Luca does it again....and why?

[SS454]

I think this is a kick in the nuts to Kimi. How is a driver of his talent (being the #1 driver for years) be told before the season even begins that he's #2 and he should already be driving for Alonso to get points. IMO, the team should let them loose, best driver to the front and after 6 races or so, whoever is looking like the championship favorite, then strategies can be manipulated to favor that leading driver. While I believe Alonso is the better driver, who knows maybe Kimi out performs him. Kimi's consistency in the last 2 seasons with Lotus have been outstanding and rivals that of any driver.

[Winter]

It would be a disappointment, if there is any favoritism towards either driver in first half of the season.

[aroutis]

Luca @ no point does he Say KR will be #2 driver. He does clearly say that KR is expected to succeed where FM failed. Other than that it's obvious same is expected from FA. Really nothing to see here,

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[Winter]

I give it a second taught and I really dont think that Montezemolo is stupid enough to say in public that he hired Kimi to be nr.2. I think both drivers will be equal at the start of the season, just like it has been with Kimi/Felipe and Felipe/Fernando.

[Nova]

I dont see why some people r down on Luca...
I dont think you realize the importance of what he did to preserve the company that Signore (Ingengenire) Enzo Ferrari
started so long ago. Long live Scuderia Ferrari.

[Hornet]

I dont see why some people r down on Luca...
I dont think you realize the importance of what he did to preserve the company that Signore (Ingengenire) Enzo Ferrari
started so long ago. Long live Scuderia Ferrari.

I don't think anyone is saying Luca is a bad manager. He's still the boss I trust to run Ferrari. His PR is just not as good and the things he say sometimes put himself or the team in a bad light. For example, his public comment about ear tweaking made it look like the team was against Alonso and endless stories were written about it. It was basically a PR disaster I'm sure Stefano or Alonso would rather not have.

I don't have a problem with what Luca said here, but not too long ago he said he didn't like having #1 #2, so it makes him look like he's contradicting himself.

[Nova]

Yea, but knowing how the journo's twist things that are said, I hardly believe most of it...
Alonso himself recently said things about this..how things are printed that he said...that he never said.
Old saying: Believe half of what you see, and none of which you hear. Something like that.
Its off season, these journo's imagination...they may all be trying to get a job with Disney.
Merry Christmas :xmassmile::xmaswink::xmasfrown::xmasbiggrin::xmas cool:

[Stormsearcher]

I think LDM just said what everyone has know for a very long time now. Alonso is the chosen one. LDM is dumbledore and Vettel is the dark lord.

On a more serious note, its quite probably LDM being used to nando as no.1, just happened to say it. Whether it was a thin veiled implication of the way things will be, we'll never know.
But like someone else mentioned, its looking like LDM and Nando have buried their differences. And yes, the way the article reports it, it does seem to hint at Kimi being the rear gunner to Alonsos charge.

[Nero Horse]

I dont see why some people r down on Luca...
I dont think you realize the importance of what he did to preserve the company that Signore (Ingengenire) Enzo Ferrari
started so long ago. Long live Scuderia Ferrari.

Couldn't agree with you more! Well said mate! Long live Ferrari! :xmasbiggrin:

[Module]

Mäybe it is also about Domenicali and LdM as he seems to make a point every time he mentions Kimi about it being Domenicalis choice. Maybe one of them is going to have to pay for the La Ferrari for the otherones driver? :xmasbiggrin:

[fratelliferrari]

I dont see why some people r down on Luca...
I dont think you realize the importance of what he did to preserve the company that Signore (Ingengenire) Enzo Ferrari
started so long ago. Long live Scuderia Ferrari.

100% agree with you!

[brembo man]

Kimi was brought back to replace our #2 driver. The old 1, 2 @ Ferrari. That's not going to change. I was shocked when he actually took the spot, knowing he is a proven #1 driver anywhere else. Knowing he's going to get paid has to have helped him make the decision and of course Ferrari is the team. If we turn out to be the winning team in 2014 , new engine , rules etc. and hopefully there's a lot of Ferrari 1st, 2nd place races , IMO team orders willl be flying over the radio, "Let him pass!" and it's not going to be Santander, oh! I mean Alonso moving over. Will Kimi move oner? I believe so, he had to have read the fine print along with the $$$ signs on his contract. PS: I still think Massa getting the boot was a mistake. At least one more year in a new car would have been the right thing to do. To me a Life like photo or a statue of Luca at Ferrari headqoarters would be the same as to him being there. It's the drivers and the engineers, the pit guys that make it work. Enzo drove, he was real.

[Petronius]

Kimi was brought back to replace our #2 driver. The old 1, 2 @ Ferrari. That's not going to change. I was shocked when he actually took the spot, knowing he is a proven #1 driver anywhere else. Knowing he's going to get paid has to have helped him make the decision and of course Ferrari is the team. If we turn out to be the winning team in 2014 , new engine , rules etc. and hopefully there's a lot of Ferrari 1st, 2nd place races , IMO team orders willl be flying over the radio, "Let him pass!" and it's not going to be Santander, oh! I mean Alonso moving over. Will Kimi move oner? I believe so, he had to have read the fine print along with the $$$ signs on his contract. PS: I still think Massa getting the boot was a mistake. At least one more year in a new car would have been the right thing to do. To me a Life like photo or a statue of Luca at Ferrari headqoarters would be the same as to him being there. It's the drivers and the engineers, the pit guys that make it work. Enzo drove, he was real.

