#2 Ferrari at Monza (Fisichella confirmed)

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 01 Sep 2009, 11:12

With Force India now saying Fisi will stay put who do you all think will drive for Ferrari at Monza. Here's some of the main candidates:
- Fisi - could still happen, apparently there are still payment outstanding from Force India to Ferrari relating to last years engine deal. The strong stand point being adopted by Force India could be a negotiating tactic.
- Badoer - I hope not!
- Gene - Badoer experience will surely have put them off this option
- Alonso - an ealry move to Ferrari?
- Kubica - has been rumoured in the press
- Piquet Jr / Bourdais - 2 guys with 2009 F1 experience who would do a better job than anyone not currently on the grid

jackanderton · Post by **jackanderton** » 01 Sep 2009, 11:29

I hope they keep Badoer on. Ferrari aren't going anywhere this season, adding other drivers into the mix just complicates the issue of next season's lineup further. Plus Ferrari and the rest of us will know conclusively whether Badoer has enough left for one last hurrah at one of his favourite circuits.

I can't see Ferrari getting Piquet Jr. or Bourdais in. They probably would do better than Badoer but still be unlikely to score any points while they're getting to grips with the car. They chose Badoer over Gene for some reason presumably so scrap that idea. Alonso/Kubica just won't happen at this point in the season.

Fisi seems the most likely.

lostpin · Post by **lostpin** » 01 Sep 2009, 11:32

Badoer for the win! :mrgreen:

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 01 Sep 2009, 11:45

Well I'm not sure if this idea has been mentioned yet but exactly how hard is it to give a test driver from another team a few races?

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 01 Sep 2009, 12:12

No love lost between me and Ferrari, just to let you know.

That said, they're in the race for 3rd in the Championship. They're 12 points ahead of McLaren, and have a car that's not capable of winning races, except in the most exceptional of situations. McLaren is on the way up, with Kovalainen having been warned to hurry up or else.

3rd or 4th in the Championship is an important question. There's money involved. And, with Ferrari, there's a reputation to defend. They'll have to find someone to score points in this year's hyper-competitive field - I don't think Luca is that person, period.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 01 Sep 2009, 13:05

Wizzie wrote:Well I'm not sure if this idea has been mentioned yet but exactly how hard is it to give a test driver from another team a few races?

De La Rosa, Paffett, Klien, di Grassi, Kobayashi, Hartley, Hulkenberg, Liuzzi, Davidson, Wurz.

None of them are particularly appealing IMO, Paffett, di Grassi, Kobayashi and Hartley would probably be worse than Badoer and none would be too much of a step up. Liuzzi possibly, but no real point in changing.

kowalski · Post by **kowalski** » 01 Sep 2009, 13:36

In all honesty probably the best option at this stage would be to get Piquet in for the rest of the season.

With support he could certainly get points - and with so few 'race ready' options I really can't think of anyone else who could jump into the car and do that.

[assuming others like Fisi have contracts to stop them]

JQW · Post by **JQW** » 01 Sep 2009, 14:33

This may be a bit silly, but how about Valentino Rossi?

He's tested for Ferrari before, he's Italian, currently races for a FIAT team, and there's no MotoGP that weekend.

kowalski · Post by **kowalski** » 01 Sep 2009, 14:36

JQW wrote:This may be a bit silly, but how about Valentino Rossi?

He's tested for Ferrari before, he's Italian, currently races for a FIAT team, and there's no GP2 that weekend.

Nice thought but I would be happy to bet my house on Badoer being quicker than Rossi in the current Farrari F1 car.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 01 Sep 2009, 15:22

kowalski wrote:In all honesty probably the best option at this stage would be to get Piquet in for the rest of the season.

With support he could certainly get points - and with so few 'race ready' options I really can't think of anyone else who could jump into the car and do that.

[assuming others like Fisi have contracts to stop them]

Piquet was not able to consistently score points with Renault. He has also proved to be a shaky driver, that doesn't work well under pressure. Ferrari-style media coverage would finish him off.

There's also the question of the Singapore investigation right now. No Formula 1 team would touch him with a stick, because everyone more or less suspects he is somewhat responsible for exhuming the corpse.

As for Rossi, he's kinda busy right now. You know, trying to win the MotoGP Championship?

hclw · Post by **hclw** » 01 Sep 2009, 16:12

Ferrari should give other f1 rejects a go in their 2nd car. Why should Badoer get opportunities not available to other reject drivers? Perry McCarthy should drive at Monza, Gaston Mazzacane at Singapore, Taki Inoue should wow the home crowd at Suzuka, Jean-Denis Deletraz at Interlagos and Alex Yoong at Abu Dhabi

Ferrari owe all these drivers a go in one of their cars

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 01 Sep 2009, 16:37

I'd have thought that the most logical solution would be either of the BMW drivers. They have nothing to lose by bailing, and both are good drivers who I'm sure would put Ferrari consistently in the points.

