is certainly a reset...
The problem with your solution is that the issue isn't with the drivers. As far as I'm aware, no driver actually designs the car. Ferrari has technical issues and that's pretty clear to anyone. What exactly do you see him doing that will keep Ferrari "mired"? As far as I'm aware he hasn't brought anyone to the team other than his physios which everyone brings.
Best idea, ever. If you can't win, at least put on a good show and have fun doing it. I would watch! Hookers and blow. Always a good option to boost morale.