I hope so too as it would help Alonso in securing the title... Seriously no competitive Michelin team should switch now, makes no sense. Switching at the end of the season or now *if* you're not competing for the title, that would make sense. I like the news that Williams is going to switch: I don't think we'll have one tire supplier yet in 2006. I think the battle will continue, but now with an even number of teams and with Williams and Red Bull Ferrari two teams that can actually do some real testing over the winter and help the Scuderia spread the burden. PS: I'm with Rob on the Toyota question. They are faster than Ferrari currently. Ferrari was VERY lucky in the last two races, which made them look a lot better than they currently are.
I don't think anyone would switch. I doubt the top teams want to do Ferrari any favors. I think they'll get red bull because of the engine deal and probably lose minardi but who needs em anyway.....
If the Michelin tires are indeed much lighter than Bridgestone tires as rumoured, a switch would send McLaren, Renault et al back to where they belong - behind Ferrari
It's funny, a few weeks ago everyone wanted Ferrari to dump Bridgestone, now Michelin doesn't look too hot. Like I said before, have faith in Ferrari and the tires, the seasons got a way to go and we'll pull it together. I hope they don't deduct any more point from the no-ran teams, I want Ferrari to win the championship fighting!
Yes but what happens if we have more Michelin no starts or more tyre failures like RS's at Indy (note not like Kimi's as he caused that)? Kimi needs to get points, not waste time worrying about whether he will be allowed to race or not. That is my point. Michelin were good for the first few races, now they have over stepped the line and are CR@P!!!! and unraceable. Alonso and Kimi's WC asperations are going down the toilet thanks to Michelin! Pete
Their aspirations only go down the toilet if Mosley takes away some of their points and hands the title to Schumacher. Aside from that scenario the title will be decided between Alonso and Kimi (with Trulli having an off chance). So as far as Kimi or Mc Laren are concerned, they just need to make sure they use the same tires/strategy as the Renaults do. Let's be serious for a moment here: The Ferraris on Bridgestones are still good for sixth place, not for a win. Indy was unusual because of the high loads caused by the banking. I don't see any other track causing the same issue. Besides: I bet money Michelin have learned from this debacle and will not allow it to happen again.
To that would mean a beefier ie. heavier tire that would cause McL, Flavio's boys and Toyota etc to lose any advantage they have IMO.
Even if they would loose the advantage (which we as armchair referees can't say), it'd be still better to stay with your current tire supplier with whom you have amassed a ton of data in testing and for whose tire you designed your car. This is very similar discussion to what we had a few months ago when we all agreed Ferrari has to dump the Bridgestones: It ain't that easy as the car is built for a specific tire. To paraphrase Bridgestone: "And the discussion goes round and round and round..."
I disagree. look at Imola and the drives from the back of the grid (or even from the pitlane to the podium). A team that's only good for sixth place wouldn't be able to do that. Bridgestone and Ferrari have a very good race package IMO. It's the qualifying and first lap where they loose out on Michelin. I'm still confident that Ferrari can win races in the second half of this season. Ciao, Peter
Yes and no. You have a point about Imola. RB's charge from last to third in Canada I don't fully count because top 4 cars dropped out in front of them (hence leaving Rubens on 7). But much more important than what I think is what Michael himself had to say after Canada and it was basically that they're still not front runners.
I recall Schumacher saying that he thought he could win Indy on his (and Ferrari's) own merrit against the competition. Sadly he didn't get the chance to prove it. I believe he's gaining confidence and that it's not just PR talk.
Sounds good. Let's bring on Magny Cours and a real race! It'd be lots of fun to see Ferrari battle for the championship on the track. Not at the Place de la Concorde.
