34 replies to this topic

[SchuOz]

Today’s Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that Gazza, 45, made a strong pitch to Ferrari at the weekend,

“I’m not looking for a fixed role,” he told the paper. ” But I could carry out a consultant’s role in the aero field, in the wind tunnel..”

Gascoyne believes he has three qualities which will appeal at Maranello,

“I have a working method like Ross Brawn and have a passion for all things Italian. Ferrari would enrich my career, I live between Switzerland and Germany with my girlfriend Silvia (ex Toyota marketing department) so to go to Maranello wouldn’t be a problem.”

Eagle eyed readers tell me that Gazza put his stately pile in Oxfordshire on the market in February and told the Oxford Times that he was selling because, “My next job is likely to be abroad.”

He’s obviously been thinking about this for some time.

Ironically Gascoyne had a cameo role in the Ferrari/McLaren spy story. He was at a restaurant in Spain when he observed Mike Coughlan and Nigel Stepney together, which he made sure to mention at the time.


http://allenonf1.wor...job-at-ferrari/

[SCHUEYFAN]

As a life long Ferrari fan, a bit of outside perspective will be welcome because I fear they are on the verge of a long slide downhill.....but will the current regime accept his opinions? Although he doesn't have a real proven track record but has been on the verge of something great a few times, I think he would be a good asset to have on board.

[ashnathan]

To be fair to Mike, i think he is great at what he does, but i just don't think he will fit in at Ferrari, Tombazi's is arguably the best in the business, i don't think he needs a consultant.

[Italiano Tifoso]

I was impressed with how he read the race though and his input on strategy would be useful. Maybe they pay him as a race strategist seeing as the current crop of wogs can't seem to get that right.

[peroa]

"Gazza" at Ferrari = Fireworks

[Madras]

Originally posted by Italiano Tifoso
I was impressed with how he read the race though....

He was wrong about pitting under the first safety car.

[MegaManson]

He really does seem intent on working for every team on the grid in his career Ferrari would be #7 I think

[Monad]

I agree that he seems to have a similar tactic to Ross Brawn. But is that what Ferrari needs? And is Gascoyne as a person a good choice? Am just saying this because lot's of teams seem to easily show him the exit door even thought he is supposed to be very good. And that just makes me wonder why.

[milliepuppy]

he'll be excellent in the wind tunnel ... as he's one of only a few people who'd be able to sit inside the half scale model !!!

.. being selfish .. id prefer Eddie Jordon went to ferrari and Gazza stayed working for the BBC !!!

[VoidNT]

Originally posted by peroa
"Gazza" at Ferrari = Fireworks

Indeed. If he's got into trouble even with the Japanese, what would happen at Ferrari? Still, it would be at least 'spectacular' and interesting to watch.

I have a feeling that there's not enough strength at Ferrari top management personnel, and perhaps Mario Almondo is the weakest link. Probably Gazza would be useful as an 'operations director' overseeing technical development or something like that.

[MegaManson]

The fact Gascoyne has left so many teams would suggest that he has a prickly personality that makes him very difficult to work with which I doubt would fit in very well at Ferrari

[Madras]

Originally posted by milliepuppy
he'll be excellent in the wind tunnel ... as he's one of only a few people who'd be able to sit inside the half scale model !!!

Only if you greased him up first...

[Ross Stonefeld]

People keep acting like Ferrari are in Honda 2007/08 territory. They're having a bad run of races but we've hardly had 3 normal races. Whatever problems they are having aren't down to any one person and won't be fixed by bringing on an individual. Unless it was Michael Schumacher or something...

[MegaManson]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
People keep acting like Ferrari are in Honda 2007/08 territory. They're having a bad run of races but we've hardly had 3 normal races. Whatever problems they are having aren't down to any one person and won't be fixed by bringing on an individual. Unless it was Michael Schumacher or something...

After what he did to Kimi at Malaysia I don't think Ferrari will be in any rush to ask Schumacher's opinion on strategy again

Looks like he is another Prost, brilliant driver but bad manager/tactician

[Chezrome]

Originally posted by VoidNT


Indeed. If he's got into trouble even with the Japanese, what would happen at Ferrari? Still, it would be at least 'spectacular' and interesting to watch.

