If this Todt thing is true, we will see once and for all if Massa is there because of Massa or if he's there because of Todt.
1) Tire regulations? Silly answer Ted. The car was a known crap commodity. But then somehow Renault had a chsasis that didn't have trouble with the new tires. Guess their chief engineer was better than Brawn. 2) Massa being hired affected 2006? Now you are really stretching to make your point. This makes no sense. Massa being hired had nothing to do Schumacher's not winning the championship. Ferrari suffered a major set-back inthe spring with the destruction at the wind tunnel, never caught up. Michael's chances were stopped when the reliable Ferrari engine blew up. And gee, somehow Michael thought enough of Massa to take him under his wing and teach a thing or two. 3) Yes 2007 was a miracle. You can not take away Raikkonen's earned WDC by blaming it on anyone or anything at McLaren. Kimi won it on the track. All championships are won because the other team made some sort of mistake. Like the one Ferrari made with a bad design in 2005 and 2006. Please remember, the chassis for a following year does not somehow appear magically in January. The program starts in June or July. Guess who was still there in June-December of 2006? Ross Brawn. Who do you think approved that silly long wheelbase that proved to be problem? 4) You are right, Stephneygate would not have happened if Brawn was at Ferrari in 2007, because there would not have been the issue of promotion within Ferrari that took place because of Brawn's leaving. That internal promotion, that Stephney thought he deserved, was the reason behind his industrial defection. No one would have stopped what Stepheny did. To say that it would not have happened under Brawn's supervision is a real stretch. 5) That comment about Schumacher being number one driver in 2005 and 2006 makes no sense. The fact that he is still the best ever, explains how he took a completely crappy car, the design of which Brawn supervised, and still managed to be competitive in some races in2005 and 2006. The car ws crap, that is fact. I think Michael Schumacher needs no defense, his show in Spain last fall pretty much puts any question as to his ability to rest. I do not understand your point about there being two #1 drivers at Ferrari to start the 2008. I agree that is the case. I never said anything that would suggest Massa will always be a #2, because I do not believe that. Keep mind an important fact worth repeating, Massa saved Ferrari's image for the first half of the season, while Kimi tried to figure out his new ride. Massa made no mistakes as serious as Hamilton's, he did not stuff his car into a wall as did Raikkonen and Alonso. If it were not for the mistakes by his own crew, Massa would have made it a 4 way battle for WDC the last 2 races. At the end of the season, he led race fact lap by 1. Seems only logical that one with both eyes open would see this kid has the talent. Personally, I am glad Ross Brawn is at Honda. I like the current chain of command at the Scuderia. And Todt's departure, whenever it is, will have no effect on Ferrari F1.
During those championships you mentioned, Todt was at the helm, Schumacher was driving, Brawn was chief engineer. In 2007, Todt was at the helm, Kimi won the WDC on the track not by default, and Brawn was gone. Seems like Ferrari is doing and will continue to do just fine without Brawn.
Last year I watched the Monaco GP with Signor Secchi and is one of the nicest guys I've met. He is a longtime F1 broker who has put many F1 teams in alliance ($) with many major sponsors. (AMD/Ferrari) He's been around F1 for 30yrs. I also spent some time with the Abu Dhabi Theme Park gentlemen (nice guys) as they were also there. BTW, Signor Secchi is a huge Gilles Villeneuve fan !
I think it should be made clear, once again, that Kimi won the WDC because of; 1; Mclarens bad luck and/or decisions. or 2; Team orders at Ferrari. You get to choose. No incorrect answer.
The fact is, Massa was in the middle of the pack at times when Michael was up front trying to handle the Renaults. You admit that Massa has improved over the years, so do you concede that he didn't do as well as Rubens probably would have? I say again, you've made the point that Massa has improved, so thus he didn't do as well as the car was capable of doing in at least the first half of the 2006 season. Also, just because Michael helped a nice guy who both realized his number 2 status, and was lacking in abilities, doesn't mean anything more than just that. You also made the point that "Massa earned his seat" which is frankly laughable, and if you honestly believe he got that seat in 2006 due to strictly his abilities, then you're just to biased to debate with.
absolutely sir... circumstances and the right connections got Massa into the second seat... he did NOTHING to show the world of F1 that he 'earned' it based on his driving ability. and sure, perhaps he's improved, but the blind bias doesn't take into account how much a top level car has 'improved' him...
I don't know whether it's still the case, but when F1i.com was started it was owned and run by Nicholas Todt. Seems a strange place for this story to break...
There were strong rumours of Todt losing a power struggle about three months ago and being out before the start of the season and the above may or may not be connected - and would ensure the continued Ferrari bias at the FIA exemplified by the new chief steward of F1 having for many years had his offices in an FIA building in London and whose only other significant client apart from the FIA is Ferrari apparently
If only 5% of these allegations are remotely true, there'll be a few smiles in Woking......and elsewhere! Elsewhere.... Raikkonen was the class of the field in '07. Massa is a capable, competent no 2 - just like Coulthard, Watson and Barrichello
I just spent an hour searching all the F1 news sites(over 25 of them) and there is absolutely nothing there.
This thread should be closed and the title changed until there is a verifiable source that proves that this is true.
I am mystified .....usually Martins sources are good. If there was anything there it would have leaked out somewhere today. .......strange.