28 replies to this topic

[StickShift]

Why exactly does Ferrari have a "no Italian race drivers" rule? What's the logic behind this, just superstition?

Who made up this rule, Enzo?

[SeanValen]

I'm not too sure, but something about pressure on a Italian driver more then someone from another country, I think we'll see a italian driver like Fisi maybe in the future driving for them, but any driver Italian or not would find it hard to beat Michael in Ferrari, so until Michael goes, might not see a Italian driver, but I don't think Ferrari have made it so clear about Italian drivers.
Someone else will likely tell it more clearly then me, because I'm not 100% sure either.

[Scoop]

i think it has something to do with picking drivers who will best suit ferrari.. rather than nationality concerns...

[MONTOYASPEED]

Originally posted by SeanValen
I'm not too sure, but something about pressure on a Italian driver more then someone from another country, I think we'll see a italian driver like Fisi maybe in the future driving for them, but any driver Italian or not would find it hard to beat Michael in Ferrari, so until Michael goes, might not see a Italian driver, but I don't think Ferrari have made it so clear about Italian drivers.
Someone else will likely tell it more clearly then me, because I'm not 100% sure either.

Excellent, on the edge of the kerbs, beyond the limits

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by MONTOYASPEED


Excellent, on the edge of the kerbs, beyond the limits

JPM is supposed to be a bit like Mansell, a hard charger, the tifosi liked Nigel alot, called him the Eleoni, the Lion etc, so don't think Italy needs a Italian in Ferrari very badly, but it would be nice to have one sometime soon, just for something different etc.

[The RedBaron]

It goes back to Enzo Ferrari times, when his Italian pilot crashed and was killed in a race (forgot his name), since then Enzo vowed not to have another Italian driver racing in his team.
I'm not sure that applies now though, sure Luca wouldn't mind having Fisi in the team.

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by The RedBaron
It goes back to Enzo Ferrari times, when his Italian pilot crashed and was killed in a race (forgot his name), since then Enzo vowed not to have another Italian driver racing in his team.
I'm not sure that applies now though, sure Luca wouldn't mind having Fisi in the team.

I remember hearing about that, just never hear it enough in the modern days and reasoning with the current Ferrari boss.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by The RedBaron
It goes back to Enzo Ferrari times, when his Italian pilot crashed and was killed in a race (forgot his name), since then Enzo vowed not to have another Italian driver racing in his team.
I'm not sure that applies now though, sure Luca wouldn't mind having Fisi in the team.

Doesn't apply now. Only in the '50s. And that was certain members of the press and establishment trying to shoot down Enzo's ambitions. The era was also different.

The main reason lately is too much pressure and not any really good Italian drivers (except for er Fisico but Ferrari is currently commited to MS formula). Alboreto was good and he was hired so this issue is sometimes over-analyzed.

Look out for a certain Pantano in the future

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo


Doesn't apply now. Only in the '50s. And that was certain members of the press and establishment trying to shoot down Enzo's ambitions. The era was also different.

The main reason lately is too much pressure and not any really good Italian drivers (except for er Fisico but Ferrari is currently commited to MS formula). Alboreto was good and he was hired so this issue is sometimes over-analyzed.

Look out for a certain Pantano in the future

Thanks for main reason:up: I'm more the wiser, and interesting years at Ferrari to come, exciting times. Ancient chinese saying, "May you live in interesting times"

[mason]

I have never heard of any vow by Enzo "not to have Italian drivers racing for the team." and would appreciate some kind of formal reference.

[douglasfir]

I think that redbarron is refering to Nuvolari.???

however Bandini drove for Ferrari too.

[Italian]

Ferrari want the best, decent and nationality does not matter.

i wish Ferrari would take Fisichella or Trulli in
Trulli or Fisichella in Ferrari would put up a good chalenge againt M.Schumacher

[Tom R]

Originally posted by StickShift
Why exactly does Ferrari have a "no Italian race drivers" rule?

To answer the question: Ivan Capelli

I don't know why he failed so badly. He did decent job with Leyton-House/March.

[Option1]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo


Doesn't apply now. Only in the '50s. And that was certain members of the press and establishment trying to shoot down Enzo's ambitions. The era was also different.

The main reason lately is too much pressure and not any really good Italian drivers (except for er Fisico but Ferrari is currently commited to MS formula). Alboreto was good and he was hired so this issue is sometimes over-analyzed.

Look out for a certain Pantano in the future

I thought Pantano was a short cyclist with big ears, a propensity for performance-enhancing susbstances and being a bad loser - oh hang on that's Pantani.

Neil

[palmas]

Maybe it is a commercial thing, the team being too mutch italian already?

[gerry nassar]

Who was the last Italian to drive for Ferrari? If you dont count Alesi's Siciliian heritage - then I think it was Nicola Larini in 94.

[palmas]

Originally posted by gerry nassar
Who was the last Italian to drive for Ferrari? If you dont count Alesi's Siciliian heritage - then I think it was Nicola Larini in 94.

Correct! before that Larini and Capeli in 1992

[tifosi]

It was after Nuvalari. I read it in one of the biography's on Enzo, I believe the one by Brock Yates, that Ferrari said he would never hire another Italien driver because of the way he got chewed up in the press once over an Italien's death and something about telling an Italien mother that her son had died in one of his cars, it may not have even been in Formula One as Ferrari was extensively involved in all sorts of racing in those days.

The most common excuse I have heard today is that there is simply to much pressure put on an Italien driver if he were to drive for Ferrari, not sure if this is actually true. How many top Italien drivers have there been recently, Ferrari had Capelli, Larini, and Alboreto. How many other countries have had three drivers at Ferrari during that time? So actually it seems Ferrari uses more Italien drivers than any other nationality. I still believe Nannini was the best, to bad he didn't get a chance to drive for them.

Ferrari drivers since 1985
Italy 3 Alboreto, Capelli, Larini
Great Britain 2 Mansell, Irvine
France 2 Prost, Alesi
Sweden 1 Johansson
Austria 1 Berger
Finland 1 Salo
Germany 1 Schumacher
Brazil 1 Barrichello


Hope I didn't miss any one-offs. Don't start screaming about Irvine being Irish, officially in the FIA he is from Great Britain, but there u have it, since Ferrari's death, Italy has had more drivers at Ferrari than any other country.
If we just go back 2 more years to 1983, then France takes the lead with Arnoux and Tambay. Then in 82 Pironi would make 5 French drivers. The last Italien driver I could find that drove for Enzo Ferrari in F1 was Arturo Merzario in 1973.

[LuckyStrike1]

Originally posted by StickShift
Why exactly does Ferrari have a "no Italian race drivers" rule? What's the logic behind this, just superstition?

Who made up this rule, Enzo?

I very much doubt it Ferrari has such a rule.... They hire what they think is the best guy avaible for the job... and lately the best ones avaible haven't been italian.

Alessandro Nannini was up for a Ferrari contract before his helicopter accident which ended his career. Lately Fisichella and Trulli have both been contracted to other teams and/or not interested in driving a Schumacher Ferrari or not interesting for Ferrari.

I think Ferrari like all the major teams don't give a S*** about the nationality of their drivers as long as they get the job done.

[Hawaiian Chicken]

Too much Latin temperament will make the race team and driver too emotionally driven. Then the result of a Italian driver Ferrari car combination will be something like Rubens in Brazil 2001,...


running back for his spare car in tears,.....then BANGED into Ralf, and nearly sobbed and cried when being interviewed...

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by tifosi
Don't start screaming about Irvine being Irish, officially in the FIA he is from Great Britain,

He's Northern-Irish, so that makes him 100% british.
Good summary btw, just goes to show how perception is not always in line with the facts

[Italian]

Originally posted by LuckyStrike1

I think Ferrari like all the major teams don't give a S*** about the nationality of their drivers as long as they get the job done.

Coud'nt have put it better, But the day Fisi or Trulli get into a Ferrari, it will be a new way to F1 Racing. Thats if that day ever comes.

[tifosi]

Originally posted by Foxbat


He's Northern-Irish, so that makes him 100% british.
Good summary btw, just goes to show how perception is not always in line with the facts

I know but people will start up about it anyway, I remember this argument from a few weeks ago.

Yeah I have no life, hence time to to come up with all that. Be kind of interesting to see all time what nationality is leading in Ferrrai drivers, At least back to 1972 its France, then Italy.

[da Silva]

I have an question here about which chassis number did MS have on his F2002 during Brazil.
I read that on F1.com that the, oh wait here´s the quote:


"They are chassis 217, which will be Rubens Barrichello's race car, chassis 220 for Michael Schumacher and chassis 219, which is acting as the T-car.

Badoer completed a total of 22 laps (11 on the short version of the track) and managed a best time of 1.00.337 [with the 220?]. He also did some practice starts and pit stops."

I just thought it was strange that MS had an later chassis number than Rubens as his car wasn´t ready for Brazil. Is the #220 an F2002b or what?

[Italian]

Originally posted by da Silva
I have an question here about which chassis number did MS have on his F2002 during Brazil.
I read that on F1.com that the, oh wait here´s the quote:


"They are chassis 217, which will be Rubens Barrichello's race car, chassis 220 for Michael Schumacher and chassis 219, which is acting as the T-car.

Badoer completed a total of 22 laps (11 on the short version of the track) and managed a best time of 1.00.337 [with the 220?]. He also did some practice starts and pit stops."

I just thought it was strange that MS had an later chassis number than Rubens as his car wasn´t ready for Brazil. Is the #220 an F2002b or what?

Im just as confused as you are, but my geuss would be that Badoer was most probaly testing #220 Chassi as Rubens and Michael were relaxing, not so mych rubens though.

I presume that #220 is the T-Car which will be used at San Marino (Geuss) by M.Schumacher
and Rubens can hold on to his #217 Chassis.

Anyone have backed up answer?

[Christiaan]

When Schuey broke his leg and Ferrari hired Salo Burti was very very displeased. Jean Todt issued a statement saying that the decision not to use Burti was partly because he was Italian. He did not clarify

[da Silva]

Originally posted by Christiaan
When Schuey broke his leg and Ferrari hired Salo Burti was very very displeased. Jean Todt issued a statement saying that the decision not to use Burti was partly because he was Italian. He did not clarify

You must meen Badoer ;)

[tifoso]

Originally posted by Italian
Im just as confused as you are, but my geuss would be that Badoer was most probaly testing #220 Chassi as Rubens and Michael were relaxing, not so mych rubens though.

I presume that #220 is the T-Car which will be used at San Marino (Geuss) by M.Schumacher
and Rubens can hold on to his #217 Chassis.

Anyone have backed up answer?

According to Todt, you are correct. Badoer drove F2002 Chassis 220 in Fiorano on the morning of 3/24 before it was shipped to Brazil. Here the quote from the Ferrari web site:

"We will send one F2002 car to Interlagos, chassis 220, which was given a shakedown test by Luca Badoer at Fiorano this morning. The car will be allocated to Michael Schumacher, who will have a modified F2001 as a spare car. Rubens Barrichello will have two modified F2001 at his disposal for his home race."

[Don Capps]

Ah, well, it certainly was NOT Tazio Nuvolari -- it was supposedly after Luigi Musso crashed at Reims during the 1958 GP de l"ACF. I was there but on another part of the circuit. However, after the 1967 Monte Carlo crash which proved fatal to Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari is once more said to have muttered the same thing -- or words to that effect. Back then, one was always cautious to take anything Ferrari said with several (large) grains of salt. Keep in mind that Alboreto was leading the WDC as late as the German GP in 1985 -- in a Ferrari and Enzo was still very much on the throne.