Mercedes brought Lauda on board to deal with drivers and sponsors.... he failed at Jaguar as the hierarchy was too distracted. Dr Z at MB and Lauda had a clear unfiltered relationship and it made sense. Lauda was the board's eyes ears on the ground. I'm not suggesting that people will do nothing at Ferrari with Todt on board, but the opposite.... what will he contribute other than access to players at MB - FIA, etc...? he's not a driver, or designer. He's a manager and former Rally co-pilot. as a consultant on what? how to cheat better? it's not like he is going to have a better or more clear interpretation of the rules... so what will he do? He cant really help the drivers much - even Lauda could help only a tiny bit with politics around driving ... but Todt I believe would only be there as a figurehead - hope and reach back to nostalgia which for whatever reason the Italians love. I have no personal dislike of Todt - I think he is if anything the one who kept the Italians out of the F-1 team and allowed them to be great... but even that could last only so long. and I love Italy - and the Italians they are great people, but the history of Ferrari shows that nationalism combined with reverence of Ferrari just does not work well. I think Elkan is a smart guy... but not sure that Todt is the right way .... unless he is to be Elkan's eyes and ears daily ... and its a way to assert total control... then it makes sense. the team won only when the leader made clear decisive decisions - Enzo, Di Montezemolo.... that's it. Enzo only when he had a puppet at the races that gave him real feedback... same for Montezemolo.
His body language during the interview he made with the French Television was absolutely telling us something completely different..
No clue how Todt coming to Ferrari are gonna make anything better for the Scuderia. They need really talented engineers all round.
Respectfully disagree They hired more than 40 specialists the last two years coming from different places. They ABSOLUTELY need a strong political force with them.
Binotto this weekend seems very happy and optimistic.. Really really hope next year we will have a good package. It’s time for Tifosi to talk about their favorite team instead of the duel MB/RB alone.
Look forward to that. I would love to have more talks about Leclerc and Sainz. I'm also curious to see who handles the new car better. Sainz did quite a job this year for the team. Leclerc, while unlucky, can be dropped into disappointing this year. New car, younger driver more capable to adapt, proven ability, and more tells me to consider him a long shot bet for the overall win. Just like I picked Max this year!
Yes, hats off to Carlos, quite the point scoring run. Binotto achieved his objective as best of the rest. Next year we must be best of the best.
So, Ferrari has two experienced and competitive drivers. And they know how to build engines...even hybrids. Now they need a visionary designer like a Newey, and an inspiring and smart team leader like a Brawn when he led Ferrari. Like him or hate him, it doesn't matter, but Toto has put together the best overall team. Zak Brown has been rebuilding McLaren. Ferrari must have someone as strong to make all the pieces work together, and that is what it will take to compete with Red Bull and Mercedes. The big question I have is what will each team bring in terms of the car to 2022? Aren't they all basically starting from scratch? How will the change in wheel size change how the cars feel to the drivers? I don't know what has been going on inside the Ferrari factory for next year...maybe they already have a home-grown star, and they are creating a masterpiece. But they still need team leadership and I'm not convinced that Binotto is it.
Exactly. It was great to see Carlos on podium yesterday. Charles had an off race. It would be so nice to watch these two flourish in a powerful car.
Too bad about the dumb wheel covers. Between these and the curvy wings, these cars will be a bit of a joke.
I don’t mind the rules improving racing e. g. the rear wing washing dirty air upward. I do not want rules to impede innovation.
It’s the stylized wings and curved transitions of the wing mainplane to end plates which look contrived and cheap that bothers me. I suppose imposing these shapes reduces the number of possible designs to create and control vortices, so less chance for bigger teams to outspend smaller teams but it does take away the scope for innovation. Also, I don’t know hair those shapes are defined but I’d like to know how they’re going to control them. Won’t be easy.
Yes precisely. I’m not sure the shapes will stay the same. I know F1 has said that they expect different looks. I think the show car was stylized to get attention. When the teams are all function over form they’ll hopefully look different.
Yes, agree about the rest of the car but I think those stupid wings are controlled by detailed regulations. Also, why are the front wings still as big and wide as a cowcatcher on a train? The damn things are always breaking at the slightest touch because they’re so vulnerable. Why not make them shorter span so protected by the tires?
Will 2022 be his last though and moved aside for Mick? It seemed that way over summer of this year, but if Sainz continues to do well it would be a bad move to let him go imo.
Replacing Sainz with Mick Schumacher? Absolutely no interest. Mick is a nice guy but far from being Michael.