Personally, I'd love to see Badoer stay on and do well, but I'd hate to see him stay on and continue to be humiliated, so my feelings are mixed. He said he'd do well in Spa (in fact, he promised) and he didn't, so he may end up being the boy who cried wolf by saying that he'll DEFINITELY do well in Monza.

For me, Heidfeld. He won't tread on Kimi's toes, and he'll always bring it home in the points.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 01 Sep 2009, 16:55

Sack Badoer. The novelty of it all has worn off. Give Taku the drive already!

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 01 Sep 2009, 17:02

I think it's about time somebody mentioned HWNSNBM on this thread...

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 01 Sep 2009, 18:39

fjackdaw wrote:I'd have thought that the most logical solution would be either of the BMW drivers. They have nothing to lose by bailing, and both are good drivers who I'm sure would put Ferrari consistently in the points.

Personally, I'd love to see Badoer stay on and do well, but I'd hate to see him stay on and continue to be humiliated, so my feelings are mixed. He said he'd do well in Spa (in fact, he promised) and he didn't, so he may end up being the boy who cried wolf by saying that he'll DEFINITELY do well in Monza.

For me, Heidfeld. He won't tread on Kimi's toes, and he'll always bring it home in the points.

Heidfeld was Raikonnen's team mate at Sauber in 2001 and despite it being Kimi's rookie year they were quite close 10 - 7 to Heidfeld in quallifying.....

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 01 Sep 2009, 21:06

Gené would be the logical choice, but even so, I don't think he'd shine so much. As for Fisichella, unlikely-he has a contract with Force India, and so Alonso with Renault-although at this point, being fed up with Renault, anything could happen...

I think if they don't keep BAD, GEN will get the nod.

TeamTipper · Post by **TeamTipper** » 01 Sep 2009, 21:38

I think Antony Davison or Taki Sato would be the best choice as they race last year. Luca babaor didnt do that bad at Spa but could he scored points at his home race?

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 01 Sep 2009, 21:44

Takuma Sato: Yes Please!

watka · Post by **watka** » 01 Sep 2009, 21:56

If Badoer bags some points in Monza, all you nay-sayers are going to look very silly...

TeamTipper · Post by **TeamTipper** » 02 Sep 2009, 01:45

Oh yea HWNSNBM. He should return aye. Maybe jamie and Enoch will phone Ferrari and sponsor them if HWNSNBM drives for Ferrari :lol:

Goa · Post by **Goa** » 02 Sep 2009, 08:01

I get the feeling that it will be Fisichella. If the reports that Mallya owes Ferrari money for last year's engines are true, then he's bluffing to try and see if he can get them to waive that in exchange for Fisi. If he doesn't, he's probably fishing for some funding by way of a buyout. After the last two races, there's no way in hell that they would willingly stick with Badoer.

DonTirri · Post by **DonTirri** » 02 Sep 2009, 08:08

[quote="TeamTipper"]Taki Sato/quote]

Taki Sato? Is that the scientifically via cloning created Bastard child of Taki Inoue and Takuma Sato?

TeamTipper · Post by **TeamTipper** » 02 Sep 2009, 08:13

Haha sorry I meant Sato. Just didn't spell the best. Sorry.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Sep 2009, 09:10

watka wrote:If Badoer bags some points in Monza, all you nay-sayers are going to look very silly...

There's more chance of Team F1 Rejects being on the grid in 2010 than Badoer scoring points at Monza!

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 02 Sep 2009, 09:12

noisebox wrote:
watka wrote:If Badoer bags some points in Monza, all you nay-sayers are going to look very silly...

There's more chance of Team F1 Rejects being on the grid in 2010 than Badoer scoring points at Monza!

Yup. It'd take more than Grosjean and Alguersuari to do it. Even if they took out 5 other drivers each, leaving Luca and 7 other pilots, I'm still not sure he'd score a point.

Tealy · Post by **Tealy** » 02 Sep 2009, 09:29

He wouldnt complete enough laps to be a classified finisher.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 02 Sep 2009, 09:48

It's good to hear that Fisichella stays at Force 1ndia for Monza, because he's probably got a chance of winning there as well - after all this is a low downforce circuit.

Badoer is somewhat of a Monza expert from all the experience he has gained whilst testing there with Ferrari, so it would be a bonsai move to replace him before Monza. Giving the #3 to somebody else AFTER Monza is an entirely different story:

If I remember correctly, the races to follow after Monza are at Singapore (street track), Suzuka, Interlagos and Abu Dhabi (new track). Hence, indeed the chances of Marc Gene getting the ride look rather slim.

Other F1 teams might only lend out their 3rd driver to Ferrari. Force 1ndia would say no Fisi, but how about Tonio Liuzzi? BMW would say no Kubica, but how about Klien? These options don't look like they would satisfy Ferrari.

