In recent months the F1 driver market has appeared to be dominated, or rather held back by, Fernando Alonso and his decision to either leave Ferrari or stay there. This is the normal way of things in the F1 jungle. Fernando is, to quote The Sherman Brothers, “king of the swingers, the jungle VIP”. He’s reached the top and he’s had to stop at Ferrari and he is now wondering where to go, given that the team has performed few miracles in five years and time waits for no man. Fernando’s career is slipping away, day by day, week by week. The signs of progress in the red corner are not exactly tangible. There is a plan to put in place the structure to allow Ferrari to win again, but it’s a three- to five-year project and probably needs a younger man to drive it forwards. So, if you are Ferrari and you are faced with the best driver in F1 not wanting to be part of the team, your best course of action today would be to look for a proven winner who is much younger than Fernando. Until you get him, you are going to hold on to Alonso as the fallback plan, a bizarre thought given FA’s ability. So it seems that the dominos will not start falling until this replacement decides what to do and extracts himself from his commitments. Money solves all problems in F1 (which is how Lotus will soon announce a Mercedes engine deal) and so we must wait to see if Ferrari’s Alonso replacement is willing to fight his way out of his current contract. The question you are all asking is who? The answer is Sebastian Vettel. He’s a four-time World Champion at the age of 27. He’s six years younger than Alonso and even if he’s having a poor year, he’s still a class act. Some say that his star is waning because of Dan Ricciardo, while others talk of Sebastian being tired, not liking his car and needing a change. On a different level, he also knows that as long as he stays at Red Bull there will always be accusations that the car was the star, so he needs to move on and show he can do it in more than one team, à la Fernando, à la the all-time greats.
The current Red Bull has not been a winner with him at the wheel and has not apparently been given a nickname (like Sweaty Betty) as his previous cars were. There is no affection, I guess.
The Red Bull folk will tell you that he’s under contract until… Blah, blah, blah. We all know that contracts are negotiable in the F1 world unless there is a necessary reason for it not to happen, so we need not waste time with this. The question is what does he want? If the answer is a new challenge then Red Horse rather than Red Bull is the logical choice. It is certainly a challenge and the team is the most famous chapter in the F1 jungle book. Every driver wants to be in the red. It’s what great drivers do… Red Bull may not want that to happen because they know his value, but at the same time when a driver reaches a certain level, it is he who is reported upon, not the car he drives. Red Bull is not in F1 to sell Sebastian Vettels, it is there to sell fizzy pop and there are some who would argue that the gawky Russky Daniil Kvyat would be a better marketing bet than the reclusive Vettel, and the perfect new partner for Toothy Dan from ‘stralia.
I think it is clear to say that Fernando does not have a get-out clause at Ferrari, as is widely believed, and they will hold on to him if they need to, but if they get Vettel, then they can let Alonso hop off to his new challenge down Woking way, a move that would set the markets moving. It may be that Vettel decides not to move, and that Alonso too will stay where he is, in which case McLaren will probably be unchanged, leaving the likes of Romain Grosjean and Nico Hulkenberg with no place to go. So the line-up at the front of F1 in 2015 will be very similar to this year – and the sort out will come in 12 months from now.
We will see.
joeblogsf1 
Vettel called the car Suzie.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/uk-motor-racing-vettel-idUKBREA2A22E20140311
Nice Jungle Book reference. I can’t imagine the number of ‘new Schumi’ references that will flood the media if Vettel does get snapped up by Ferrari. What I am curious about, however, is where Raikkonen fits into the driver market game. I would guess next year is when he would get a car more to his liking. Even when he first joined Lotus in 2012 I recall the numerous stories of him trying to get the car to suit his driving style (the steering in particular). That probably happened a lot faster at a smaller, less political team and where his teammate was a relatively inexperienced driver. Must be a lot tougher doing the same with Alonso as a teammate.
I actually hope Vettel does go to Ferrari. I think he’s a very good driver, but he was in a car that was a cut above the rest, and there are probably a dozen drivers that could have won a WDC with it. If he goes to Ferrari, I (and many others like me) will know whether we were right or wrong.
Would RBR want two junior(ish) drivers though? In the past there’s always been a senior and a young gun. Any chance Alonso wants to drive the last Newey car?
If he does, and Ricciardo can stick with him, we’d really know what Dan is made of.
He won with that car because he was the best at exploiting it. He developed a style of driving it and the car was then further tuned to this style. I do not agree that “a dozen drivers” could have won a WDC with it. Also, his performance at Ferrari will not tell you if “we were right or wrong”. These are just not comparisons you can make. It is not that simple.
