Ferrari eyes third car for Schumacher 2010
Discussion
A push by Ferrari to allow teams to run three cars in Formula 1 next year could yet allow Michael Schumacher to return to the sport.
That was the firm hint dropped by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday night, just hours after Schumacher's F1 comeback was called off for now because of a neck injury.
Di Montezemolo believes that Schumacher has plenty to offer F1 still, even though he is 40-years-old, and he has said he will not ease off in his efforts to get the rules changed so Ferrari can run three cars next year - with Schumacher a possibility to fill for as many races as he wants.
In an interview that will appear in La Stampa on Wednesday, di Montezemolo said that there were clear reasons why Ferrari opted for its former champion rather than a young driver when it came to finding a replacement for Felipe Massa.
"Well we're talking about Michael Schumacher," said di Montezemolo. "He is 40 years old, but he's still from another planet.
"I prefer the champion, even if matured, to the mediocre driver, even if he's young. Our circus needed some great input.
"We're continuing to fight until every team has the right to start with three cars in the next season (and one I'd have handed over to Michael with pleasure). I prefer three McLaren and three Renault to three "whatevers". With BMW gone, there's not much to say but lots to do."
Di Montezemolo said he was 'very disappointed' by the news delivered on Monday night that Schumacher's neck injury from a motorcycle crash had not healed enough to allow him to race in F1, but said there was no point in pushing the German to try to get in the car.
"They found something that still didn't work," said di Montezemolo. "So it's better not to insist. We wouldn't do that at all. He had the small motorcycle accident in February and on the first laps at Mugello he felt that something was wrong. You shouldn't joke with your health."
Di Montezemolo also revealed that Schumacher himself was unhappy about the development that has kept him out of the F1 cockpit for now.
When asked how Schumacher reacted to the news, di Montezemolo said: "What do you think? He answered with such an enthusiasm to my request; the enthusiasm of a boy and not of a retired champion.
"He lost four kilos; same weight as in October 2006 when he raced for the last time in Brazil. You can imagine how he took it."
And di Montezemolo said that Badoer's chances of keeping the race seat beyond the European GP would very much depend on the job he did.
"[We have] faith in Luca Badoer, who's one of us," he said. "Destiny has given him a unique possibility now he has to make the best out of it. We will support him with all we've got."
Source - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77626
That was the firm hint dropped by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday night, just hours after Schumacher's F1 comeback was called off for now because of a neck injury.
Di Montezemolo believes that Schumacher has plenty to offer F1 still, even though he is 40-years-old, and he has said he will not ease off in his efforts to get the rules changed so Ferrari can run three cars next year - with Schumacher a possibility to fill for as many races as he wants.
In an interview that will appear in La Stampa on Wednesday, di Montezemolo said that there were clear reasons why Ferrari opted for its former champion rather than a young driver when it came to finding a replacement for Felipe Massa.
"Well we're talking about Michael Schumacher," said di Montezemolo. "He is 40 years old, but he's still from another planet.
"I prefer the champion, even if matured, to the mediocre driver, even if he's young. Our circus needed some great input.
"We're continuing to fight until every team has the right to start with three cars in the next season (and one I'd have handed over to Michael with pleasure). I prefer three McLaren and three Renault to three "whatevers". With BMW gone, there's not much to say but lots to do."
Di Montezemolo said he was 'very disappointed' by the news delivered on Monday night that Schumacher's neck injury from a motorcycle crash had not healed enough to allow him to race in F1, but said there was no point in pushing the German to try to get in the car.
"They found something that still didn't work," said di Montezemolo. "So it's better not to insist. We wouldn't do that at all. He had the small motorcycle accident in February and on the first laps at Mugello he felt that something was wrong. You shouldn't joke with your health."
Di Montezemolo also revealed that Schumacher himself was unhappy about the development that has kept him out of the F1 cockpit for now.
When asked how Schumacher reacted to the news, di Montezemolo said: "What do you think? He answered with such an enthusiasm to my request; the enthusiasm of a boy and not of a retired champion.
"He lost four kilos; same weight as in October 2006 when he raced for the last time in Brazil. You can imagine how he took it."
And di Montezemolo said that Badoer's chances of keeping the race seat beyond the European GP would very much depend on the job he did.
"[We have] faith in Luca Badoer, who's one of us," he said. "Destiny has given him a unique possibility now he has to make the best out of it. We will support him with all we've got."
Source - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77626
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Wednesday 12th August 08:59
kevin ritson said:
Sounds to me like they haven't got Alonso's signature...
Sounds to me like they've realised they cant get rid of there drivers so want a third car for someone like schumacher or Alonso!and a lot of Ohh look at us schumacher is ours!!! he won how many WDC's with us, sponsors look we can win!!!!