Of the drivers currently sidelined without a ride, Nelsinho would not be my favourite choice as he has proven to perform somewhat inexperienced when on new tracks.
My pick would be Bourdais because he is a known street circuit expert and knows his way around all of these circuits to come.
But it seems that he sees his future in Formula Superleague for the time being.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Sep 2009, 09:59

Yannick wrote:Other F1 teams might only lend out their 3rd driver to Ferrari. Force 1ndia would say no Fisi, but how about Tonio Liuzzi? BMW would say no Kubica, but how about Klien? These options don't look like they would satisfy Ferrari.

The problem with these guys is that they have no experience of 2009 F1 cars - if they can't get one of the other teams race drivers then I think the only option is Piquet or Bourdais. They may want to steer clear of Piquet with all the Singapore stuff kicking off, and I can't see them going for Bourdais. All in all they're in a bit of a spot.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 02 Sep 2009, 10:00

Tealy wrote:He wouldnt complete enough laps to be a classified finisher.

He actually finnished on the lead lap at Spa - no one was lapped in that race.

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 02 Sep 2009, 10:19

watka wrote:If Badoer bags some points in Monza, all you nay-sayers are going to look very silly...

Not really. Considering he was plum last by some margin at a track where he promised to do better, it's not a big leap to imagine he won't do especially well in Monza. That said, if he did do well there, most people would be very happy for him. I'd be overjoyed that he's stopped breaking my F1 Reject heart!

Tealy · Post by **Tealy** » 02 Sep 2009, 14:21

I really hope Badoer keeps the drive. Like whats been said above the only alternative with 09 experience really is Piquet and he doesnt deserve the drive in my eyes because of whats happened in the fallout of his sacking at Renault. I'm certain he was not asked to crash at Singapore last year and he is only saying it to get revenge on FLav.

If Badoer has a poor race at Monza then I would hire Klien or Liuzzi (or Senna?) for the remaining races.

AllAmericanReject · Post by **AllAmericanReject** » 03 Sep 2009, 06:02

I know it would never happen, but how cool would it be if Valentino Rossi drove the Ferrari at Monza one week after riding his Yamaha at Misano?

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 03 Sep 2009, 07:49

AllAmericanReject wrote:I know it would never happen, but how cool would it be if Valentino Rossi drove the Ferrari at Monza one week after riding his Yamaha at Misano?

It'd be brilliant. We'd all get another chance to point-an-laugh.

Kuwashima · Post by **Kuwashima** » 03 Sep 2009, 08:40

Well, Badoer claims to hold the lap record of any F1 car at Monza.

I believe he does, too, in 2004 testing, at 1:19.600-ish.

Plus the fact that it's a very short lap, and you'd think he'd be much closer to the pace. The question is, will he still be in the car?

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 03 Sep 2009, 09:49

Kuwashima wrote:

Will he still be in the car?

Ferrari would have to be hard pressed to give him another go after such a dismal efforts. Of course a subbing driver usually is not meant to do great things but still, Badoer in mightily underperforming.

kowalski · Post by **kowalski** » 03 Sep 2009, 09:50

Kuwashima wrote:Well, Badoer claims to hold the lap record of any F1 car at Monza.

I believe he does, too, in 2004 testing, at 1:19.600-ish.

Plus the fact that it's a very short lap, and you'd think he'd be much closer to the pace. The question is, will he still be in the car?

Well, as the days keep ticking past with no word it does look likely now that he is going to get another chance to prove himself. I would love to see Fisi in the car for Monza but failing that, one more run for Bad-boy is what we all want.

Many Blue Flags · Post by **Many Blue Flags** » 03 Sep 2009, 10:43

NEWSFLASH

Ferrari might be asking for Kubica in return for free Engine supply for Sauber next year: http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 1612.shtml

lostpin · Post by **lostpin** » 03 Sep 2009, 11:17

Tealy wrote:I really hope Badoer keeps the drive. Like whats been said above the only alternative with 09 experience really is Piquet and he doesnt deserve the drive in my eyes because of whats happened in the fallout of his sacking at Renault. I'm certain he was not asked to crash at Singapore last year and he is only saying it to get revenge on FLav.

If Badoer has a poor race at Monza then I would hire Klien or Liuzzi (or Senna?) for the remaining races.

Hm... I suspect that we'll see Piquet in a F1 car these days. It's far more likely to see him in court, together with Flab Flav.. :lol:

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 03 Sep 2009, 11:35

Many Blue Flags wrote:NEWSFLASH

Ferrari might be asking for Kubica in return for free Engine supply for Sauber next year: http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 1612.shtml

That looks very speculative, but does make sense... watch this space I reckon.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 03 Sep 2009, 13:25

Autosport's Jon Noble has tweeted Ferrari will make an announcement at 3:30, UK time. In an hour's time from this post, give or take.