Michael & Kimi.......

the latest gossip on Kimi & Michael @ Ferrari next year: http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns15809.html

yikes! that could cost them >$100MM just in salaries......

I think Ferrari needs to field a new car design first, else neither Michael or Kimi will be very happy or do much for the Scuderia.....

 

Dont know how much sense it would make for Kimi to jump from McLaren which is clearly on the up to be with Ferrari which is clearly on the down.

BHW

 

Everything changes dramatically with the V-8 engines. I don't think this year's results will have much to do with next year's projected strong teams. We do know that Ferrari has been working on the 2006 car since July/August.

 

Last year McLaren spent much of their resources building a new facility. This year bore the fruit. I expect next year to be more of the same.

 

If such a thing were even allowed by Michael, which it wouldn't because he likes slow teammates, it would have happened this year. It would be Kimi instead of Massa. I think it's safe to dismiss the whole story as BS. I really don't think he'll go to Ferrari at all.

 

The other thing that would be on the minds of Kimi and Alonso is that when Michael goes a lot of the top team will change - Brawn, Byrne, etc. Thus will that weaken Ferrari in future?

If Michael is going to stick around to 2008 (doubtful in my mind even though Weber seems to thinks so), then yeah maybe Kimi and Alonso would relish a fight and try to beat the gently ageing maestro in 2007.

Alonso has less of an incentive to move - he has a youngish team behind him in Renault. He has built himself a comfortable groove in a excellent performing team. The thing to drag him from there is a Michael like salary offer from Ferrari.

Kimi knows he has a unreliable but good car. Thus the next half years performance is critical. If he senses wasted opportunities like this year then he may sign with Ferrari for 2007 no matter what. On the other hand if McLaren dominates then he too will not move. Thus Ferrari will be starved of the best drivers.

In fact I hope it doesnt happen but my doom and gloom moody side seems to think that Ferrari's biggest problem in the future will be an inability to attract the top drivers. Hope I am proved wrong

 

Weber never said MS will stick around for 2008. He said *IF* MS sticks around, then... Big difference.

Renault probably calls it quits in 2007 so Alonso has a big incentive to move.

Kimi is getting antsy at McLaren. Who knows what klunker they'll give him next year?

So all in all I wouldn't just deny such speculation. But the one reason it won't happen for 2006 is that MS only accepts dogs as #2.

 

well, i seriously think kimi WILL go to ferrari after all, in 2008. whether or not schumi is there or not

 

Don't think Kimi will be joing Ferrari while Schumi is still in the team may be after MS has retired or moved on!

 

Kimi to Ferrari in 2007. He won't stay at Mc because they break to much and he will love the chance to be a team No1 rather than equal as he is at Mclaren

 

Hey McLaren is the same team that won 15 out of 16 in 88 and dominated for years till Mansell won. I wouldn't be so hasty to write them off. When they get it right they get it very right, and if they do next year and Kimi is in it or the world champ, he won't go anywhere. Whoever Ferrari's number one driver is after MS will have one hell of a time trying to get the car into championship form. Many people will retire with MS and the team will be in rebuliding mode. It will not be as easy as just add Kimi or Alonso and go. The reason Ferrari has been competive is mainly because of the people brought in from the old Benneton team including MS. Before that they were as disorganised as an F1 team could be. The next number 1 driver will have a boatload of money in his pocket but also have a boatload of work in front of him.

 

I think Ferrari are going to re-sign Massa next year during the season. He is 24 and has tested for Ferrari in the past. If he matching MS's pace or is just a bit slower than Schu (At his first year with Ferrari remember) Ferrari will keep him. First of all I can't Ferrari get rid of Massa (if he's doing good)for Mr. Special "Rossi".

Now...if Raikkonen wants to join Ferrari and MS wants to stay. Get rid of Massa that's okay. But honestly I don't think MS will accept the challenge.

 

Kimi and Alonso both need to stay where they are as I suspect that both of their teams will be whipping up on the red team for several years to come..

 

People who start these rumors always make the mistake of assuming that every driver wants nothing more than to drive for Ferrari. And that they are merely filling seats until the Scuderia decides to call them up and pluck them from their lower-class ranks, saving them from a life among the swine. Here's the reality: like speedysam (and myself often before) said, Ferrari is headed for a lot of change, not to mention they're currently fighting it out for 3rd best team on the grid. Save all the posts about passion and so on. If I were a driver, I'd probably want to drive for Ferrari. But neither Kimi nor Alonso, from what I've been able to tell of him at least, are Jean Alesi. They make decisions with their heads, not their hearts. Though they're young, they also know that there are no guarantees in racing and that you have to go for it when you can. Do you really think for a minute that either one of these guys would want to deal with the unknown at Ferrari, all the while saddling on the mantel of "Next Schumi" and being largely responsible for carrying an entire entity into the next generation? Hell no. They want to win, and win now. Ferrari always was and always will be the spirit of F1, but it's time to accept reality folks. Ferrari has had a terrific run of success, but they've already entered into the "rebuilding" phase.

 

Let's get right down to it....

Ferrari had a bad year after dominating the sport the last 5/6 years; 10 year old Hyundais were more reliable than the McLaren-Mercedes and now that MAYBE the MB V-10 was starting to get it together in terms of reliability, that motor has to get ****-canned because of V-8s; Renault simply took advantage of Ferrari's lack of pace and McLaren's lack of reliability. Toyota was quick in qualifying and everyone else in the field was an also-ran, including Williams-BMW.

Can't wait for the first race next season, although I'm not a fan of V-8s.

If Ferrari has a slight advantage it is in Paolo Martinelli-best engine man in F1.

 

Great post.

I know another Jean Alesi and that is Giancarlo Fisichella, who would anything to drive for Ferrari. People say he is not wanted at Ferrari.

 

I'm curious as to how you think Fisi would have done alongside RB for the last 4 years at Ferrari ?

 

Alongside MS you mean?
If so...well I don't think he would have beaten Michael. But I beleive he would have done better than Rubens. Alongside RB....GF would have done better no doubt about it.


Italians like hot blooded, passioned drivers.
Jean Alesi was like that. Only got 1 win (Montreal 95, I will never forget how incredible it was). His passion for Ferrari made him do the biggest mistake of his life when he choose to drive for the Red team rather than Williams. Alesi let his heart rule his head. But he was so fun to watch and I'm sure he doesn't regret it.

Fisichella's dream is to drive for Ferrari + he is italian. Fans would have gone crazy.....
The italians know that MS is the leader of this team. I would guess Fisi would have had less pressure from the italians? I can just imagine Fisi winning the Monza GP.
I keep hearing that if GF would had stayed with Sauber this year and destroying Massa once again, Ferrari would have signed him.
I'm not so sure about that...I think he is wanted that's all. Weird..

 

He would have held down the #3 driver slot capably behind Rubens. Rubens cant do the #1 himself so the post is left honorably unfilled.

 

GF has fallen to pieces next to Alonso in a non-Italian car. In an Italian car he would done a good Woody Allen impression of a frantic man

 

well, i remember reading somewhere, todt was saying that fisi's never gonna drive for ferrari...ever...not sure why tho..