KIMI

No, I was talking about the period between Hamilton, Riccardo and Verstappen's stops and his own stop. That was the point when he needed to go fast enough to jump one or more of those three and instead was lapping considerably slower than Vettel. I was particularly watching the lap times at that point to see if he could get enough of a gap.

He made a mistake in qualifying (again), lost a place at the start (again) and didn't pump in the lap times in the race when he needed to (again). It isn't a question of expecting him to be faster or as fast as Vettel but he is paid millions and is a past World Champion and the question one has to be asking (and Ferrari are surely asking) is how many other drivers in that car on that day (potentially paid considerably less) could have finished where he did and how many could have finished higher than that and then the same question over the season as a whole.

 

Kimi is like Webber level bad at race starts

I think its time to put LeClerc in the other seat if we're serious about the WCC

 

Was very disappointed he couldn't even pressure Hamilton on 20 laps newer tires.

 

He makes too many mistakes. Should have been on the front row here and in Azerbaijan but F'ed up qualifying. He is horrific at races starts. not agressive at all. I can't remember the last time I saw him pass someone honestly.

He's a decent driver but his day in the sun is over.

 

Yap, Go for Ricci if you want to top drivers or for Leclerc if you want a more submissive driver..but it will only last a season at most, I thibk next year Charles can fight anyone on the field.

 

He had a brake overheating problem somewhere around this period as well. I don't know when it originated and when it was resolved, but the team did tell him after checking to simply ignore the message.

I agree that his qualifying at this race could be better, but not 1st row. Even with doing only the 1 lap, he was only .30 behind Vettel. His best, keeping in mind older engine and the performance of max and Bottas, was 4th.

 

He lost the one place to Ricciardo, just. Ricciardo started on the much better hypersofts.

Leclerc is great and a future great. But why would he play 2nd fiddle? Everyone knows Ferrari look out for number 1 only, and if Leclerc is as good as we think he is, he will NOT move over when asked. If he does he is not a world champion, simple as that.

 

he would jump at the chance to be in a Ferrari. I want Ferrari to win a WCC again as well as WDC and that ain't happening with Kimi

 

Come on Pedro. Ricci is top flight. He's a Vettel replacement not a back up. We'll have Vettel and Ricci fighting tooth and nail for each corner, meanwhile Verstappen and Elton, with their obedient teammates, will win the title underneath them. There'll be fighting on the track and outside of it. Ricciardo will not move over. Vettel will not move over. It'll be hell.

What Ferrari needs is a strategy team that doesn't appear to have brain damage. OR they need a car so good it's a second clear of the field and they can have Vettel and Ricci fight it out each weekend. But the latter is pretty unlikely to happen (or the former, come to think of it). Ferrari is quite simply not very interested in the WCC.

This forum is always the same ****. A few years ago people where so sure Grosjean HAD to be in Ferrari. Then it was Hulk. Then it was Sutil. Or whoever the ****. They are never happy because #2 doesn't finish directly behind #1. **** even with Kimi does finish behind Vettel, but some distance back, they complain.

Put Leclerc/Ricci in the car and watch the fireworks. And then watch the whinging on the forum about how Ferrari needs a #2 driver that's obedient and not one that's out there playing for himself. You're unlikely to find a better driver paring where in a WDC capable team where they get on with each other and there's no bad blood.

 

Leclerc would be the obvious choice...if you left it to Seb to decide. Would Seb allow a Ricci entrant into team red? Somehow I find that near impossible to believe, but would thoroughly enjoy it if it happened.

 

Leclerc wants to win. Do you really believe he'll be driving alonside Vettel but has to move over when ordered? I have no doubts on his talent. None. Go back into the forum and watch me wax lyrical about him.

 

As sad as it is for me to say, I agree. He's had a wonderful career and he should be very proud, but age catches up with all of us. Ferrari needs newer blood (literally).

 

When has Kimi ever had to move over for Vettel or Alonso? He's just not fast enough.

 

If Leclerc could beat Vettle, I don't think Ferrari would complain. They are happy to throw #1 under the bus if #2 is better.

 

Already happened when Massa was faster than Kimi in 2008/9

 

They often put Kimi on the slower strategy.

Monaco last year.

Hungary last year wasn't allowed to attack Vettel with a wounded car. So he played the excellent rear gunner.

I don't see there's anything wrong with having a 2nd fiddle for a 4x world champion. Especially one that keeps harmony within the team. No complaints to the press, ever. A rare thing and very useful. Kimi practically pays for himself in hat sales alone. He's very popular.

 

I'm quite sure Marchionne is impressed with those hat sales. He probably makes more on those than on Jeeps.

 

Don´t you think by now Seb could still beat Leclerc on its own without asking him to move over? And if in a few years Leclerc is consistently faster then it is simply Sebs time to move on...

 

What he said.

Kimi is never a factor. Even in the MSC years Rubens would be a factor if MSC had an issue. Again, he couldn't even pressure Hamilton's Merc when it was down on power and he had 20 laps fresher tires.

By Hungary last year he was out of the WDC picture so he needed to play rear gunner.

 

I agree. Consistently I'm sure Vettel is faster than Leclerc but there'll be times that for whatever reason, Leclerc will find himself ahead of Vettel. Fine if once, and would be great to see him get his first win (unlikely that'll happen in the Sauber)...but if it happens 3, 4 times? It could get very costly in the championship.

For a team fighting for with any other top team, I think the best way is to have a clear #1 and a clear #2. For Red Bull it's different, they are not really there on outright speed so they can have 2 fighters duel it out.

I hope Vettel becomes their next WDC, but if it doesn't happen, Ricciardo, Verstappen or Leclerc will be. I'd really love to see Ricciardo alonside Vettel but the fireworks would be incredible. And destructive inside the team. And we all know how well Ferrari handles chaos within....erm....

 

Having a Number Two playing rear gunner to the designated team leader isn't a bad policy.
It served the Scuderia well in the past, whatever the detractors say.

 

How many WCCs and WDCs have they won this decade?

 

Ricciardo and Vettel have been team mates already, and the Aussie got the upper hand convincingly that year - 3 wins.
I know it was the first year of the hybrid formula that required a different driving technique, but it was a shock to see the 4-time WDC outclassed that season. .
Maybe Ricciardo got under his skin and pushed Vettel to jump ship to try his luck at Ferrari?
I don't think that Vettel would like to repeat the experience to be compared to Ricciardo in the same team again.

 

This decade? Nil.

But you could say that Surtees, Schecker, Lauda and Schumacher benefited largely from having Number One status, and team mates often on a leash, to win their WDCS for Ferrari.

Bandini served Surtees well. Giles Villeneuve obeyed team orders and allowed Scheckter to win. Lauda was supported by Reggazioni.
I don't recall Irvine, or Barichello being allowed to challenge Schumacher.

The only season Ferrari departed from that tradition ended in disaster. The unchecked rivalry between G.Villeneuve and Pironi ended with one dead and the other crippled when he was leading the championship!

 

Yep, and though there where several contributing factors, Ricciardo showed he was definitely the real deal (and continues to do so). Hence why I think if Ricciardo would come to Ferrari it would be better if he replaced Vettel rather than join him.