You might be right, or alternatively just scratching surface. It is ideal situation with different sponsors backing drivers in the team. Santander is behind Fernando and Shell behind Kimi. This will ease pressure in the team to handle sponsorship relations and preferences in a proper way. Probably equal treatment without number one or two in the first half off 2014 is the case. This way team will optimize total amount of wcc points. Driver that is in the lead in the second half might get preferential treatment, if the other one is far behind in standings, which should be logical outcome for everybody...or at least for most.

Fernando and Kimi are both extremely talented individuals, with very different personalities. From team POV motivation is done with this in hindsight. Mr LdM is using this method very effective. Let's hope it bears fruit to get best possible final result. That counts in the end off season.

[Winter]

In Kimis first ferrari stint Luca said things about Kimis motivation.
Well if Luca now really ment what some are suggesting here, he really has funny way to motivate drivers :xmasrolleyes:

[Greig]

In Kimis first ferrari stint Luca said things about Kimis motivation.
Well if Luca now really ment what some are suggesting here, he really has funny way to motivate drivers :xmasrolleyes:

Or he regrets bringing him back already

[brembo man]

Well said , what you say sounds right to me.

[Petronius]

Or he regrets bringing him back already

You know and I know this is pure speculation at this moment. The real deal remains to be seen. It will happen on track, not here on the site or in media:).

[Nova]

Luca @ no point does he Say KR will be #2 driver. He does clearly say that KR is expected to succeed where FM failed. Other than that it's obvious same is expected from FA. Really nothing to see here,

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The thing about all this #1 #2 stuff is that Kimi doesnt care one way or the other.
:xmasbiggrin::xmassmile::xmastongue::xmasmad::xmas wink:

[Rishu]

Ferrari has history of having #1, #2 drivers, but I don't think it starts right from the first race. Equal treatment before it's clear who is challenging for WDC. I remember a Andrew Benson tweet where he claimed a Ferrari top personal who has worked with both thinks Alonso will easily beat Raikkonen specially in Q & race starts. Maybe Luca also knows this or he thinks it might eventually happen, but I honestly think that both Alo & Rai will begin the season with equal priority.

[Hornet]

Ferrari has history of having #1, #2 drivers, but I don't think it starts right from the first race. Equal treatment before it's clear who is challenging for WDC. I remember a Andrew Benson tweet where he claimed a Ferrari top personal who has worked with both thinks Alonso will easily beat Raikkonen specially in Q & race starts. Maybe Luca also knows this or he thinks it might eventually happen, but I honestly think that both Alo & Rai will begin the season with equal priority.

People often talk about #1 #2 regarding to team orders only. I don't think that's what it's about.

I think it's about having a driver who's more than just being able to drive fast. It's about having a driver who can take the lead and rally the people around him. Kimi is a fast driver, but I don't think he has the capability of filling the responsibility of being the lead driver, which is why he was let go and now Ferrari have no problem bringing him back. Now he no longer have to fill the responsibility of being the leading driver.

[PlatzdaTurbo]

Lots of dissection over what ldm might have really meant when he said what he did.
What im wondering though is, wouldn't Kimi have made all these things absolutely clear from them before he signed the dotted line especially given the events of 09'?
He hates politics and would obviously want to avoid any such nonsense given that he doesnt have too many years to go ??
He doesn't speak much of course but has always said that the only thing he likes about F1 is racing and he wouldn't be here if he didn't love the racing aspect of it or feel motivated enough.
If logic has prevailed, hed have made terms clear from his end as well as Ferrari's that hes here to race and win the WDC & not to dust the path clean for nando.
I hope he's done that & i well and truly hope ldm is NOT upto no good !

[Alonsomaniac]

And then today Luca called Fernando " our number one driver".
Him doing that so openly now convinces me that Kimi is well aware of this and apparently has accepted it in exchange of a very attractive contract.

[Nero Horse]

First of all, I don't believe that Luca will assign anyone to be the official number 1 or number 2 driver, at least not at the beginning of the season (both drivers will start as equals, just like in all the previous seasons). And second of all, I really don't think that Kimi cares much about whether he's the nr.1 driver or nr.2... he's just going to drive as fast as he can and that's it.

[Alonsomaniac]

Well, Nero Horse, I for myself would like it to be completely equal and open between both drivers too, but the more Luca says, the more I fear we are going back to the old system of a nr 1 and a nr 2 driver
I quote LDM:

"I am very pleased with Fernando. He has a contract with us until the end of 2016.

"My only concern is to give him a better car.

"I have a lot of problems but the number one driver is not a problem. We will talk in two years time."


Now what else can I make out of this when the man literally says:"....number one driver" ?
And no, I don't like it. I support Fernando as you know, but I don't want any other driver to be told to stay behind him. Fernando deserves a WDC, but he has to win it himself.

