Interesting perspective... and I kind of agree: Vettel should go to Ferrari - Villeneuve | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video
Yes, either in place of Raikkonen or Alonso (whichever goes first I guess). Ferrari sooner rather than later does need a long term driver to carry the team for the next 8 years, no one better than a young quadruple champion. Alonso and Kimi have a few more seasons in them, but for proper long term and building a whole team around the driver (yet again), Vettel is perfect. When both current drivers are gone maybe they'll bump up Bianchi or Bottas to partner Vettel.
Considering his own career moves in Formula One, Jacques Villeneuve is not that well qualified to comment on who should go where, at what time... I like Jacques, always did, because he speaks his mind; he comments Formula One on the french TV, and frankly from time to time some of his comments leave you reeling: refreshing, but not always "spot on"... Rgds
I agree with you. "They" say that you really have no friends in F1 and that it's very much a "what have you done for me lately" sport with very little loyalty. Let's assume for a moment that Nico wins the championship and gets the team advantages that come with it... will that be fair considering Lewis had a car that couldn't finish the race twice? It's hard to win championships if you can't even finish a race. With Vettel, just think about the time lost in the car... the ability to learn the new car and get comfortable with it (which seems to be the issue beyond just the power unit lacking the needed performance). Vettel's DNF's have come early in the race. Simulators are fine, but race experience is what matters and he's had a lot less of it in this new package. So Marko tells him to "step up" or whatever he said. Step up to what? Give the guy a car that works... maybe he could. It just shows the ignorance that exists in racing... sort of like the out of touch CEO of a large company. If the team is now suddenly going to rally around Daniel and not put 100% into fixing Vettel's issues, I think he should leave. Maybe it could end up being a great move like what Lewis did. Everyone scratched their heads... look at him now. Maybe Ferrari could sort out their issues and Vettel could be in the perfect position again. At the same time, the team has to do everything they can to get points, so if Ric is the one getting them, I guess that's where the focus is going to be. I just think Vettel deserves their full on effort to give him a working car and one that suited to what he needs. I think he's earned that at least.
Ouch!! But you´re right, Villeneuve often is more worried about giving interesting headlines than about making sense. I think that Vettel at Ferrari only would make sense if Alonso quits. If not, he potentially only would be changing "being beaten by Ricciardo for a place in the podium" for "being beaten by Alonso for 5th". But I agree with Villeneuve in that maybe it´s time for Vettel to leave Red Bull: even if the team maanges to return to the top, something that remains uncertain, it seems that now he would have to face some internal opposition. If he really wants to quit maybe he should try the McLaren-Honda option: he could be there the undisputed number one and right now they´re not a lot worse than Ferrari.
Assuming Ferrari of course is still in F1 right ;-) (thread below) Maybe it is time for Vettel to shop around. It's always good to have options. But why just Ferrari? Really what could they offer him? I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm no fan of Fred but if HE couldn't make it happen there in recent years what chance did anyone else have? I'm not sure a new driver alone will make a huge enough impact to turn things around. Witness Kimi. The problems there seem to go beyond just having the right driver in the seat. As for F1 being a "what have you done for me lately environment" - well, yeah. Name a business that doesn't work like that? Teams are paid on constructer points. It's in their best interest to make things work. That being said, if one team member is delivering it makes sense to allocate more focus on them. I can't see the discussions at Red Bull being centered on purposely screwing Vettel. If the pendulum swung the other way, say Vettel gets comfortable in the car, it doesn't meltdown, etc and he takes more points, more attention will swing back to him.
If I was Vettel, I would leave. He has done everything a driver can do for a team. The only place to go is down. Ricciardo is the new golden boy...I would pull a MS and move to Ferrari, start fresh. Plus, Newey has a reduced role. That will play into things moving forward, I don't care what Horner says.
If he's not concerned about wining again, but if he want to win more races he better stay where he is.
I don't exactly buy the argument that they are focussing more on Daniel. Sure Daniel has had some good places but there is the law of diminishing returns; there is no way he would be able to score above third unless Merc has reliability issues. In terms of getting the most constructors points (and this money) they should put more effort on giving vettel a car that actually works. IMO favoritism plays no part unless one of the drivers is in the running for the WDC (which ricciardo isn't). Aside from the odd team order if one driver is on a different strategy I don't really believe ricciardo is the 'favourite'. Makes no sense for them to do so.
Deal already done IMO. I seem to remember Domenicali stating and later denying that the three people he called after resigning were Alonso, Raikkonen and Vettel? I also do believe Red Bull are favouring Ricciardo and understand now why all that chaos for his lost podium in Australia. Has Vettel got any agent? He certainly did not need one in the last 6-7 years coming from Red Bull's talent pool. But would Red Bull get any money from him signing a super lucrative contract with Ferrari?
Vettel is his own manager still. I'm sure he has a clause in his contract that among the lines of if Red Bull can't deliver a solid performing car he's free to leave (all top guys will have this contract...). The Red Bull itself might be 2nd/3rd best but Vettel's car most definitely is not. Interesting thoughts regarding RB favouring Ricciardo. Strange to me, but considering Marko's comments in recent weeks suddenly not out of the question.
Not sure Vettel is interested in joining a glamorous team. I bet he'd rather join a team where he can win races. I'm sure he's noticed Ferrari's form (or lack of) for the last few years as well as Alonso's struggles. Still not seeing why that would be an attractive option for a world champ who is seeking more.
Are you trying to say he is appositedly driving slow and not taking care of his car to get out of his team performance related contract? In that case I'd want him even faster at Maranello.
I think Seb would stay with red bull for another season, two reasons. First he seams like a racer, developing and winning in a car you help develop would give some satisfaction. Going to Mercedes would not silence the critics who say he had the best car for his titles. Second, he knows what red bull are developing, they are close to Mercedes and seem to be making progress. Also they appear to be working hard to catch up. The others maybe, maybe not.
I think Vettle at Ferrari is a good idea - but not the salvation that it may seem. I think both Alonso and Riakkonen are past it... Alonso I cant blame - always the brides maid... he needs to go to Redbull
How funny would that be if the swap seats and suddenly Ferrari gets their collective sh*t together and produces a great car and Vettel win the championship.
Who is talking about Mercedes? The topic is for Vettel to go to Ferrari and develop that turd into a championship winning car; and (in my opinion) a long term Ferrari/Vettel relationship.