The best I can understand the way that car was designed, it was capable to dramatically develop downforce in a way to suit driver inputs. Full integer points of G’s into corners, just when you want… quickly, so very quickly, like dropping a anchor.
Never discount that driver inputs can be very complex. We hear a lot on the radio. But a sequence of throttle inputs and another qualifier input, was remapping that Renault on the fly, corner by corner. So long as it is driver controlled, it is perfectly legal. Consider how much can be done, from brake bias, to fuel mix, to cam timing and exhaust blowing on a per cylinder basis…
“even” a new S-Class Benz auto will brake bias in response to cross winds. I believe various McLaren road cars have had brake assisted steering, as per race cars that were eventually ruled against. There’s been this – seemingly out of nowhere – drift, in the past year, from the usual media, that F1 is no longer relevant to road cars. One argument goes, that road cars see development first, citing MB’s legendary saloons as example. This is a nonsense argument. It doesn’t matter if the idea was first on a formula one car or on a road car. If I buy a new saloon, and it has new brake bias assisted steering, I want it tested on a proper race car. I’m shuffling back through a lot of dross, to try to find if there’s a origin to this “story” or “mime” passing as “insight” that is supposed to make for news about the sport. Not got it pinned, yet, but it just turned up, at least it popped into my view. I dismissed it, but it kept coming back. I need a new turn of phrase, for I cannot express quite how my eyebrow arches, whilst writing this…
It’s not quite “Casey Stoner and the Ducati” territory though is it?
Hi Joe
Is the vibe in the F1 paddock that Alonso is seriously considering a return to McLaren? Do you seriously think he and Ron can get along this time??
“…there are probably a dozen drivers that could have won a WDC with it”
Like, for example, Mark Weber
It’s certainly interesting to view Weber(sic) V Vettel in light of Ricciardo’s performance this year. The consensus was that that Webber was no mug and that made Vettel pretty damn good so Daniel is……
Mark almost got the handshake just right…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshaking
Was it really that Ron and Fernando didn’t get on, fundamentally? Or more that he didn’t like the parity of treatment of drivers in the team and that Lewis Hamilton, Ron’s protege, didn’t roll over for him?
For me it depends how well KMag gets on if he’s the team mate (and if they keep him). If he gives Nando a bit of a shoeing at times like Lewis did in 2007, then we could see Alonso back to whining again.
Ron and Fernando were fine until the latter did something that was unacceptable.
You say Romain would have no place to go – does he need one?
Joe, I’m puzzled as to what Ron Dennis can promise Fernando Alonso to stop him looking elsewhere (Williams, Mercedes)? It looks to me as though the strongest part of this year’s McLaren is the power train – the one bit they are losing for an unknown quantity (albeit one backed by the mighty Honda). Dennis and Alonso both seem like pragmatists, but would they really be able to bury past hatchets – especially if the new car is not a winner?
McLaren are surely at a similar rebuilding stage as Ferrari, so for them, if they couldn’t get Alonso, wouldn’t it be better for them to get a Grosjean or Hulkenberg rather than hold onto Button?
McLaren’s business and brand is the biggest concern. Balancing that with Honda is the imperative. F1 fits into a tricky, almost literally “matrix management” position.
If you are a serious car builder, do you pin your marketing on having a star to gain you WDCs?
It does work for Ferrari, but the emphasis is different in Woking. Give them two top drivers, different matter. But I think that’s not their desire, for the moment. It’s home making time, for one year at least. The emphasis of their fans and their customers, is accordingly different, from Tifosi, there’s no such passionate glamour for drivers, that I can sense from any perusal of fan sites.
Maybe I should just say, that I wouldn’t chose Fernando, if I were Ron. If I were Ron, not if I had his job, and probably if I had his job, also, as much as I like Fernando as a proposition.
Imagining being Ron, for a moment longer, I would presently just put that down to a decision for if and when Alonso comes on the market, from Ferrari, next year. Quite apart from the ease with which bidding would go too high, I would want someone less likely to mold perception of my team, less able to play his own game with the media. That would present a complicated equation, with Honda. I would rather take a calculated risk, JEV, actually. And jettisoning Jenson maybe a reflex, in he end. Now really a desired discarding, but a sort of twitch, to deal with a itch. I really think JEV would do well, alongside KMag. For a year or so, I think Ron can resist pressure from Honda. There’s no way there’ll be tension let accumulate much, not initially. At least I cannot believe that would be not neatly avoided. If Honda can have a dream lineup, maybe. Maybe. But that’s a complicated thing to do, very tricky to do neatly, now. So I think there will be a “twitch” in their lineup, and JB might be doffed aside.