I think it's much harder for Europeans to work with Japanese people than for, say, an Englishman with Spanjards, Italians or Germans.

The Japanese are fantastic on a personal level, the most friendly and polite people in the world... but businesswise, I think that after fivehundred years we Europeans do not understand them when we work with them. For them 'duty' is something totally different than for us.

[Schuperman]

Originally posted by MegaManson
After what he did to Kimi at Malaysia I don't think Ferrari will be in any rush to ask Schumacher's opinion on strategy again

Looks like he is another Prost, brilliant driver but bad manager/tactician

Understand as a context. Michael Schumacher as a driver.

[MegaManson]

Originally posted by Schuperman

Understand as a context. Michael Schumacher as a driver.

Oh the guy was a genius as a driver, maybe the best ever

I was just making the point that as he made a tactical error that ruined Kimi's race in Sepang he is not ready to make the step up to team management yet

[Ross Stonefeld]

I don't think anyone thinks Schumacher should have a team management role, and I think his current involvement with the team is heavily exaggerated.

[KiwiF1]

Originally posted by MegaManson
The fact Gascoyne has left so many teams would suggest that he has a prickly personality that makes him very difficult to work with which I doubt would fit in very well at Ferrari

Bob McMurray is a bit of a TV Pundit here in NZ, he used to work for McLaren at the same time that Mike was there, aparently Mike had the nickname of 'the Rottweiler', that probably says a lot.

I think he would certainly sort out the Ferrari (slightly sinking) ship, probably just what they need.

[potmotr]

Gascoyne has only been sacked from two teams - Toyota and Force India.

He left McLaren, Jordan and Renault of his own accord to chase better opportunities.

I think his departures from Toyota and FI come down to his management style which is to bang people's heads together and be quite aggressive in his approach.

Perhaps Ferrari could temper this. He's not without talent.

[KiwiF1]

I think he would be on my shopping list if I was struggling with results, he certainly knows how to sort out a team, lets face it these type of people always get tagged with the 'hatchet' title, but some teams seem quite fat and not a lot of results to show for it.

[christoff]

Originally posted by Schuperman

Understand as a context. Michael Schumacher as a driver.

Would he then be describe as 'The Next Vettel'?

[engel]

Don't think MG would work at Ferrari ... MG has a pretty huge ego and a very confrontational style to boot, doubt he'd fit in at Ferrari.

[kar]

If he's confrontational behind the scenes that might be what Ferrari needs to shake them out of their stupor. They need an enforcer there now because there's too many nice guys running about making soft decisions.

But Gascoyne would need to realise he can speak his piece at Maranello, anywhere else, he shuts his mouth.

[Andy35]

He'll look good dressed in red and sitting on a larg mushroom in the indoor plant area.

Regards

Andy

[Gareth]

Originally posted by kar
If he's confrontational behind the scenes that might be what Ferrari needs to shake them out of their stupor. They need an enforcer there now because there's too many nice guys running about making soft decisions.

That could work, but only if he has full backing from those at the top. Without that, I think he'll just divide the team further and introduce more politics that the team desperately need to avoid.

If there's one thing the MS/Brawn/Todt/Byrne etc dream team did, it was all work to one goal. The manner LdM went about dismantelling that team has, IMO, introduced division into Ferrari which is, IMSCFHMUIAO*, the biggest reason for their current woes. Introducing an "enforcer" could help sort that out, but only if the team know its his way or the highway and that they cannot undermime him.

Whilst Gascoyne might have the aggressive management style to try and do that, I'm not sure he'd command the respect within the team, nor would be sufficiently confident of 100% support, for it to work out.

*in my spectacularly confident, for how massively uninformed I am, opinion

[kar]

Originally posted by Gareth

That could work, but only if he has full backing from those at the top. Without that, I think he'll just divide the team further and introduce more politics that the team desperately need to avoid.

If there's one thing the MS/Brawn/Todt/Byrne etc dream team did, it was all work to one goal. The manner LdM went about dismantelling that team has, IMO, introduced division into Ferrari which is, IMSCFHMUIAO*, the biggest reason for their current woes. Introducing an "enforcer" could help sort that out, but only if the team know its his way or the highway and that they cannot undermime him.

Whilst Gascoyne might have the aggressive management style to try and do that, I'm not sure he'd command the respect within the team, nor would be sufficiently confident of 100% support, for it to work out.

*in my spectacularly confident, for how massively uninformed I am, opinion

Yep definitely. It was the four vertices of Schumacher, Brawn, Byrne and Todt that eliminated the politicised culture from Maranello and insulated the guys at the sharp-end from heat from above. I think they need to re-realise that aspect of the team's management, and slowly they seem to be doing that.

What they do need is a Stepney style character Sheppard (and smacking where necessary) the mechanics and factory floor guys.

[Mika Mika]

Originally posted by kar


Yep definitely. It was the four vertices of Schumacher, Brawn, Byrne and Todt that eliminated the politicised culture from Maranello and insulated the guys at the sharp-end from heat from above. I think they need to re-realise that aspect of the team's management, and slowly they seem to be doing that.

What they do need is a Stepney style character Sheppard (and smacking where necessary) the mechanics and factory floor guys.

I know he is the reason McMerc are in the dock now byt what about Dave Ryan?

He seems to have been universally loved by everyone at McLaren and very good at his job too (except of course in the stewards room)

[kar]

Originally posted by Mika Mika
He seems to have been universally loved by everyone at McLaren and very good at his job too (except of course in the stewards room)

I find this 'everyone loved Davey' thing perplexing. First thing James Allen had to say on the matter is that Ryan was very far from a well loved figure at McLaren.

Other people that know what they are talking about also suggest, that far from everyone at McLaren loved him. Indeed there's someone at this very forum who hasn't hidden their feelings about his removal :-)

[potmotr]

Originally posted by kar


I find this 'everyone loved Davey' thing perplexing. First thing James Allen had to say on the matter is that Ryan was very far from a well loved figure at McLaren.

I read Allen's quite quite differently. Here it is:

Ryan was a commanding presence at the team, a real disciplinarian. He will not be missed by some members of the team to whom he gave a hard time, but his discipline might well be missed.

Sounds as though Ryan was a hard task master, but not a complete bastard loathed by all.

Originally posted by kar
Other people that know what they are talking about also suggest, that far from everyone at McLaren loved him. Indeed there's someone at this very forum who hasn't hidden their feelings about his removal :-)

I've got the opposite impression.

Maurice Hamilton and Tony Dodgins both said no one had a bad word to say about Ryan.

Dodgins even said the episode should leave F1 hanging its head in shame.

[Orin]

Originally posted by peroa
"Gazza" at Ferrari = Fireworks

He's been described as a Rottweiler, whereas Ferrari is more about Machiavellian power struggles. He'd by good for the team but I can't see him fitting in. I like milliepuppy's suggestion of Eddie Jordan to Ferrari, however.

[kar]

Originally posted by potmotr
I've got the opposite impression.

I'd go through the MP4-24 thread and see a few comments there :-)

[potmotr]

Originally posted by kar


I'd go through the MP4-24 thread and see a few comments there :-)

Ah, good tip. I'll head on over...

[Barramut]

Originally posted by SchuOz
Gascoyne believes he has three qualities which will appeal at Maranello,
1> “I have a working method like Ross Brawn...
2> and have a passion for all things Italian.
3> so to go to Maranello wouldn’t be a problem.”

1> Brawn promotes dialog within the team and its different departments to find an optimized solution. Gazza almighty is know by his tiranic management style and unstable behaviour. Joining Ferrari would be something like putting powder and fire together. Gazza is a contract break charge collector.
2> Passion is not welcome at Ferrari management. Rather sheer reasoning. Todt has cut Wine from the Ferrari cathering. Italian passionate drivers are not welcome.
3> And he wants to work there just because its close to home?

[Mika Mika]

Originally posted by kar


I'd go through the MP4-24 thread and see a few comments there :-)

http://forums.autosp...329#post3596329 by chance??