Another Mercedes title due to Ferrari incompetence.... I imagine toys being thrown out of a pram, team poorly managing it's drivers (i.e. letting them race each other too long, not backing the fastest driver early, whoever he may be, etc)
I took a lot of flak here for saying that Ferrari isn't the best organisation. I don't know if Binoto will change things, but already there are signs of weakness. Also, why Vettel keeps spining all the time? Ferrari seems to have a better car this year, but they were in a better position at this stage last year.
How much longer will Ferrari favor Vettel in a 50:50 situation with Chuck? Or based on Chuck ignoring team orders in Bahrain, has that strategy already been thrown out the window?
I think they could maybe enforce retirement of the worst placed car at say 60% or 75% race distance to reduce the chances of tripping over people, and maybe the big three or four teams would help run a third car for customer teams for the benefits of testing engines etc? Then again, if you have to be top three in constructors to get it, that’s an extra incentive, and I’m sure tv and crowds would like the excitement of watching three interteam drivers battling to not be third at the cut off?
Ferrari hasn't been a strong organisation since montezemelo started meddling. If he had let Brawn/Todt and co continue on as they where doing, I'm confident we'd have had 2008 in the pocket as well. All bets are off for the 2009 car but for sure they'd have established a stronger work ethic to fix the problems post that year. Binotto has a lot on his plate and all quite sudden so willing to give him some slack. Vettel spinning I've raised several times now...in any case it's NOT good.
Perhaps I was not clear. My statement is that what Mick Jr has shown is more or less what Stroll had shown prior to F1, ie, an above average driver but clearly not at the same level as Verstappen, for instance.
Kimi was not even treared fair in his time at Ferrari, so it would suggest why he seems lack of motivation if you do not have the team to support you. In the end, Kimi is the one who won “last” driver championship till now in red
Back on topic - given a straight choice between Kimi and Vettel I would be very surprised if the majority vote supported Kimi. He’s had his day and made a ton of cash. But he’s history and the current driver pairing of vet and leclerc is, to be fair, very strong.
Fascinating how the entire Italian press is now saying what I said since the Melbourne GP: Make Leclerc #1 Vettel does not deserve #1 status if he is constantly slower than Charles. Just makes no sense.
I totally agree. He did win a World Championship -but it was a lucky win... and his motivation seems to have dropped from there.... I just don't see why he's so popular vs. Vettel other than his quirky personality... which again I don't really see much in. when you meet Riakkonnen - he's not much... there is just that blank stare... Vettel is by far the better driver.
Totally disagree I'll go for experience over youth any day. Leclerc is very good, and he needs to settle in ... He's undoubtedly going to be a world champion.... I just don't see him as the guy to beat Mercedes... Vettel is just not happy with the car... its Ferrari's job to get him happy with it.
You could always make a poll. IMO option Kimi is the better leader and the better mentor. And given the motivation probably the better driver. Who knows how many he would have won were he given proper support and not have been forced to be Vettel's wingman?
It's Vettel's job to make the most of what he's given. And he usually makes the least of it. Quit pampering his derriere and start demanding results. He's being paid a fortune for Christ's sake. It's Ferrari's job to give him the best car they can. And his job is to make that car a winner- not a spinner.
In Australia he was slower, in Bahrain faster and in China they were equal... I do not see how Leclerc is "constantly faster"...
Not constantly (yet) but IMO demonstrably the equal or superior right out of the box. Let them race and let's see what happens.
If not for team orders, Vettel would have finished behind Chuck. Once Vettel was gifted a pass in front of Chuck, he couldn't close on Bottles and was only good at locking his wheels.
Oh, don't impress me now with those big words. I'm still trying to figure out what the "undercut" is...
