I was surprised that the loss of the WDC didn't cause a major heads rolling at the Scuderia, but the day isn't over yet: Horner: Geheimtreffen mit Ferrari in Maranello? | Automobil | MOTORSPORT aktuell Many different angles in this story: Allegedly Horner had a meeting in Maranello with HR. One reason would be to replace Domenicali. But that's not all or the only reason. The articles speculates, that Ferrari did that on purpose knowing full well the meeting would leak to the press and thereby cause a stir at Red Bull. Another angle is that Horner's contract is tied to Newey's: Meaning one goes where the other is going. Finally the article mentions that Domenicali has been having talks with German car manufacturers currently not in F1 (VW? Audi? Porsche? BMW?). Personally I'm not hot about Horner. But if he brings Newey with him, then I'm all for it.
I can see Domenicali leaving, but I'm betting Horner and Newey are getting more than enough $$, not to mention all the rest, to stay at Red Bull...
Domenicali and Horner are probably both going to Mercedes. After all, they're hiring every other current and former Technical Director and Team Principal in the field!
Horner may be tempted but I can't say the same about Newy. IIRC, Newy has always been a man of his own mind. He openly rebelled against Frank Williams and criticized him for not signing a British driver after Mansell was forced out/left. He openly supported Hill and was again, unhappy with FW's continueing snob of Hill and left the outfit for McLaren. While at McLaren, he made no bones about wanting to move to Jaguar with Rahal and to do things on his own terms which he eventually did with Red Bull. IMO, he has accomplished enough and has no real need to move to Ferrari and be put under a huge among of pressure and living under a microscope. Newy moving to Ferrari would be like Ron Dennis becoming team principle at Ferrari or anywhere except McLaren. Not impossible but extremly unlikely. With that said, I would be happy to see Newy at Ferrari just because he is so dame good at it. Just like back in the 80's, regardless how much I "hated" Senna, I would have loved to see him at Ferrari just so that he will stop beating up on them every single weekend.
+1 won't happen, Newey is too independant, he'll go to Force India before Ferrari. Horner doesn't so much matter. Great post.
Newey's got three championships with RB on the back of one idea. The recent non-implementation of rules by the FiA made it all possible for him IMO. Also, people should remember he created a few dogs at McLaren. I wouldn't want Newey at SF. If we were going to dig into the past I'd resurrect Rory way ahead of AN. That said, we need to look to the future, the next Rory so to speak.
I read that Newey didn't want to work for Ferrari because he didn't want to move to Italy - which was a stipulation by the team when he was previously invited. Money wasn't the issue, it's that Newey is happy living where he is. I doubt he'll leave the comfortable setup at Red Bull. I can't see Horner leaving Red Bull either. Really, if Domenicali leaves or is demoted, I cannot think of any two people less likely to join the Scuderia than Newey and Horner. All the best, Andrew.
+1 Maybe Newey has gotten bored and wants a new challenge. Personally, I'm fine with Domenicali for now.
This is just smoke to sell newspapers....it will never happen. Than again, i would bet Alonso would never set foot at Ferrari but after he agreed to rat on mclaren and Santander ofered to pay for Kimi´s exit and Alonso´s in i guess Luca changed his mind...after all he could.t pass on the chance to bring down Dennis and still cash a lot of money.
+1 I guess these guys are as bored as us right now. I can't see one of the more recognizable guys in the pitlane cruising up to the HR department as implied! "Hi, I'm here to interview for Stefano's job". It would all be cloak & dagger stuff that would make Tom Clancy look like an amateur; Neutral ground, probably in a "neutral" country, under cover of darkness etc. How about he was there to visit a buddies birthday party or similar? I guess I could be wrong, but I've *never* heard of one guys contract being tied to another guys as suggested either. OTOH, I never though Toto would leave Frank...... Filling paper. Or wasting electrons anyway. Cheers, Ian
Actually that's not what the article stated. They met in Maranello. While I agree that this is not likely to happen, I do find the fact that Horner went to Italy pretty intriguing. He wouldn't do that just to sample the local wines.
Err; I understand you were just trying to do a quick translation for us, but you can understand where I got my take from!..... Social visit to some Ferrari buddies maybe? Cheers, Ian
Someone's views on Domenicali I quite agree with: Ferrari F1 Team Has Fallen Because Domenicali Should Be Bookkeeper, Not Boss | Bleacher Report
really? I wasn't. The team always was very realistic about their chances in 2012. The car started out awful yet Alonso seemed to be able to make best use of the circumstances. But chances of stretching this for so long that it would bring them the title, were always slim and they knew it. I also believe Domenicali handled the Massa-situation very well. I think many would have sacked Massa. I was even surprised Massa kept his seat failure after failure. Domenicali kept his calm and gave Massa the opportunity to come to grips with the F2012, knowing that in fact there wasn't really anyone available to do a better job. And Massa did actually improve his game. If he sustains that level he could be of very good use for the Scuderia in 2013 and we should feel relieved he isn't employed elsewhere.
anyone who believes the Ferrari F1 team has 'fallen' is really utterly and totally clueless about the current state of F1. Besides, one Flavio Briatore sold expensive sweatshirts before managing a Formula 1 team. He did pretty well.
I just don't see him worth of the most important job in the paddock and compared to Jean Todt's era, Ferrari has definitely fallen. He's just LdM's yes man and Pat Fry is already on his way to substitute him
Oh come on. Ferrari has had her days in the sun from 2000 to 2004. Just like Williams, McLaren have had their periods of success and Red Bull now has. To the topteams, those days come and go. Everyone knows that. In 2012 Ferrari came second while Alonso had a shot at the driver title right untill the final race. That is not a team that has fallen. That is a team that still has a pretty fair shot at winning. By the way, those days in the sun had very much to do with Bridgestone costumizing their tires to Ferrari's wishes. No other team had a 'private' tyre supplier. Ferrari did. Combined with Schumachers skills, one could argue that their winning ways had absolutely nothing to do with Jean Todt.
And one could argue that with Domenicali there would have been no Schumacher and no private tyre supplier.