Edited by Adamantium on Wednesday 12th August 10:21
scubadude said:
"I prefer the champion, even if matured, to the mediocre driver, even if he's young"
Nice endorsment for Badoer- "Mediocre" Just what you want to hear from the Boss! Wonder how they'd feel if he said that about their car?
I doubt he's talking about the 38-year-old Badoer, though - more likely Piquet et al.Nice endorsment for Badoer- "Mediocre" Just what you want to hear from the Boss! Wonder how they'd feel if he said that about their car?
They (all the teams) need to be allowed to run as many as 3 cars - it is best for the sport. The have been trundling along for many years with just 20 cars. It would be better to have 26 with the new teams coming in and if even more (i.e. a team wanted the odd third car out there) then you would have to prequailfy.
all seems very strange, but very 'Ferrari' - lets have 3 cars each for the 'grand teams' and keep the peasants out!
When there has been talk of 3 cars before (through reduced numbers if teams drop out) it has always been linked to the idea of the 3rd car being for a youngster to be brought into F1, not for has-beens and ensuring status-quo doesn't get knocked out of shape!
All the talk of 'F1 is not F1 without Ferrari' seems to have gone to Luca's head!
When there has been talk of 3 cars before (through reduced numbers if teams drop out) it has always been linked to the idea of the 3rd car being for a youngster to be brought into F1, not for has-beens and ensuring status-quo doesn't get knocked out of shape!
All the talk of 'F1 is not F1 without Ferrari' seems to have gone to Luca's head!
k you of more and more.I can see the 3 cars rule coming in, the grid has a lot of space for teams to run 3. Certainly dont expect this to be a Ferrari only rule either, Red Bull and Mclaren will jump at the chance a third car especially with a testing ban could be a test mule, stick all the new parts on that one and use it for developmental purposes if they work stick them on the other 2 standard cars and continue.
Very interesting irreslective of whos driving the third cars.
Very interesting irreslective of whos driving the third cars.
skinny said:
"small accident" - wasn't there a fracture somewhere near the top of his spine?
Could have been a chip or two - uncomfortable but not serious.I've been glad of how Ferrari and di Monty have acted in the last ten months (at least what we the public have seen).
I've got no opinion on a three-car team (am pretty much past caring about the whole F1 floating opera), although on its face the idea would seem a pretext for pushing some of the new entrants off the grid, whilst increasing by 50% the chances of a Ferrari victory or podium.
I'm bound to say, however, that it seems a bit rich for di Monty now to be leading the charge to bring Schumacher back to active racing, when it was he who forced MS out in order to make room for Raikkonen and Massa.
flemke said:
skinny said:
"small accident" - wasn't there a fracture somewhere near the top of his spine?
Could have been a chip or two - uncomfortable but not serious.I've been glad of how Ferrari and di Monty have acted in the last ten months (at least what we the public have seen).
I've got no opinion on a three-car team (am pretty much past caring about the whole F1 floating opera), although on its face the idea would seem a pretext for pushing some of the new entrants off the grid, whilst increasing by 50% the chances of a Ferrari victory or podium.
I'm bound to say, however, that it seems a bit rich for di Monty now to be leading the charge to bring Schumacher back to active racing, when it was he who forced MS out in order to make room for Raikkonen and Massa.
davidd said:
The three car thing needs to be looked carefully. If the top teams (by top I mean have cash) are allowed to run them then they are gaining clear advantage in the development they can do, this would need to be addressed.
D
Not only that, but what about the money (not that the teams are particularly interested in that, mind)?D
The FIA have said that the biggest possible grid is 26 cars. If they let one team field 3 cars, they'd have to let them all do it. If the top, say, 7 teams were to field 3 cars (the incremental cost of the third being a total budget increase of, I'm guessing, 5%), they'd all qualify, so they'd be 21 of the 26. The other 2 current teams would make it, so now we're up to 25. That would leave 1 grid spot for the 4 new teams, which would mean no points for any of the new teams all season. What happens to the prize money? Would it be allocated according to some formula that took account of your qualifying times, even if your cars never made a race?
You could let 3 cars from one team try to qualify, but only let the two fastest into the show, but that seems odd - I doubt that the teams would buy that, because it would defeat most of the purpose of the 3-car team.
I can't see its happening. Di Monty has won the war; now it's time for him to go back to his day job.
flemke said:
skinny said:
"small accident" - wasn't there a fracture somewhere near the top of his spine?
I'm bound to say, however, that it seems a bit rich for di Monty now to be leading the charge to bring Schumacher back to active racing, when it was he who forced MS out in order to make room for Raikkonen and Massa.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff