From PaddockTalk: Paddock Observers Say Ferrari In Trouble For Monza Based on the outcome of the four-day test at Monza last week, McLaren look set to dominate the Italian grand prix this week on Ferrari's home soil. The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reports that the Maranello based team was surprised that McLaren fielded clearly the quickest car on the high speed layout. Ferrari reportedly rolled out a new aerodynamic package and a special new Shell oil at the circuit designed to boost horse power, but on all four days the revised F2007 failed to match the superior pace of its silver-coloured rival. "Ron Dennis mentioned in passing in Istanbul that he was really looking forward to Monza. Now it is clear why!" observed former F1 driver Christian Danner. At some points between Tuesday and Friday last week, even F1's third force BMW-Sauber seemed to be matching or beating Ferrari for pace. Triple world champion Niki Lauda, meanwhile, reckons there is no possibility that Ferrari was sandbagging during the Monza test. "No, I think everything can be taken as read," said the Austrian legend. "Ferrari were not playing around on full fuel tanks or anything." http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=65077&newlang=&topic=8&catid=0
i dont think ferrari are in trouble. i believe they got more then what they showed. we will see this friday during free practice. massa was only a tenth down on alonso's best time which was the fastest during testing and i believe ferrari were working on race pace not qualifying runs, but mcCheaters has always been strong at monza so it should be another good weekend. we should be able to fight for pole.
Right on the money. The difference was slim and the motivation is there, and McLiaren isnt exactly limping this year! FORZA FERRARI
The Monza test was not encouraging, but I'll start being worried after qualifying. The only times we saw published were each drivers BEST times, not his average time or anything like that. There have been plenty of times a testing session leader went on to do nothing in the race. Mark
I think all the top running teams should have to give their car diagrams and team stratagies for the year to the other teams then we will always have close racing by all teams not just Ferrari and McCheater.
Well Ferrari has been known to sandbag in practice, you can never really tell until Q2 or even Q3.........
Which one are you talking about Lauda or Danner? Can't tell whether you're joking or not. At any rate a McLaren 1-2 in Monza would be rather devastating for Ferrari. Moralewise and championship wise.
Christian Danner was a German F1 driver in the eighties. He is a pretty good guy who normally knows what he is talking about. Didn't have many results, but is good as a reporter
I think that the scuderia is already working on the 08 car and is kind of just trying to keep face this year. I just have the feeling that Ferrari, Renault and the McCheater team already have some idea (to say the least) about the outcome on the 14th. If McCheater know they are going to be stripped from the championships than it makes perfect sense for Alonshole to be looking around. Also it makes sense for Toyota to be trowing offers around, as they are going to try and take advantage of the situation. If Ferrari also think they are going to be given the championship as a gift, then it would make sense for them to turn all their attention to the next year's car. Look at what happened to Renault. And Flavio is saying that it is mainly because they trew everything they had in the current (for 06)car, in order to fight for the championship and they did not have the means or time to develop the new car.
I just hope that what has been happening in many other sports is not happening in F1. In many sports and it is so obvious in the NHL(hockey) that teams are taking turns winning the championship all because of the fans it draws into certain areas. It was very obvious that many were pissed when Ferrari was winning like nobodies business so they stepped in with that dumb 1 tire rule so another team could win and appease the other side(non tifosi). Then for some reason Renault drop right off the face of F1 after having such a power house car. Now BMW and or Toyota is coming on and I think thats great but I somehow think that the other teams have been told to spread the wealth and we will all be richer for it. I believe that MS was forced out because he didnt buy into this idea. The only way to get an acurate reading on what is really going on is to compare lap times over the years on the different tracks but now that is so hard becaue they are constantly making changes to the cars, tracks and rules. I wonder why. I believe that this sport will very soon be about the money and the glitz not which manufacturer is making the best cars for the track. Sad becuase it seems to work for them...Just check out the NASCAR stands. Pitty for the REAL race fans.
I believe that with your statement "very soon it will be about the money and the glitz..."you are totally right but just a little late. I think it HAS BEEN all about money and glitz since the early/mid 90s.
The sport has simply been about Bernies bottom line for many years now (hence why I hate him). There is no more contrived sport than F1 ... sorry to say it but whatever Bernie says goes. Bernie put MS in the Ferrari because he could see the $'s it would generate, and while it was exciting it soon became a bore ... hence exit MS, and gee we need a bit more of that British money, hence LH was pushed in to the McLaren team. He very much influences everything to do with F1, and is not in the least interested in the sport part. Pete
Yes its all a big wicked conspiracy , unfortunatly this thread will now self destruct so that this info can be contained. Damn ! Who spilled coffee on the self destruct button ? Everone just move along and please, lets just keep this to ourselves.
In case you want to brush up on F1: http://www.dukevideo.com/Cars/DVD/Formula%20One/F1%20History.aspx
