22 replies to this topic

[Graveltrappen]

There's been a positive response to Vettel winning with Ferrari at the weekend. I've never been a Ferrari or Vettel fan, both have grated on me over the years... And yet there's something likeable about this partnership, and Vettel away from redbull in particular just seems like a more likeable guy.

Alonso at mclaren seems more laid back too... And Hamilton at Mercedes certainly grates less than when he was at mclaren, although he is no doubt happier now that he is running at the front.

[DaddyCool]

To me Ferrari seems a way more likeable team than it was before. I was kinda repulsed by Montezemelo`s overly dramatic, political whinefest that had been going of for years. Arrivabene seems to me as a very charismatic, no-bullshit type of guy who can get stuff done, which is a breath of fresh air after the Alonso/Massa/LDM/Stefano group. Vettel and Kimi are laid-back BFFs as well, guess it helps too.

 

Never thought one day I`ll be rooting for Ferrari

[noikeee]

This is pretty common - a lot of people suddenly warmed up to Michael Schumacher once he moved to Mercedes, for example (and was no longer winning anything).

[josepatches]

I'm sure last year makes Vettel more likeable. He was like a machine who won all and broke every record against your favourite driver so you can only hate him.  Now he's more human

[Imateria]

This is pretty common - a lot of people suddenly warmed up to Michael Schumacher once he moved to Mercedes, for example (and was no longer winning anything).

I think in Michaels case he was much more open and welcoming when he returned with Mercedes, a very obvious change to his personality (or at least that part of his personality he cared to show off to the public), that allowed a lot of people to warm to him that hadn't previously been fans of his.

 

There were a lot of comments to a similar effect when Coulthard moved from McLaren to Red Bull.

[Geizterfahrer]

I have to admit that I'm guilty of that behaviour too. I'm not a fan of any specific driver or team (have sympathies for many drivers and teams), but... I kind of dislike Red Bull. I mean... Just compare the 2005/2006 team with the team they are now! They should read a Red Bulletin from this time to remember what they once stood for! They wanted to bring "fun" back into Formula 1. Now they are the contrary of fun: one of the biggest whiners of all times 

 

Whatever... I respected the guys behind the team when they won eight titles in a row, because they built a great car. But I never liked Vettel, Horner, Marko or the brand that they represented. But when Vettel made it on the podium in Melbourne and got the race win in Malaysia, I... was happy for him. I don't know what it is, but he went from "Nah, not this brat again" to "Hope he'll be able to challenge Lewis for the title" in two weeks/races.

[Nonesuch]

Vettel away from redbull in particular just seems like a more likeable guy.

 

I think Vettel's obvious passion for Ferrari is something a lot of people can relate to. Like it or not, Ferrari has a special place in F1.

 

I have no strong feelings about Vettel either way, but his association with certain people at Red Bull probably also painted him in a worse light than he as an individual warranted.

[Szoelloe]

Sometimes. LH's has changed considerably, but Vettel, if you could play the difference on a piano, you would be a second Gould. Stepping out of Marko's and Horner's shadow has done wonders, even for me.

[redreni]

To me Ferrari seems a way more likeable team than it was before. I was kinda repulsed by Montezemelo`s overly dramatic, political whinefest that had been going of for years. Arrivabene seems to me as a very charismatic, no-bullshit type of guy who can get stuff done, which is a breath of fresh air after the Alonso/Massa/LDM/Stefano group. Vettel and Kimi are laid-back BFFs as well, guess it helps too.

 

Never thought one day I`ll be rooting for Ferrari

 

Mmm,

 

Part of me hopes this perception doesn't last. In Britain, being a Ferrari fan is a bit like supporting Milwall. No-one likes us; we don't care. But, like most Milwall fans, I'm not sure if I'm entirely comfortable with people deciding we're alright after all.

 

Still, I'm sure all it will take is another Spa 2008-style controversy and Ferrari's name will once again be mud in the UK, and we shall all be able to relax knowing all is right with the world...

Edited by redreni, 01 April 2015 - 16:33.

[R Soul]

Of the four drivers mentioned so far, three of them spent a lot of time in protective bubbles. Hamilton was very much 'looked after' by McLaren, Vettel was from the Red Bull driver programme, and Schumacher was very close to Todt, Brawn, and for some time Montezemolo. Only Alonso had the more traditonal driver-manager situation. What they all have in common is making a fresh start and having to put up with poor cars that don't win. The other common thread is that they seem to be more relaxed away from the cars.

Edited by R Soul, 01 April 2015 - 16:49.