Equally, WDCs, over general results, works for RBR, also. I imagine that Danni, calling softly for consideration of status, would not coo sweetly in the public ear, if there were not considerable wind under his sail, and around him, palpable pressure to deliver a decent end of season result. (Sebastian who?”) You can choose team orders, now. I can imagine RBR doing some formation driving. If they thought they’d get that delivered, on track, I am sure they would.
Hi JoJ, I think you’re wrong. Ron doesn’t want to win, Ron doesn’t need to win, Ron HAS to win! If you read anything about him from past articles, you will see that Ron must be undergoing exceptional pain for him.
For that reason, Ron would buy Alonso, Hammy, Vettel without a second thought. As they are a cut above the rest. Just that smidgen better than others with all the skill sets that Ron needs and really nothing much between them in performance on track. They vary in individuality, but I’d bet Ron wouldn’t give a flying act of fornication about personality at the moment.
Ron has Honda, he has a remoulded design team, his cars and engines might just be massively competitive next year…..apart from Hammy, the other guys might feel a real desire to see if Mac Honda can be as good or better than Merc….if you look where Vettel & Alonso are right now, then why would they consider just staying where they are….Hammy might also want to jump ship too…..
Firstly small correction, it’s ‘straya’ not ‘stralia’ 🙂
Otherwise, interesting analysis. I think Ferrari should basically open up its pocket book (with those record profits) and give Fernando so much money he can’t do anything other than drive that Ferrari bus back to competitiveness.
I think Vettel is a remarkable talent, but of the current crop of drivers I would have far more confidence if Fernando was driving my car and giving my engineers feedback. There is also the apparent cultural synergy between Fernando and Ferrari. The speak the same language and for someone like Fernando who does occasionally need nurturing from the team I wonder how much that plays into his happiness.
Ferrari is changing though, after the anglo-franco-german success of the Brawn-Todt-Schumacher years, the all-Italian Ferrari kinda stumbled, and it seems like Ferrari is once again looking beyond Italy’s borders to bring success back to the team.
As a Ferrari fan, I hope things turn around, and while the thought of having a Vettel (or a Hamilton) in the car is exciting, pragmatically I think there is no better bet than keeping Alonso. Whatever the cost.
That maybe the case for Ferrari, but does Fernando see that the best bet is to stay at Maranello ? If they haven’t managed it in five years, with however many millions extra they get from FIA/FOM/whoever pays, then what else can they need to change now ? They have such a huge budget, yet still can’t win. I’d be happy for anything that gets rid of Luca’s boring bleating about how hard it is and ‘ ‘ow we ave’a lotsa hard worka backa da factory!’ ‘ which never seems to do anything.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Good analysis.
Here in Madrid, they are reporting the death of Emilio Botin, the big cheese at Banco Santander and huge Alonso supporter. That may also bring a cycle to an end.
It would be good to see Vettel in a Ferrari, and he´s a fan. I would not like to see Alonso back in Woking after the way he was treated last time. His spirit and the methodoogy at McLaren are not compatible. I was amazed he went there in 2007.
Unfortunately since his championships, Alonso has made poor career choices, always driving his heart out in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite the UK perception, Alonso is historically loyal, unfortunately that includes loyalty to a manager who has got it wrong at every step.
P45 for Raikkonen, keep Alonso and sign Vettel? Could that be done?
I know that the red team is the one everyone wants to drive or work for and all that. But really, it’s a double edged sword. The other side of the blade is the seemingly never-ending politics that go on in that camp, and also the team is in flux. From an outsiders point of view, it’s like a pit of snakes. Little wonder that Adrian Newey didn’t want to go there, even if he is a genius but a bit of a delicate soul to boot. I would be asking myself – do the negatives outweigh the positives? Or is it the other way round, which would justify having to put with all the skulduggery that goes on there? Whoever is aiming at going there really needs to ask themselves this as well as all the other questions that need to be asked.
Sometimes, even with drivers, the Heart makes the decision over the Head….and sometimes it really works as with Lauda & Schumi.
If that is true it is hilarious and indicative of why Ferrari are where they are now. Vettel was never that good, Riccardio has shown that yet Ferrari want him to lead the team! It’s as if Ferrari are being led by people who have only recently discovered F1. I feel for them and hope they come back to form one day but equally would enjoy watching them languishing around with Vettel wondering why they are still not winning.
Incidentally Vettel would be best off going now for the big bucks. His value diminishes every time Riccardio gets in the car!
Vettel and Brawn at Ferrari? Phew….
Alonso is my fav driver, but I have made peace with the idea that two WDC’s is all he’ll ever have.
“[Vettel] needs to move on and show he can do it in more than one team, à la Fernando, à la the all-time greats.”
– This is an interesting comment as, of course, Fernando has only won a World Championship with one team (Renault) – way back in 2005 & 2006. His headline results in the 7 and a half seasons thereafter have been good (considering the cars) but not great (considering the resources of the teams he was a lead member of) with 17 wins in 142 races. Yet he is still regarded by many as the greatest driver on the grid today.
For Vettel to achieve the same level of recognition, do you think he would need to win other Championships elsewhere, or would out driving a mediocre Ferrari be enough?
He could start by outdriving his junior teammate…
That made me smile 😀
Fernando is still considered a great despite being beaten by a rookie team mate in 2007.
They tied.
Except he wasn’t beaten, they finished the season on equal points. In an openly hostile environment, no less.
I concede he handled that season badly, but he raced Hamilton right up until the final race. Can we say the same of Vettel and Ricciardo?
They may have finished on equal points, but you don’t have ties in F1 – Hamilton finished ahead of Alonso in the standings based on greater number of higher placed finishes.
Vettel may be being beaten by a junior team mate at the moment, but Ricciardo is no rookie – being in his fourth season of F1.
Alonso was beaten by a rookie, yet still remains an F1 great.
Hi Zeph,
Simply you can say that Vettel has been outperformed by Vettel this year.
However when you look deeper at the season you can make a number of assumptions. I would ask is Vettel operating at 100%? I would say no. Is it natural for a fall off in motivation after winning 4 titles? I would say yes (particulary in light of his personal circumstances). Have we seen glimses of Vettel still showing his class? Yes – last 3 races he has outqualified his teammate. Do we know that Vettel has struggled to adapt to the new Formula? Yes. Have we seen it in the past? Yes, a certain Fernando struggled in 2007 for example but no one doubts his class now. Or LH struggled against JB in 2011 but then look at the 2012 seson for an example of how a driver can change when there is a championship on the line.
Then look at Daniel. Is he really a rookie? No, he has spent 2.5 season already in F1. Is he fully motivated? Yes, he had to perform or he would be fired.
Finally, ask yourself this question. If the Red Bull next year is a championship contender who would you think would win? I would go with Vettel. Don’t get me wrong, Daniel is clearly class and I am not saying he hasn’t done an exceptional job but I still think Vettel should not be dismissed on the back of a few races or a poor season.
I thought Lotus had already said it was using Merc power from 2015? As to the driver market, although Alonso appears glued to Ferrari, I still feel that what he has been saying is less interesting than what he has not said…..Vettel at Ferrari? Why not? As you say it is the name team to race for, Vettel has time to make it work, and the parts of Ferrari that were maybe not as good as they used to be, have departed or are departing. A clean sheet for Vettel to work from, and whatever others may say, I am sure that he is a far better driver than he gets credit for, and a far better technical head, than people may think. And Alonso would get to make friends with Ron again…..win win all round I’d guess!
Bingo!
Wow, talk about food for thought. Very interesting!! And it all makes perfect sense really!
Wouldn’t Alonso be more interested in a RedBull ride If Seb left, particularly if it was to happen at end of this year instead of end of 2015.
Mclaren is still unknown qty and could take 3 years before it is again strong.
Kvyat is good but Alonso would sell fizzy drinks pretty well also.
show he can do it in more than one team, à la Fernando, à la the all-time greats.
Am I missing something. Fernando only “did it” in one team, Renault.
Unless “it” is winning races, which Vettel has already done in Torro Rosso and Red Bull.
I think he means that Fernando wanted to show he could do it at more than one team… Hasn’t worked out yet though.
Alonso has come within very fine margins of winning championships at McLaren (2007, 1pt in old money, ~2.5 today) and Ferrari (2012, 4pts, and 2013, 3pts) and but for some dubious strategy calls and fine margins (like the few inches by which various cars missed Vettel’s Red Bull in Brazil 2012) Alonso would be the owner of more trophies.
If Vettel can similarly change teams and maintain his status as a serious contender, even without a championship win, he’ll prove a claim to top tier status which until then will remain more or less hypothetical.
Win you win a championship, you reach top tier status. When you win four, it’s no longer hypothetical.
I’m always intrigued by comparison between Vettel and Jimmy Clark. Both won their championships with only one team; both teams were built largely around them; both were racers who excelled out in front but were always more vulnerable when running in the pack. The main difference I see is that Clark was the undisputed #1 of his era, acknowledged by almost all his peers, while Vettel singularly fails to elicit such unalloyed praise from his. I know that the Corinthian Spirit is weak in professional sportsmen these days, but the likes of Alonso and Hamilton seem to generate plenty of deep respect. A conundrum.
I have always felt less than inspired by Prost, he wasn’t the guy that he projected….but I would never ever seek to argue that he was not one of the best F1 drivers ever, 4 titles, no contest. Same goes with Vettel, it is absurd to think that he is not a great driver, and he has the age on his side, to become greater still.
^Ouch. I am ashamed that I did not notice that glaring typo. Win vs. When. Epic fail.
Depends on how you choose to define “top tier” and “all-time greats” and so on. Jenson Button is one of 5 world champions currently on the grid, do you consider him to be in the top 5 drivers? Given the other 4, plus characters like Ricciardo, Rosberg, Grosjean, Massa, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, perhaps Vergne and Kvyat I’m not entirely sure Button would make the top third (7 drivers) if you were to try to rank the current grid. If you were feeling cruel he might not make the top 10.
Yet he’s the owner of a shiny world championship trophy, all but won in the first 7 races of 2009 where Brawn stole a march on the competition.
So, if you can accept the argument as applied to one season and to Jenson Button, why not consider that it can be applied to four and Sebastian Vettel? Arguably all we really know about Sebastian Vettel’s talent at this stage is that he’s better than Sebastian Bourdais and Mark Webber. But possibly worse than Ricciardo.
Any driver that wins a WCD is entitled to be regarded as a great driver, and JB is one, yes maybe not as good as Alonso, or Vettel or Hammy….but Hammy was supposed to bury JB and he did not…indeed I think Hammy has a lot of respect for JB from comments he has made, if Hammy thinks JB is a class act, then I’m happy to agree with him on that.
Bourdais is a class act too, and MW as well, MW was probably as good as Jonesy, and he was a tough guy to fight against and a real racer.
Vettel, 4 x WCD, it is pointless to say he isn’t as good as Ricciardo…that is frankly just silly….apart for anything else, how do you know that Ricciardo isn’t also a great driver coming up from the ranks, they all start from zero you know!
No, winning the WDC alone does not make a great driver. It is not even a pre requisite for greatness. It can be an indication but it is just statistics and they can easily lead people astray if they are seen out of context.
Name me a rubbish driver who has been WCD, and I’ll disprove your point. Also, it is fair to say that there are many, many great drivers who should have won the title in the past, but for various reasons did not.
Rubbish driver? Who, apart from you, mentioned a rubbish driver? If a driver is not great are they then rubbish??? And if I could name a ‘rubbish’ WDC then surely my point would be proved beyond any doubt!
Thank you for agreeing a WDC is not a pre requisite for greatness though.
What I meant was great as opposed to average. Many great drivers have not been WCD title winners, but I can’t think of a single average driver who has won the title. Some people think that just a single title win is not indicative of greatness, but the key is that a driver who has only won in 1 year, can still be regarded as a great, as during that year they overcame all the others and were therefore the best of their day. Hence, my view that any driver winning the title, can be regarded as a Great! This is not the same as agreeing that one can be a Great driver and not win the title, Stirling Moss is the biggest example of that fact.
Are Merceder drives 100% secured for 2015? I don’t know why but I feel that Lewis may seek for new team at the end of this season. Bottas to Ferrari – risky, but he is a WDC material.
As an aside to your interesting ‘reading of the runes’, which seems to all fit nicely together in my view, I recently heard an interesting story. When he announced his departure from Renault, a senior figure at the team (who will remain nameless) had a bet with Fernando that he would not win another World Championship away from Enstone. This would have seemed a crazy prediction at the time and I don’t know how much the wager was for, but I’d say his cash is looking pretty safe so far.
Regarding other young, talented drivers who will undoubtedly be on the Ferrari radar, I would suggest Bottas. He leads his more experienced team mate by a considerable margin and can take much of the credit for WMR’s meteoric change in fortunes. Whether his nationality is a turn-off for the Scuderia marketing team remains to be seen.
Bottas’s nationality didn’t prevent Raikkonen getting the gig at Ferrari but I’d argue that he can take very little credit for WMR’s change in fortunes. He was in that dog of a car last year and outperformed Crashtor Maldonado but despite driving well was still nowhere.
Credit to the team for the change in fortunes – credit to the driver for using his tools well and making the best of the change of fortunes of his team.
Woody. I agree with much of what you say and of course, Wiliams have built a fantastic car alongside some canny management appointments. It’s striking how much better Bottas is doing than Felipe, given the same equipment and a great deal less experience.
As far as driver nationality is concerned, whilst it’s unpalatable for the racing fan, teams are 200mph advertising hoardings for their partners. Driver nationality is important from a marketing POV. For example, I’m told Maldonado proved to be something of a hand-brake for attracting new sponsors to Williams due to his country’s political persuasion. An extreme example, but you get my point. It would be nice if some drivers, such as Kimi, continued to be recognised for their speed rather than their sponsor appeal. Perhaps I’m being naive!?
Yes, Bottas has certainly done a lot this season to suggest he’s a potential future WC and the struggles last season have probably helped to teach him a great deal. I’m interested to see how Massa goes next season with a car likely to be designed with his input in mind (brake changes he’s pushed for etc).
Not surprised Maldonado’s nationality put off sponsors however I think (hope) the very top teams will always prioritise ability over nationality. Sadly, we all know what needs to happen for staff salaries to be paid further down the grid…
Joe, Does it change things, in your view, now that it seems Luca de M. has stepped down?
You got Montezemolo right, so I’m waiting to see how long this takes to pan out.
Thank you again for such great reporting!
The Monza issue of GP+ was fantastic, too! I loved the GP2 reports and look forward to hearing more about the chaos there.
Interesting Joe you mention the gawky Russky Daniil Kvyat and Toothy Dan from ‘stralia they just made a vid…
Is it possible that the driver market may stall a while pending the outcome of the Hamilton vs. Rosberg contest? Could the hirers and firers take the view that the partnership may yet become untenable?
great stuff thanks – but perhaps Nico Hulkenberg deserves the opportunity and seems to have the talent unless he’s not considered to be up to the developmental challenge.
by the way my last two comments havent appeared for some reason
Not sure id swap Alonso for Vettel, the only driver that took the fight to him in clearly an inferior car was Alonso, and nearly beat Vettel with a car Vettel was happy with, so how do ferrari plan on beating Alonso if he’s in an equal or better car, especially if they can’t make one to suit Vettel?
He’s made every team mate, bar Hamilton seem pretty ordinary, and is currently dismantling a former WDC who everyone was raving about last year.
Anthony Davidson who i guess knows a thing or two about racing drivers, said Kimi is driving just the same as last year, the only difference is, he’s against Alonso, not Romain.
And people seem to forget, make the car better for Kimi, you’ll make it better for Alonso too.
Think its bonkers, even on an off day Alsonso still better than 95% of the Field
A straight swap? But Vettel does have a new challenge at Red Bull – getting the better of his current team mate.
Personally, I think Vettel’s a terrific driver and widely underrated. He’s had a trashy year but you can tell from the quality of his driving (rather than outright speed) that he’s superb. There’s no silly mistakes even though there’s been plenty of great fights.
The thing I like most about him is how professional he is – never losing his rag and letting his emotions get the better of him. He’s also got that thing that all multiple champions have – he’s a terrible, terrible loser.
To have Vettel in a Ferrari, Alonso in a McLaren, Hamilton in a Merc and Riccardo in a Red Bull sounds like a cracking 2015.
No silly mistakes? So you didn’t watch Hungary or Spa then?
That spin in Hungary was on purpose ! *rollseyes* 😉
What happens to Kimi? Beaten by Alonso in all but one race this season.
There are some rumors emanating from Italy saying that the new management at Ferrari are not charmed by Alonso and especially not by his asking price for a new contract. It is even said that if Alonso is not happy it’s better he leaves at the end of this season because an unhappy driver will not help Ferrari get any better. Now that Montezemolo has left Ferrari and the announcement of the unfortunate death of the designer of the F1 marketing strategy for Santander bank (Emilio Botin) that there is no support left at Ferrari for his seat. It is even rumored Ferrari has already started negotiations with Vettel about him joining next season…
I think all these rumors are nice fuel for silly season but I have a bit of trouble with interpreting how realistic these rumors are. Can you help us fans by giving your professional opinion on these rumors Joe?
Kimi is exposed. Picked up a lot of reliable podiums, occasionally showed some fire. What would Kubica have done with that Lotus?
KR´s re-signing was symptomatic of the chaos at Ferrari.
He has not re-signed. He is contracted for 2015.
I meant the re-signing of KR by Ferrari last year. But why keep him? There´s precedence in Ferrari buying KR out of a contract, and he´s not a gu you´d choose in a re-structuring.
Martin, KR is not a guy “you” personally would choose in a re structuring – whatever that is? I don’t know you nor your relationship to Ferrari or KR for that matter, but I doubt your opinion is more than just that, your opinion. Because in terms of facts to hold up your view, I’m not sure what you are basing it on…
Yes, we will never know what Kubica would have done in a Lotus, but we can see what he’s doing at the moment and it’s nothing earth shattering neither really, is it?
And for all the obvious talent that Alonso has – wasted in my opinion; the results are not there. What would he do in the Mercedes? The mind boggles but we’ll just never know. Does the car not have more importance than the driver? All the F1 drivers are supremely talented, but put them in an average car on todays grid and they don’t turn it into gold. So if Ferrari had a front row car, I presume Alonso and KR would be doing a Hamilton Rosberg like this year.
It seems to me that we maybe over rate the influence a driver has on car design etc. today. Otherwise, why with Alonso have Ferrari got the situation they’re in? Why is Vettel no longer golden balls? If I were running Ferrari, I’d spend my cash on the car, have 1 top driver and 1 young pretender, Stewart Cevert style.
Hey Ced, Kimi is still a great driver, as Mario Andretti said, if you can drive, you can drive period! And also he pointed out that a top driver doesn’t just become slow overnight. Similarly Kubica is doing very very well in the WRC. He has all the speed and more, that is needed, however the WRC requires extreme driver skills that can only be learnt from competing in that series over 3-4 years. It is much more difficult than roundy roundy people realise. So, RK will likely start getting regular pts scores in 2015, podiums in 2016 and wins/running for the title in 2017. It won’t happen overnight, and the same would be true if it was Hammy/Alonso/Vettel in the WRC.
Where you are right is that the driver is now a far less important element than the car, and that has been the case one could say, since the mid – late 1990’s. A top guy is still needed to get repeat results and nurse the car when it’s in trouble, but generally, even Max Chilton could win regularly in a Merc. Frankly that isn’t right, but it’s all we have these days until someone realises that this is one of the reasons people are watching stuff like the WRallycrossC, where the cars are rather more insane!
It seems like 2s a lap is beyond any challenge. Thinking of previous similar gaps held by McLaren, Williams… I guess Mercedes spent their money very well, knew how much they needed to be assured, let the team do how they please… The only scary thought is if they planned for and spent for another leap… this is just the first time a team with that superiority of machine has managed to make such a meal of it. Messy in all the wrong ways. I’m just wondering what allows the “MB trio” to carry on like such a load of schoolboys, if they’ve not got some tricks up their sleeve. It really does look primed for a fall, even if the fall does not quite happen.
Ferrari, for me, fail to understand the key performance factor in F1 is the car and their driver choices are the embodiment of this.
Get a fast, cheap and hungry driver (Hulk / Grosjean) in and alongside him a promising youngster (Bianchi) and then spend every $ on making the car quicker. Any of the above drivers could in all likelihood have easily won titles in a dominant car.
Where’s the point in paying Alonso / Vettel / Hamilton a fortune to ride a donkey. I get that the Tifosi like a star name in the car but I suspect they’d be more excited to see a Ferrari in a fight at the front than a star driver using all of his skill to fight for 7th.
May be, BUT I think that at the moment Ferrari have a near infinite supply of money. They can have the drivers they want and send on all they can think up to make the car fast.
When Pat Symonds was recently asked if he would prefer Fernando or £25 million for the car – he chose the money.
I bet he wouldn’t answer that question the same way if he was CTO at Ferrari though.
Neither Hulk nor Grossjean could do what Alonso has done for Ferrari, put it in places it shouldn´t be over not just the length of a season, but a few seasons. It´s worth paying for. Nor has Ferrari skimped their budget on the car, but that money has apparently been wasted.
Also, are Grossjean or Hulkenberg really impressing you this year?
Is Alonso outperforming the car to attempt to score mid points really what Ferrari is all about though?
Whilst they’ve not skimped on the car – and various sources suggest they spend around the same as Red Bull, it has to be said that RB pay significantly lower driver wages and thus allocate more resource to the car. Ferrari also have to spend more money to attract the best technical staff to leave the UK and thus their spend is less efficient in this area.
I don’t think Hulkenberg’s having a bad year – consistent and comfortably outscoring Perez. With RG it’s difficult to judge his season other than on the total failure of the car.
I don’t get it why people are dissing Sebastian Vettel this year. The guy has done four WC’s in the last four years – and has become a father recently. That’s a lot for a guy that’s only 27.
Just look at the troubles Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had to get to grips with their success.
Who is dissing Sebastian?
Jenson had trouble with success? He treats success and failure as Rudyard Kipling suggested.
Then you weren’t paying attention to Jenson during his early years. He very nearly threw it all away with his attitude and playboy behaviour.
I for one, hope he comes back on form.
But real questions over why he is in the doldrums, are why he will not be picked to join Fernando.
The real reason for the “dissing” (which mostly isn’t, cheap shots don’t count), is because of far wider interest in the way these cars are to learn and command. That has been accentuated almost every race, either by Vettel’s team mate, or by other drivers in other cars, or by the prospect of the youngest ever driver entering next season. Many are saying that Seb V has no clue how to drive this year’s car who are by no means dissing his talents. The emphasis is – and I have looked about quite widely to try to understand this, as I have a private bet about the red team lineup – on how well he controlled a kind of counter intuitive car, so long, and concern over making the cars too easy. Sebastian’s performance this year, actually worries many (F1) fans, nothing to do with Seb himself.
Joe, What do you think of Adam Parr’s claim that for 2015 there will be only 8 teams on the grid, with several running three cars?
I have not seen Adam in F1 circles for a few years now.
The greatest certainty in this manifested universe is that Alonso is wasting (and will be wasting) his future in Ferrari. Alonso, call Uncle Ron TODAY!
Maybe uncle Ron is having trouble reaching for the phone, with that hatchet that Fernando placed between his shoulder blades in 2007..
Appreciating that there are far better informed minds than mine saying this could happen, I just can’t see it. If Alonso does leave Ferrari to increase his chances of further WDCs why go to Mclaren? It’s a gamble, the Honda package might be immediately competitive it might not be. The most logical move for him would be for his management to beg steal or borrow whatever it takes for Fernando to nick Hamilton’s, as yet unsigned for, 2015 Mercedes seat.
Vettel then takes over the number perch at Maranello and Lewis goes to Red Bull.
Why would Fernando go to McLaren? Because they are one of three teams with seemingly unlimited cash to pour into car development. If Rosberg wins the title why would they bring in Alonso in lieu of a development driver should Hamilton take his contract elsewhere?
I’m beginning to believe Joe’s take that the drivers will in all likely hood remain where they are for another year.
Because Merc will have a championship winning car, not one in need of development, which is what Alonso wants/needs. Mclaren might have unlimited cash, even without a title sponsor prepared to pay the Ronrate, but in recent years they haven’t achieved that much with it. Because Alonso is one of the top two racers on the grid. If the other leaves Mercedes, they will want a replacement. Mercedes don’t spend untold millions developing power units and F1 cars to develop young drivers they do it to sell cars through the publicity of WDCs and more importantly WCCs.
But tend to agree, there probably wont be much musical chairs amongst the top drivers this year. I think the key is Vettel if he is dissatisfied at RBR ( no idea if he is) and is pushing for a move that could cause the carousel to start.
I think Bottas has somewhat stolen the thunder of Grosjean and Hulkenburg this year as F1’s next big thing. Plus Danny Ricc though I guess he’ already there. I can’t help thinking that Williams’s announcement that Bottas is staying there for 2015 indicates there will be no movement at the so-called big 4. Though on the strength of this season I guess you could argue that moving to Ferrari or McLaren would be a step down from Williams (just like the good old days!)
What an entertaining article. I’ve been watching this blog get better and better throughout the years and it has truly reached world class writing level. Thank you sir, F1 is richer because of men like you!
I liked the way you wrote this blog entry. Straight forward and with nice contrast to the labyrinth that is the silly season.
I’ve always thought that it would be marvellous if all drivers were announced on the 1st of January each year. Not possible I know, but, it would be bloody good!
Even better; an NFL type draft. Alonso to marrusia. Vettel to sauber. Hamilton to Haas.
“Toothy Dan from ‘stralia.”
Watch what you say about our honey badger Joe.
And watch your block in St. Kilda next year Cobber.
I am sorry to say that he is both toothy and Australian. What’s the problem with that.