Kimi's first win?

[nichosnz 0]

Can you imagine it though, a Ferrari not qualifing, when his team-mate is on Pole Position.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hard, very hard. I think it's easier to imagine one Ferrari on pole while the other is on P22, with a time 106.8% of pole.

Seriously, I think Yoong could qualify maybe on P16 just from the extra power he gets on straights from the Ferrari.

[nichosnz 0]

Row 8, very impressive.

Seriously though I would like to see Badoer and Burti given a chance in a couple (at least) of races each. Likewise Wurz, Gene...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

They should have one race a year where the third driver must step in to take over from one of the race drivers. That would be interesting. I'd love to see Burti or Badoer in a race to see how they could do in a great car.

But the one man I'd really like to see more than anyone in a top car is Alex Wurz. He is my favourite non-Finn driver, but has never been given a proper chance. He should be in the car next season in place of David Coulthard, or if they have three cars a team then no problem.

[nichosnz 0]

Of the four I mentioned Wurz is the only driver to have raced a decent F1 car. He subbed for Berger in Benetton in 1997 for 3 races and scored a podium.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

True, but Wurz is really a top class driver in my view. He showed it well enough at Benetton...

[nichosnz 0]

I don't know if Badoer is as good as those other 3 but he must be quite decent, as Ferrari wouldn't waste tesing time and miles on a driver who is useless. But of the 4 he is the one I would most like to see in a race in a decent car if just to make up for the disappointment from Nurburgring 99 as detailed in another topic at this time.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Ferrari should lock up Rubens' second place and then put in Badoer and Burti for the Japanese GP, it would make for a nice change... What else have they got to achieve after Michael takes his tenth and eleventh wins, and then Rubens locks up second?

[nichosnz 0]

I don't know how true either of these rumours are but...

Rumour 1) After the 11 of Sept last year MS didn't want to race the rest of the season. The title was already wrapped up. Luca Badoer was put on stand-by to fill in for MS.

Rumour 2) Ecclestone and Mosely caught wind of Rumour 1 and stated that if MS didn't race till seasons end unless he was physically unable he would be disqualified from the championship.

So would Ferrari be allowed to let the two race.

One point though: I think Rumour 2 has to be a rumour, as what grounds would they have to take such action.

[daz 0]

From what I remember (& this may be completely wrong):

Rumour 1 is true. Apparently MS was very upset about the happenings on 11/9 and Ferrari did let him have the option of not racing with Badoer as stand-in.

Rumour 2 is not quite true. There is physically nothing the FIA can do to make a driver race or penalise them for not. A team has the final decision as to what drivers it is entering at each race and these must be submitted I think the Thursday before each race meeting. Provided that is done and the drivers have the required super-license then the FIA is powerless to prevent those designated from racing. The only rule that I think does apply is that a team may only use a maximum of 3 or 4 drivers in a season if they want their points to count towards the constructors championship. Regarding the MS situation last year I beleive that BE & MM did indeed here about the rumour and ended up having a quiet chat with Schumie. Here they pointed out the financial implicatons of how much F1 would lose by not having the World champ compete, the fact that a large % of the fans going to races were paying to see him etc.. Whatever they did say though obviously worked even if MS's heart wasn't really into racing that weekend.

As for this year I really don't see any reason for not letting at least one of the test drivers have an outting in a race. Personally I'd love to see LB and MS race. Just to see whether LB can push MS as much as RB has this year.

[nichosnz 0]

I don't see any reason not to allow that either, and that would be a quite interesting comparison to make.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well I think if for one GP at the end of the season, when everything is all locked up for Ferrari etc. then there couldn't be anything against it. Except, as daz pointed out, that fans have bought tickets a year in advance to see either Rubens or Michael, only to see Luca and Luciano...

[nichosnz 0]

Daz it has now been 50 races on the podium, and the race before that was Nurburgring 1999. Alreadly discussed in relation to Irvine in the topic "Jaguars Troubles" and in several topics in relation to Badoer's bad luck. Which means it is also 50 races in the points, of those 50 Ferrari have won 32, Irvine won race one of the current 50, Barrichello has won 3 and Schumacher 28.

Ignoring 'hold station' team orders as that is had to prove who would have won, but adjusting for 'move over' team order those 32 wins would be as such Irvine 0, Barrichello 4, Schumacher 28.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That is an amazing feat from Ferrari, I have a bit about it in the newest Wrap which is coming out sometime today. I forgot to add a couple, but you get the point from what there is.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

News: Martin Whitmarsh rallying support for Raikkonen. He says that "his first win will come soon, it is only clear from the results. Hopefully this season. He will also win a championship for us."

Talk about commitment and trust to a driver.

[nichosnz 0]

He is a good driver and he is in the right place. Unlike Amon and Fisichella good drivers never in the right place.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Right place and probably at the right time too. Mclaren are not expected to be winning every race, so it takes off pressure.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Which helps even is he IS the 'ice man.'

[nichosnz 0]

Yeah it doesn't matter how cool and calm you are if you're not expected to win the difference in pressure must be huge. Just look at Hakkinen in 1997, he was expected to win so threw away a win or two.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well his engine blew several times while leading. But you could see the 1999 was tough for Irvine and Hakkinen, it went down to the wire.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes I know there were some mechanical prob's, but I wasn't refering to those, that is why I said one or two, rather than several.

Also about 1999 I agree completely, if MS had not broken his leg it would have gone down to the wire anyway, BUT with more points on the board. Not this mere 76-74 business.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Had Schumacher not broken his leg the 1999 championship battle would have been magnificent, but I think Hakkinen would have prevailed on top.

[nichosnz 0]

I'm not sure about that he was only 8 points down, maybe less he could have restarted had he not been injured, with 8 races to go.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, we'll never change whats been and gone to quote an Oasis song.

[nichosnz 0]

No thats right the points state MH won in 1999 and no amount of discussing will change that. Ever. Well done Mika.

And Oasis, gee I'd forgotten the existed. And I even bought tickets for a concert (didn't go though).