[Atreiu]

To me Ferrari seems a way more likeable team than it was before. I was kinda repulsed by Montezemelo`s overly dramatic, political whinefest that had been going of for years. Arrivabene seems to me as a very charismatic, no-bullshit type of guy who can get stuff done, which is a breath of fresh air after the Alonso/Massa/LDM/Stefano group. Vettel and Kimi are laid-back BFFs as well, guess it helps too.

 

Never thought one day I`ll be rooting for Ferrari

 

Read Dieter's piece on the front page and how Arrivabene believes Ferrari is F1 and etc. They are the exact same political machine as before, but without Max Mosley catering to them and all the wins from Schumacher's days.

 

I'll never root for them, not even if they fought a title against Red Bull and Horner himself were the RBR driver.

 

Perception wise, I haven't changed my mind much about them recently.

[anneomoly]

One unexpected win is a lot easier to like than 11 in a row...

 

There's also the Rosberg factor - F1 needs a villain, and if it doesn't want to hate the one that's winning all the time it'll hate the one it suspects of underhandedness, though bizarrely Rosberg seems to be getting it in the neck for Hamilton winning, not Lewis.

 

And from my point of view, though I've been a Seb fan for years, it's a lot easier to like him when he's not slagging the sport off like he was last year.

[SCUDmissile]

I developed a liking for Hamilton a lot more since he left McLaren.

 

And it seems I have to change perception of every driver Ferrari get in. I used to dislike Alonso, and Vettel before they came to Ferrari

[RealRacing]

There were a lot of comments to a similar effect when Coulthard moved from McLaren to Red Bull.

Hahaha, no one disliked DC...cause he never won.

[RealRacing]

Of the four drivers mentioned so far, three of them spent a lot of time in protective bubbles. Hamilton was very much 'looked after' by McLaren, Vettel was from the Red Bull driver programme, and Schumacher was very close to Todt, Brawn, and for some time Montezemolo. Only Alonso had the more traditonal driver-manager situation. What they all have in common is making a fresh start and having to put up with poor cars that don't win. The other common thread is that they seem to be more relaxed away from the cars.

Have you seen photos of Briatore and FA? Alonso was like the baby he never had...

[V666]

I think in Michaels case he was much more open and welcoming when he returned with Mercedes, a very obvious change to his personality (or at least that part of his personality he cared to show off to the public), that allowed a lot of people to warm to him that hadn't previously been fans of his.

There were a lot of comments to a similar effect when Coulthard moved from McLaren to Red Bull.

Yeah and I don't mean to sound an ass but I believe Schumacher showed that side because he was getting thrashed by his teammate and wasn't challenging for wins or a title.

[RealRacing]

It's simple: people are envious of winners and sometimes hate multiple winners, while they like the underdog. If LH wins enough he'll soon be disliked, like Vettel at some point, Schumi and others. Personally I think Ferrari is a dirty team so I dislike them. However, at this point I'm rooting for them to catch merc but only in the interest of racing.

[RekF1]

I don't think perceptions are more likely to change just by switching team. You only need to get a couple of good results, and zero blunders for the hype to take over. Grosjean for example had half a season (2nd half of 2013) where he didn't nearly kill anybody, and his stock went through the roof. Obviously your teammates stock is a big variable. Look at Ricciardo and Alonso last season.

 

There was a good post on PF1 Forum (hate the Mods with passion) called "F1 driver stock market"  which entertains this question fwiw. 

[jonpollak]

Like that screenname there Graveltrappen

I coined VerSlappen in LIVE chat.. It went over like a lead balloon.

Jp

[redreni]

Read Dieter's piece on the front page and how Arrivabene believes Ferrari is F1 and etc. They are the exact same political machine as before, but without Max Mosley catering to them and all the wins from Schumacher's days.

 

I'll never root for them, not even if they fought a title against Red Bull and Horner himself were the RBR driver.

 

Perception wise, I haven't changed my mind much about them recently.

 

You've no idea how much of a relief it is for me to read this! 

[jurchenking]

Definitely.  I'm a team rather than driver supporter.  So many drivers who drove for Ferrari were former hated enemies (Schumacher-Benetton, Kimi-McLaren, Alonso-Renault/McLaren and Vettel-Red Bull).  But all's well when they switched to red.  Past sins destroying Ferrari's championship chances were forgiven and I start supporting them  .

[Andrew Hope]

I liked Coulthard when he moved from McLaren to RBR, but that was just because he was partnering Mark Webber, and the prospect of F1 disappearing forever into the oblivion of the black hole created in the paddock when both of them somehow finished 2nd in the WDC was too good not to support.

[03011969]

Hahaha, no one disliked DC...cause he never won.

I disliked him as a driver. Putting up with, and acknowledging he was, the no.2 driver in the team always struck me as being prepared to be someone else's bitch. But the team wanted it and that's what he did.

 

As a commentator he is much more likeable.