RE: 'Rubens could have stayed'
Friday 5th August 2005
'Rubens could have stayed'
So says Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo
'Rubens could have stayed', Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has hinted, saying that Barrichello was offered a multi-year contract. We hear that Brazilian driver Barrichello left of his own accord, fed up with the focus of the red team's entire focus on world champion Michael Schumacher.
Barrichello's disgust was contained when the team was doing well. But with the red cars languishing third in the constructor's championship, over 30 points behind the leader Renault -- not a position to which it's become accustomed in recent years, though that would have been a good result in the 1980s -- it's clearly time to move to BAR-Honda and let replacement Sauber's Felipe Massa have a go.
Discussion
I'm a bit surprised he didn't "walk" after that disgrace of an episode in the Austrian Grand Prix a few years ago where he was apparently ordered to slow down and let Schumacher win.
For Ferrari, it still would have been a 1 - 2 finish so their constructor's points wouldn't have been affected. I wonder what would have happened if Reubens ignored them and crossed the line first?
First place finishes need to be earned and not ordered!
For Ferrari, it still would have been a 1 - 2 finish so their constructor's points wouldn't have been affected. I wonder what would have happened if Reubens ignored them and crossed the line first?
First place finishes need to be earned and not ordered!
T5-R makes a good point here. I have always believed that the constructor should ONLY be interested in the constructors championship. Instead we see the constructor influence the drivers championship. This is very wrong and should be outlawed (and policed). Let the drivers race.
It should not matter what order the constructors cars finish in.
That would go at least some way to restoring some viewer confidence in F1
It should not matter what order the constructors cars finish in.
That would go at least some way to restoring some viewer confidence in F1
kitcarnewbie said:
Be interesting to see who else is driving for BAR Next year. And if Rubens is number 1 or number 2 driver.
Well my vote, for some time, has been Ruby and Button.
Without team orders.
2006 could be the next 1988!
Unless of course Mclaren get thier reliability sorted then you could have the same thing with The Kimster and Burger Boy.
The question should not be whether Ruben's is right to stay or leave but more is he really capable of consistently winning races and challenging for the World Championship...
He has performed well and done an excellent job as the No.2 driver, fulfilling that role perfectly and helping Ferrari to a record sequence of Constructors Championships.
However, taking on the mantle of the No.1 and being the main focus of a team, expected to deliver race after race is a completely different proposition...
There have been other examples of fine No.2 drivers failing to make the top grade and deliver the ultimate results when presented with the opportunity...
There really are only a handful of drivers in F1 today that can hold a candle to the drivers in former years.
Unfortunately, as much as I would love to see Ruben's getting revenge and beating Michael and the rest of the F1 grid on a regular basis, I don't think (a) there's a No.1 driver's position available to him, and (b) even if there were and it was a competitive car that he could really deliver the goods...
Remember there's Alonso, Raikkenen and Schumy...
And I don't include Jenson because for all the hype surrounding him, he doesn't have the ultimate killer instincts of a true champion, either....
He has performed well and done an excellent job as the No.2 driver, fulfilling that role perfectly and helping Ferrari to a record sequence of Constructors Championships.
However, taking on the mantle of the No.1 and being the main focus of a team, expected to deliver race after race is a completely different proposition...
There have been other examples of fine No.2 drivers failing to make the top grade and deliver the ultimate results when presented with the opportunity...
There really are only a handful of drivers in F1 today that can hold a candle to the drivers in former years.
Unfortunately, as much as I would love to see Ruben's getting revenge and beating Michael and the rest of the F1 grid on a regular basis, I don't think (a) there's a No.1 driver's position available to him, and (b) even if there were and it was a competitive car that he could really deliver the goods...
Remember there's Alonso, Raikkenen and Schumy...
And I don't include Jenson because for all the hype surrounding him, he doesn't have the ultimate killer instincts of a true champion, either....
T5-R said:
I'm a bit surprised he didn't "walk" after that disgrace of an episode in the Austrian Grand Prix a few years ago where he was apparently ordered to slow down and let Schumacher win.
For Ferrari, it still would have been a 1 - 2 finish so their constructor's points wouldn't have been affected. I wonder what would have happened if Reubens ignored them and crossed the line first?
First place finishes need to be earned and not ordered!
I think he was waiting for Cobblers to retire.
Was Ruben's move to Ferrari that bad? After all, he's won 9 or so GPs and maybe he knew that Schumacher's period of domination would mean that in any other team he'd win nothing. He's earnt good money too.
By the way, check out Lego's Ferrari rostrum pack - the legoman representation of Rubens really does look like him! Well worth the fiver it costs to buy it!
By the way, check out Lego's Ferrari rostrum pack - the legoman representation of Rubens really does look like him! Well worth the fiver it costs to buy it!
rubystone said:
Was Ruben's move to Ferrari that bad? After all, he's won 9 or so GPs and maybe he knew that Schumacher's period of domination would mean that in any other team he'd win nothing. He's earnt good money too.
By the way, check out Lego's Ferrari rostrum pack - the legoman representation of Rubens really does look like him! Well worth the fiver it costs to buy it!
For anyone that hasn't seen them...
aeropilot said:
Well, BAR have finally offically announced the worst kept rmour in F1 of the past few months....
But who will be Rubens's team mate is goning to be the next question. Doubt if that one will be known until long after the season ends.
I reckon that Honda would want Sato over Button.
>> Edited by .Adam. on Tuesday 16th August 20:23
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff