POLL: Hamilton at the Scuderia - good news?

The point many are making that you are missing is that Hamilton is not a smart long term pick as he isn't the same driver he was years ago. Now if they would have been able to nab him five or more years ago I think we'd all be talking different. The question at hand is what does Ferrari gain long term from signing an aging driver who is at the end of his career? And we aren't talking about money or merchandising, I'm talking wins and WDC's. For years we heard he's the GOAT "it isn't the car" then the past few years all his stumbling was blamed on "it's the car". I guess we'll all know soon if maybe it's just a combination of the car and perhaps he is past his peak. Does he still have what it takes?

If he doesn't deliver as expected that pushes Ferrari's hopes of a Championship past 2027.

Ferrari is going to have to be 100% on point or have the FIA give them a (wink, wink) leg up because Lewis is going to need to have to start winning from day 1 without any excuse of the car or blaming other people for being "dangerous" as they pass him. That's without even considering the tension that will exist between him and Charles. They will be gunning to own the other all season, each wanting to be the #1 seat.

Lol, but hey, Ferrari is so well known for excellent strategy and management we need not worry. Right?

 

Especially if Red Bull keep their advantage. My hope is that Lewis has seen something to give him confidence that Ferrari are on the up, at least when compared to Mercedes.

It's the hope that kills you isn't it?

 

You make some reasonable points. I was getting frustrated that people seemed to be using Lewis's off track activities as a reason for objecting to him being a Ferrari pilot. Like you I don't care about the money side of things, although it seems likely that Ferrari will make more than they spend from this signing.

My hope is that a new team results in an invigorated Lewis. It could be good for Charles too (see the article below). I think this is a positive change and the current model hasn't been working. Hopefully with Fred, Lewis, Charles (and maybe Adrian Newey ) on the team things will start to be turned around and we will no longer be racing for the passion and the glory, but for actual wins and championships.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/hamilton-will-fight-leclerc-ruthlessly-which-ferrari-team-mate-has-most-to-gain/

 

Maybe Lewis will crash Max so a red car can win!

 

Let them race

 

Oh don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be reporting everyone for being “dangerous” if they pass him.

 

My reference to Pironi was due to him proving to be a self-possessed opportunistic weasel who’d ultimately split the team apart had Gilles survived. Not much else really …but let’s address the other stuff anyway.

1) Naturally Jacques would publicly state something to avoid any trouble for Didier’s remaining family members, therefore his comments validate not much of anything imho, other than concern and empathy.

2) The assertion Didier “would have been WDC” is glaringly myopic. Given that his inferiority drove him to openly disgrace himself to gain 3 points advantage in the early part of the season on an unsuspecting No. 1 teammate, he would never have won WDC had Gilles completed the season. Little bit of an elephant in the room, no? Just want to mention points-wise Pironi lost to Laffite when he was at Ligier and lost to Jarier when at Uncle Ken’s.

3) Always enjoy your informed comments.

 

I get your point.
Pironi was a divisive personality.
Without remorse ( as his private life also proved)
Nevertheless he was a very hard worker and an intellectually brilliant guy.
As evidenced by the drivers strike episode in Kyalami.
When he was driving on the track or on the road he did not know fear which is in my opinion a crippling flaw..
His fatal boat accident is the final consequence of this attitude..
Nevertheless I sincerely think that he would have dominated Gilles in 1982.
Only my opinion.

For the anecdote, did you know that when he was hospitalized in 1982 after his accident, Enzo Ferrari sent to him a statue of the prancing horse with the inscription:
The real 1982 world champion..

 

Do you know what happened to Didier Pironi's sons ?

Also, was he liked by other French drivers at the time ?

 

One of the twins is a F1 engineer, and was/is working at Mercedes Grand Prix.

https://www.grandprix.com/news/didier-pironis-son-on-silverstone-podium.html

Rgds

 

Smart, astute, political ; not « a natural » but very strong-willed: “He was the toughest team-mate I ever had,” says Laffite. “Better even than Keke [Rosberg], I think.”
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2000/60/didier-pironi-driven-to-destruction/

Rgds

 

My Didier Pironi moment: Watkins Glen, chilly Saturday morning practice he was driving for Ligier. I was standing on an oil drum down by the chicane. On his second lap, Didier caught too much curb on entry and spun the car. As it was spinning he was revving the engine in neutral or with the clutch engaged. When it was pointing straight he engaged second gear and took off. It was all in one continuous motion, like a pirouette. Beautiful.
On his next lap I waved a bit enthusiastically and he returned the wave. Pretty cool.

 

Thanks for sharing this anecdote !

 

Some already answered for the twins.
For the second question :
Pironi was openly disliked by Tambay or Arnoux two Gilles good friends.
Laffite not a friend but always admirative when talking about Pironi.
Prost absolutely neutral.
I clearly remember talking when I was young with the Ferrari dealer in Paris ( Pozzi) about the madness of both Gilles and Pironi.
They have both Ferrari 308 gtb as company car and they used to racing between Paris and Saint Tropez ..
The cars ended up with the engine or the gearbox absolutely destroyed.
Initially they were afraid of the reaction of Ferrari but apparently it amused Enzo who sent the spare parts without any recrimination..

 

I went to the Winfield School at Paul Ricard during the same year as Didier Pironi, although I can't say that I remember him. Maybe we crossed each other, or attended on different days. I have a vivid memory of Patrick Tambay though, the previous recipient of the Volant Elf, who was my instructor during some sessions.
Paul Ricard was a magnet for French drivers then, even between race weekends they used to meet there.
From a distance I watched them during breaks; they always seem to pick on poor Arnoux. I don't know why.

 

During the summer of 1981 they decided to make a boat race between saint tropez and corsica with their respective boats.
They sailed so fast they ran out of gas in the open sea..
The French Navy had to rescue them..
They were good friends before Imola 1982..
What a waste!

 

Well, all this discussion about Hamilton move to Ferrari, his motives, Ferrari's motives, right, wrong, etc, etc.
We are leaving an important discussion out.
Will the 2024 car be capable of winning? In Charles'hands or in Hamilton's hands ?

 

Sir Lewis Hamilton will join the team 2025.

 

Correct. Lewis joins in 2025 and Ferrari seem to be putting all their eggs in 2026 and the new rule set.

 

Yep, these 2 decidedly lived in the fast lane.

 

The only question that matters at all...................

 

So is every other team. This 24 cars are really being refined for minimal investment in 25. 25 is going to be static for development as the resources will be devoted early to 2026 new reg cars.

 

So, based on what I am reading, 2024 will be a boring uninspiring empty championship, except for ocasional dramas with Management reshuffles, awkward Hamilton vs Charles situations, etc?
All human dramas, because the cars will not change that much from 2023. Correct?

 

I don’t think so.
I hope we are in for some good surprises ( Ferrari)

 

Well hopefully the cars are more closely aligned with each other and we can see races won/lost purely by drivers.