50 replies to this topic

[Ghostrider]

From Atlasf1 news.
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To see an Italian driver win in a Ferrari is the dream of many," said di Montezemolo. "At times dreams do come true, other times no. At the opportune moment we will try."

Montezemolo, however, said: "Ferrari might one day reverse the trend in the choosing of an Italian driver (but) there are many considerations and reasons more to do with politics and economics."

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Ferrari are very aware that Fisi wants to drive for them and they have earlier said that they rate him. So what is Luca really saying? It sounds more like "Yes, we would like to sign up an Italian driver, but not before Schumacher resigns as driver". It sounds like that to me.

Money and politics. That has always been the biggest problem for Fisi. :

[fifi]

i think Ferrari may change there policy but tbh i cant see it while MS is there and by then i think Fisi will have missed his chance

[BRG]

I hope they are clearing the way for Giorgio Pantano.

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by BRG
I hope they are clearing the way for Giorgio Pantano.

Pantano is getting hammered by Wirdheim in F3000 you know. I doubt he is really good.

[glorius&victorius]

Was Ivan Capelli the last regular Italian driver?

He screwed up pretty big, didn't he?

[BorderReiver]

I think the signs are there you know. . . .

It's not inconceivable we'll see Fisi in a Ferrari before too long.

I think national Italian pride is coming to the fore at Ferrari. They are extremely strong now and may want an Italian driver again. The Tifosi would love it.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by glorius&victorius
Was Ivan Capelli the last regular Italian driver?

He screwed up pretty big, didn't he?

Capelli was a fantastic driver, it was Ferrari who screwed him. The heaped pressure on and gave him a dog of a car. Not the best way to start your top team career. J ust as he was getting it together they terminated his contract.

[Mickey]

When Fisichella said that he would pay to drive for Ferrari, ha was guest at an event in Italy that promoted a motoring encyclopedia.

Montezemolo was also a guest there, so while it may very well be that he's considering having Fisichella driving for Ferrari, it wouldn't have been the place to say something like "Fisico can offer as much as he wants but we'll never have an Italian driving for us."

As much as I would love to see him at the Scuderia I wouldn't read much into it...

[Ghostrider]

Yes Mickey, you are right. Montezemolo said the same a couple of years ago and shortly after prolonged Barrichello's contract. The strange thing for me is that the Italian F1 fans don't create more stir around this. Imagine if McLaren, Williams and Jordan had policies that prevented them from hiring British drivers. Just unthinkable. Italian F1 supporters must be lame or something.

[Bart]

What policy do the Scuderia allegedly have against Italian drivers? Surely they simply want to sign the best drivers available, like all teams do. It would be stupid to have a pro-Italian policy if that means you have to get worse drivers.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Ghostrider
Italian F1 supporters must be lame or something.

Come thunder, come wrath!

I'd never ever call the Tifosi lame. I value my reprodutive organs far too much.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Bart
What policy do the Scuderia allegedly have against Italian drivers? Surely they simply want to sign the best drivers available, like all teams do. It would be stupid to have a pro-Italian policy if that means you have to get worse drivers.

There has been an unwritten rule at Maranello for quite a long time about Italian drivers. I'm not really sure why. It may well be because the Italians are perceived as a hot headed bunch who when they get in a Ferrari go a bit nuts. In some cases this is certainly true. Eugenio Castelotti springs to mind, along with a few others.

However the real reason I think is the immense pressure the Italian press and fans would put on and Italian in a Ferrari. Enough to make any man crack. There is so much history at stake.

The Italian who does sign for Ferrari is going to have to have a skin like kevlar.

[AF Prodrive]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
I think the signs are there you know. . . .

It's not inconceivable we'll see Fisi in a Ferrari before too long.

I think national Italian pride is coming to the fore at Ferrari. They are extremely strong now and may want an Italian driver again. The Tifosi would love it.

I don't know how much the Tifosi would like seeing Fisi in the role of Michael's trained monkey. What kind of national pride would be instilled when Toad calls with his "for the chamionship" routine.

I'd love to see Fisi (or JV) in a Ferrari, but not as Michael's bitch.

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
I'd never ever call the Tifosi lame. I value my reprodutive organs far too much.

Have to stir them up a little, maybe after they are finished with me they go after Ferrari's anti-Italian driver policy.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by Ghostrider
Italian F1 supporters must be lame or something.

OK.
Fisico's (and Frulli's) bid to Ferrari is well supported by the general F1 community in Italy (fans, TV, magazines, newspapers, radio), but Ferrari does NOT make decisions based on public opinions. If it would, it would be ****ed.

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by Bart
What policy do the Scuderia allegedly have against Italian drivers? Surely they simply want to sign the best drivers available, like all teams do. It would be stupid to have a pro-Italian policy if that means you have to get worse drivers.

Read what Montezemolo says. I don't want a pro-Italy policy, not at all, but I don't want the non-Italy policy that Luca admits is existing today.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Ghostrider




Have to stir them up a little, maybe after they are finished with me they go after Ferrari's anti-Italian driver policy.

Your a braver man than I. . . .;)

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo
OK.
Fisico's (and Frulli's) bid to Ferrari is well supported by the general F1 community in Italy (fans, TV, magazines, newspapers, radio), but Ferrari does NOT make decisions based on public opinions. If it would, it would be ****ed.

For me it would be a great challenge for Ferrari to win with an Italian driver. I mean, they have dominated F1 for a while now, why not step up the challenge even more? Seems like this "passion" thing that Ferrari always claim to race by, is just words.

[holiday]

Pure lip service. Todt and Montezemolo have made vague comments which did cost them nothing already in the past. That comment will buy them further time again and the Italians fans have something to dream about for a while. When do people understand that Ferrari DONT want to see an Italian driver at Maranello?

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by Ghostrider
Seems like this "passion" thing that Ferrari always claim to race by, is just words.

OK, now you are being silly.
'Passion?' Ghostrider, I understand your frustration, passion is a very cute word thrown around in PR kits, press-releases and history books, but Ferrari is ruthless operation, demands the best and tries to set-up the best course for its future. GF may or may not fit the bill, it doesn't matter what passport he is carrying.

If you think Ferrari is being mean/ruthless to GF, it is nothing compared to how the team used to be run during the "passion years" whenever the hell those were.

We the fans have passion for Ferrari, but we cannot always have everything we need. The concept of "Italian driver=trouble @ Ferrari" may be curious and strange to u, but it is a dead serious issue in a country that is populated by insane/crazy people like Italy. Brazilian fans can relate to that (football as well). If u are not from there, as an outsider, u will not understand it and why it is a big deal. Italy is not the UK, or Germany or Finland. The rules are different in Italy, and even Ferrari has to abide by the potentially corrosive/explosive issue an "Italian @ Ferrari" may turn out to be.

GFs biggest mistake was that moron manager he had before. I really really like GF, and believe he would do well @ Ferrari, but there are the certain Webbers, Alonsos, Montoyas up-and-comming with a later expiration date which Ferrari may be looking at as well. But now he won a race and has EZ to guide him. i hold out hope.

The timming of Ferrari's renaissance and MS's contract exentsion don't coincide with GF's ascendancy to more talent. First and foremost they wanted to win again, and now that that is finally achieved, they may very well be looking at GF. But the new kids appeared in the meantime, and I believe that GF may be the right man in the wrong time.

The problems and very delicate period FIAT is having is also to be taken into consideration. Maybe a driver from a strong export market would be better. I don't know...

[Ghostrider]

Ok, BBC, I understand, Italians are insane/crazy not lame.

I soon give up on Fisi and support some other driver.

[RedIsTheColour]

The Italians are fired up after an Italian whitewash at Mugello and Caprossi's Ducati heroics at Catalunya in MotoGP. I really don't rate Fisi above mid-pack and he is not likely to be an improvement over Ruby so he can forget the Scuderia. We'll see what happens to his drive after the Jordan / Mercedes drama but maybe he's on the way out of F1 altogether. Schumacher's continued presence and the heroics from KR and FA make all the familiar faces in the mid pack look past their sell by date. Why would a team pony up several million bucks for a proven championship no-hoper (DC, GF, RS, HHF, OP, JT) when they can pick a fast youngster like Sauber did with KR and even show a profit?

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by RedIsTheColour
The Italians are fired up after an Italian whitewash at Mugello and Caprossi's Ducati heroics at Catalunya in MotoGP. I really don't rate Fisi above mid-pack and he is not likely to be an improvement over Ruby so he can forget the Scuderia. We'll see what happens to his drive after the Jordan / Mercedes drama but maybe he's on the way out of F1 altogether. Schumacher's continued presence and the heroics from KR and FA make all the familiar faces in the mid pack look past their sell by date. Why would a team pony up several million bucks for a proven championship no-hoper (DC, GF, RS, HHF, OP, JT) when they can pick a fast youngster like Sauber did with KR and even show a profit?

You can't say Fisi is no-hoper, because he has never had the material to show his worth. He and Schumi are the only in F1 who have always dominated their teammates, a vital statistic.

I hope Fisi gets another car, and beats the crap out of Ferrari. That would be nice to see Todt and Montezemolo face.

[SeanValen]

We will only really know when they sign up a italian f1 driver, ok that sounded too simple and direct, but we must wait.

[Eau Red]

Originally posted by Bart
What policy do the Scuderia allegedly have against Italian drivers? Surely they simply want to sign the best drivers available, like all teams do. It would be stupid to have a pro-Italian policy if that means you have to get worse drivers.

it comes from Enzo, who said at one point (20 yrs ago?) that he would never again have an Italian driving his cars, after a few had been killed/seriously hurt while racing for him. Too much pressure on the driver from the media, too much backlash if the driver got hurt. Since then Ferrari has had a couple of Italian drivers but mostly stayed away from them. Ferrari has changed a lot since then and it's probably just a question of the right Italian driver coming along at the right time.

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by SeanValen
We will only really know when they sign up a italian f1 driver, ok that sounded too simple and direct, but we must wait.

Most signs indicate that then we can wait forever.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Ghostrider
Read what Montezemolo says. I don't want a pro-Italy policy, not at all, but I don't want the non-Italy policy that Luca admits is existing today.

Have a got a quote other than what's on Atlas? All di Montezemelo says is that there's a "trend" of not hiring an Italian driver. This is completely different from a policy.

Originally posted by BorderReiver
There has been an unwritten rule at Maranello for quite a long time about Italian drivers.

Does anybody have any evidence of this? Or is it an X-File?

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by Ghostrider


Most signs indicate that then we can wait forever.

Do your homework and find out about how to make a living vampire, who is a daywalker, make Fisi a vampire, drive f1 forever.....

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by Bart
Have a got a quote other than what's on Atlas? All di Montezemelo says is that there's a "trend" of not hiring an Italian driver. This is completely different from a policy.

Trend, policy, Montezemolo can call it whatever he wants. The base fact is that Ferrari is not interested in hiring an Italian due to monetary and political reasons.

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by SeanValen
Do your homework and find out about how to make a living vampire, who is a daywalker, make Fisi a vampire, drive f1 forever.....

I think Fisi will be fed up mentally sooner than physically actually. He seems demotivated and I can understand him. And there are enough leetches in F1 already.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by Ghostrider
Ok, BBC, I understand, Italians are insane/crazy not lame.

One thing u HAVE to understand about Italy to make some sense of this silliness is that Italians are more than happy to have their operations run by foreigners. For some reason we think they a better or smarter. :

Take the euro for example. Last year when it kicked-in, Italy was much too happy to allow Brussels eurocrats @ the ECB take care of fiscal policies. --Bye, bye lira, no regrets, lets get on with the details of day to day life and have someone else worry about the big-picture decisions--

Same thing for many prominent Italian companies and operations. LDM is a strong supporter of this (Columbis U. education) and probably knows better to keep the important high-profile positions @ Ferrari filled by Brits, French and Germans w/ less pressure than Italians. The nitty-gritty details are still taken care of by the 99%-italian workforce mind you...

Ferrari is a prominent and delicate Italian 'brand' very successful and admired worldwide, it would be dangerous to put in the equation a potentially explosive element.

[holiday]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo
'Passion?' Ghostrider, I understand your frustration, passion is a very cute word thrown around in PR kits, press-releases and history books, but Ferrari is ruthless operation, demands the best and tries to set-up the best course for its future.

Oh thank you, thank you so much. Its a great relief to hear for once such words as clear as water. If now the other fans could make the logical transfer to their own favourite drivers/teams we'd have a wonderful board with much more mature fans. Thank you again.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Ghostrider
Trend, policy, Montezemolo can call it whatever he wants. The base fact is that Ferrari is not interested in hiring an Italian due to monetary and political reasons.

Or perhaps because there aren't any Italian drivers whom they believe to be good enough?

[pRy]

I good friend told me one day that Ferrari will never employ an Italian Driver while Schumacher is at the team. I said why? They said the Italian Press will never allow an Italian driver to be moved over for a non Italian driver to take victory.

Makes sense. Maybe when Schumacher has gone but not before.

[Cociani]

When Lorenzo Bandini died in the mid sixties Italians were heartbroken. There was a lot of anger in the Italian media etc. Enzo deceided at that time to have a no Italian driver policy to avoid the situation from happening again. Michele Alboreto certainly was a departure from the policy, and that happened when Enzo was still alive.

The only reason for the policy was because the sport was so dangerous in the sixties and seventies and the team did not want the blood of an Italian driver on their hands. The sport is much safer now.

IMO there is no policy, Luca tests for them etc. I think it has become a bit of a myth. There certainly is no valid reason for the policy anymore.

[Fastcar]

Originally posted by holiday
Pure lip service. Todt and Montezemolo have made vague comments which did cost them nothing already in the past. That comment will buy them further time again and the Italians fans have something to dream about for a while. When do people understand that Ferrari DONT want to see an Italian driver at Maranello?

Alboreto was a great driver...you see the Ferrari was absolutely nowhere near as good as the McLArens and Williams' of the day. Capelli crashed a lot and couldn't match Alesi, Alesi was as near as dammit Italian anyway and so is Larini for that matter. All it boils down to is that Ferrari haven't had a great Italian driver for a while but now that there is one available, tried and tested and raring to go as fit as ever now is the time to go again.

[Scoop]

What did you expect Monizz(and the rest of his name) to say?

He's in the presence of all the italians.. he's not going to say.. no chance

[Mrv]

Originally posted by pRy
I good friend told me one day that Ferrari will never employ an Italian Driver while Schumacher is at the team. I said why? They said the Italian Press will never allow an Italian driver to be moved over for a non Italian driver to take victory.

Makes sense. Maybe when Schumacher has gone but not before.

Italians would not stand for that. Schumacher and Ferrari would be ripped apart by the media and the public. Luca will never put an Italian in that seat while Schumacher is there. It would create alot of pressure, stress and turmoil on the team.

[f1fan]

when there is a italian driver thats the best or potentialy the best he will drive the red car, at the momment there is nobody anywhere near filling that criteria, so the schummacher theory can be dissmissed because it will never become a issue whilst micheal is still driving.

[Mrv]

Bullshit. Fisi at the moment is probably ranked as the 2nd or 3rd best driver in F1 IMO.

[f1fan]

exactly MRV, in your opinion, for what its worth. stand by my post, only time will tell but i can wait,
and let it all unfold then if i am right you might be as quick to except you where way off as you where quick to jump in with your putdown,by the way alonso will be coming to ferrari, so you can chew on that aswell. stay cool im on the same side, but enjoy the right to post MY OPINION.

[Mrv]

Originally posted by f1fan
exactly MRV, in your opinion, for what its worth. stand by my post, only time will tell but i can wait,
and let it all unfold then if i am right you might be as quick to except you where way off as you where quick to jump in with your putdown,by the way alonso will be coming to ferrari, so you can chew on that aswell. stay cool im on the same side, but enjoy the right to post MY OPINION.

I really don't care who comes to Ferrari really. Even your grandmother if she is quick.

[lanius]

Originally posted by Mrv


I really don't care who comes to Ferrari really. Even your grandmother if she is quick.

As long as it isn't Kimi, right?;)

[Mrv]

Originally posted by lanius


As long as it isn't Kimi, right?;)

I don't care really, but somehow IMO I don't think that will ever happen. Ferrari are interested in Montoya, Alonso and Massa at the moment for Rubens replacement. But who is to say that Rubens is gone. He is contracted till the end of 2004 and if he gets his act together Ferrari will not replace him as he works well with Schumi.

[lanius]

I agree.
I don't think he's going to Ferrari either.
He's clearly a McLaren man.

Though it'd be really weird if KR would drive for Ferrari..
Maybe I'd become a tifosi.

[Group B]

Originally posted by lanius

Though it'd be really weird if KR would drive for Ferrari..
Maybe I'd become a tifosi.

Blasphemy. I'm gonna tell HSJ when he gets back ;)

[Mrv]

Originally posted by lanius
I agree.
I don't think he's going to Ferrari either.
He's clearly a McLaren man.

Though it'd be really weird if KR would drive for Ferrari..
Maybe I'd become a tifosi.

A tifosi? Ouch. Who would I have to argue with in here if you all jumped ship. Including HSJ.

Honestly no offense, but Kimi doesn't suit being in a Ferrari. I hope he stays at Mclaren for his career.

[lanius]

Originally posted by Group B


Blasphemy. I'm gonna tell HSJ when he gets back ;)

NOOOOOO!

Really, I'm Räikkönen supporter first, the team comes second so I would support Ferrari. No question. Maybe being a tifosi would be a bit too radical, but a supporter nonetheless.

[lanius]

Originally posted by Mrv



A tifosi? Ouch. Who would I have to argue with in here if you all jumped ship. Including HSJ.

Honestly no offense, but Kimi doesn't suit being in a Ferrari. I hope he stays at Mclaren for his career.

I agree partially. Definitely it's easy to see him as a McMan.
Although the fire and ice combination could be interesting too..

[Menace]

Originally posted by lanius


I agree partially. Definitely it's easy to see him as a McMan.
Although the fire and ice combination could be interesting too..