[Nero Horse]

Well, Nero Horse, I for myself would like it to be completely equal and open between both drivers too, but the more Luca says, the more I fear we are going back to the old system of a nr 1 and a nr 2 driver
I quote LDM:

"I am very pleased with Fernando. He has a contract with us until the end of 2016.

"My only concern is to give him a better car.

"I have a lot of problems but the number one driver is not a problem. We will talk in two years time."


Now what else can I make out of this when the man literally says:"....number one driver" ?
And no, I don't like it. I support Fernando as you know, but I don't want any other driver to be told to stay behind him. Fernando deserves a WDC, but he has to win it himself.

Wait till the season has at least started and then make your conclusions. There's no need to panic by making premature conclusions. The new F1 season isn't even close yet, so please just mellow out.

[Hornet]

Whatever the strategy Ferrari took with Schumi, it worked out well as we all know. If Luca believe we should continue that approach to win the WDC, I'm all for it. Whatever it takes to win :xmascool:

[PlatzdaTurbo]

Whatever the strategy Ferrari took with Schumi, it worked out well as we all know. If Luca believe we should continue that approach to win the WDC, I'm all for it. Whatever it takes to win :xmascool:

With Schumi it was a clear #1 & #2 driver strategy right ?
If they wanted to continue that Massa could have probably sufficed.
On a parallel note Kimi, 34 already should get a car worthy of fighting for the championship and the 2 of them should start on equal terms so i just pray he hasnt accepted a secondary position in exchange for a hefty sum, as some speculate.
I wouldv completely ruled out something like this but iv come to believe truly anything is possible in Formula 1 .

[Alonsomaniac]

Wait till the season has at least started and then make your conclusions. There's no need to panic by making premature conclusions. The new F1 season isn't even close yet, so please just mellow out.

There's no panic here. I just wouldn't like to see Ferrari go back to the old system of a clear nr1 and 2.
And I read from LDM's words that there is a clear possibility that they could do just that.

[Poltergeistes]

A number of things dictates the running order inside the team.

This comment doesn't surprise me at all, I'ts simple math, maybe that's how ferrari's managers are looking at things. If Felipe outperformed Kimi by a little, and then went to be teammate with fernando, and way before it was mathematically impossible for Felipe, Ferrari backed Fernando, and it became obvious, it was the obvious choice, and it always was, we fans are hopeful that our favorite driver will beat his teammate, but the team uses "more than a feeling" when they decide who will be more important, or who will be the benchmark.

So ask yourselves, given all the history from both drivers, and Ferrari, take into consideration the working method of each driver, and the scuderia, which one fits that picture a little better?

I think the main reason they took Kimi (apart from his great driving since he returned) is that Fernando can come first in the scuderia's mind, and Kimi would not care, and this is the key, because this why they let Felipe go, wheres felipe could not hide that he took a blow in germany that would leave him scarred for life (much like hungary 09) Kimi is just likely to tell his race engineer and team to shut up and let him drive his races, this is the iceman's super power, he can turn the "i don't care what you want right now" switch in a split second, and stand by it no less.

WHEN or IF (so some of you won't be upset) a momment comes that Ferrari calls all their prancing horses to fernandos stables an this happens sooner rather than later (as many people would rather) Kimi won't even feel it, he might make a few comments on the radio, then at interviews, then he grabs some snacks and that's the end of it.

It's going to be such an exiciting year, the clash of the extremes, the iceman and the man on fire, i just hope specially Dom, will make 2014 his year, the year where he manages what seemed unmanageable.

Cause yes, right now both drivers and both sides of the camp can't see this becoming a clash of titanic proportions later on, but it reminds me of an interview from both Prost an Senna uring their first season, and the WDC was coming to a close closing end, and they both were trying hard to stay on track of team harmony, and then sarcastically (typical) Alan said "i don't know can we both win the championship"? and Senna's response was as quick as he was on wet races " No Alan there can only be one winner". both saying it with smiles on their faces, but you could see it as clear as day.

Kimi might be relaxed/careless but he doesn't want to come second to his teammate, and the same goes to Fernando (except the relaxed part lol)

As far as Luca saying things like that, we can't expect him not to be this way, this is the reason why Enzo groomed him, this kind of stoking fire within is as old and as mystical as ferrari itself.

2 Great drivers that can match each other on track, but one is the benchmark for the teams developments. we can think it's unfair all we want, but i do beleive it's reality. It just doesn't mean that Kimi can't do on track all that he is capable of doing when he is focusing on his work alone during the race.

PS if anybody reads this post at all, i hope i didn't end winding you guys up. I'm just trying to add my vast expertise in both F1 and human behavior.

[Stormsearcher]

Agree with you for the most part, but i find it a bit difficult to accept that Kimi agreed to play second fiddle. For whatever sum, the title would be more worth. no? Cause these days he seems unhappy even coming second, going by his post race interviews. He wants to win. I dont think there is a single driver out there who doesnt want to win and is happy coming in second.

I feel LDM is just making amends for the ear tweaking statement and Kimi is in the loop regarding this PR repair work, so the press can stop blowing it out of proportion. But even this seems a bit far fetched.