Who should be in the Second Ferrari at Spa?

[Marshal]

Obviously not Luca, but who?

Contenders could be Piquet, Bourdais, Davidson, Gene, Sato! but there are doubtless many others who you might consider. Dixon? Franchitti? Hulkenberg? Your thoughts are welcome...

[Mr V]

Badoer is such an embaressment that if Ferrari can't get a quick replacement they'd be better off just running a one car team and save the engines!

Maybe they'll give Gene a go?

[Fox89]

Well Sato wont get it because Ferrari like their cars in on piece at the end of a race. Davidson wont because he's not flamboyant enough by virtue of being British, and I don't see Piquet or Bourdais getting a drive because they've got a reputation of under performing in worse cars then the Ferrari.

My money would be on either Gene or Hulkenberg. Or on them being too lazy and leaving Badoer in.

[Nicholosophy]

I think they'll give Luca another run at Spa. If nothing else he obviously provides good technical feedback (being their main tester for many years).With the championships out of reach for them, having their tester out there providing information on the car could be worth more than having someone else come in for a guest drive.

[Pingguest]

I think Ferrari will only replace Badoer in case Schumacher or Massa can drive. If they put Gene in, the regulations won't allow Ferrari to have Schumacher in it.

[rallycrosscraig]

Badoer has had his go, so let him go back to testing and he can say he did race for Ferrari (ok only once and slowly!)


I'd like to see Bourdais given a go, F3000 champion, multi champ car champion, scored plenty of points last year of all the people ready to step into that car he'd be at the top of the list.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

I think Ferrari will only replace Badoer in case Schumacher or Massa can drive. If they put Gene in, the regulations won't allow Ferrari to have Schumacher in it.

Here is the regulation

Originally Posted by Rule 19.1

a) During a season each team will be permitted to use four drivers. Changes may be made at any time before the start of the qualifying practice session provided any change proposed after 16.00 on the day of scrutineering receives the consent of the stewards.
Additional changes for reasons of force majeure will be considered separately.

Does that exempt them from the four driver limit, or change time limit (4pm Thursday?). If the former, Badoer won't count.

[p261brm]

Under the old percentage of pole qualifying time rule Luca would be on his way home by now, and so he should be there are enough mobile chicanes as it is.

[BootsOntheSide]

Ferrari already essentially have 3 drivers (Alonso, Massa, Raikkonen) fighting for 2 seats for 2010, and they can't win either title this year, so they don't necessarily need another driver to come in and shine. Unless Massa decides that he can't return after Kimi has committed to another team (or to retirement/rallying), they won't need another racer next year. The idea of bringing in Fisichella to race for now and then become a tester doesn't make a huge amount of sense either - they have two good test drivers who have hardly been involved this year as it is.

It's such a shame that Badoer's hard-earnmt reputation has taken a knock this weekend. I guess the lack of 2009 track time coupled with a lack of racing experience in recent years, plus his age, have all worked against him. Hopefully his reputation won't be damaged too much by this blip.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by p261brm

Under the old percentage of pole qualifying time rule Luca would be on his way home by now, and so he should be there are enough mobile chicanes as it is.

No where near.
The rule was 107% of the pole time. In Q1 Button was quickest at 1m38.531, 107% is 1m45.428s. Badoer did a 1m41.413 (102.9%).
People have been on pole with more in hand over second place in the past!

That won't make him an overly dangerous mobile chicane; especially with the blue flag rule.

[jonboy1066]

I think Martin Brundle had two good points during the quali commentary.

1, Martin said "I think they should have put me in the car, at least I could have commentated during the race to add a little interest"

LOL

2, He suggested Piquet and I agree, He is not as bad a driver as his Renault experience has suggested, he's race fit, he's experienced in the grip levels and racing style of this season and Ferrari have got nothing to lose by giving him a shot.

[Matt]

Jonathan Summerton.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Matt

Jonathan Summerton.

To do what exactly?

I think Piquet would be a good bet....and then possibly he'll let his son have a go.

Piquet or Bourdais would have been a better choice than Badoer anyway.Sometimes you just can't figure out Ferrari!

[Fox89]

I'm wondering what he's even doing as a test driver. I mean, surely data gathered from somebody who is 3 seconds a lap off a good pace is pretty worthless data when you're trying to develop a racing car?

[OZ_HCR32]

Im with rallycrosscraig... give Bourdais a go before PK Jr. I think he jsut couldnt make it work at STR which was a shame. He doesnt throw cars away like PK and i think his claim that he needs the team to be able to set cars up to suit him and his style is fair. He no doubt struggles in being able to wrestle cars not to his liking, but the guy is a class steerer

[ASCII Man]

Oooh, only qualifying done and already we have people with pitchforks and machete's gathering around like an angry mob for Luca's head.

Wonderful.

[Marbot]

I don't think that anyone thinks that Badoer is doing anything other than his best.It's just that there were others available who could probably have done better.

[Fox89]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

Oooh, only qualifying done and already we have people with pitchforks and machete's gathering around like an angry mob for Luca's head.

Wonderful.

Well, he was 3 seconds off the pace. Which, if done in a GP2 car, would be good! OK, maybe it's unfair to compare him to the front runners. But he was 1.5 seconds slower than Alguersuari, despite being in a better car. And 2 seconds slower then fellow F1 débutante Grosjean. And 19 year old Algersuari, in his first ever F1 qualy in Hungary, was only 4 tenths slower then the next car. So I don't think its too much of a leap to say Badoer isn't cut out for it, sadly.

[JeremySmith]

Yes but Luca has not driven a car in anger for ten years..

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Yes but Luca has not driven a car in anger for ten years..

I guess the point is that both Piquet and Bourdais have,with possibly Piquet leading in the "anger" stakes,although it would be close.

[Fox89]

Originally Posted by Marbot

I guess the point is that both Piquet and Bourdais have,with possibly Piquet leading in the "anger" stakes,although it would be close.

And also, that there are quick drivers in GP2 that could have been much more effective. Grosjean qualified alright on his first go in the Renault, I could have seen a Hulkenberg driven Ferrari fighting to get into Q3.

[JeremySmith]

Well there are many drivers who would get better results aren't there, but for reasons best known to Ferrari they have chosen Luca

[ghinzani]

I think they should, and will, stick with Luca. I for one want to see how he goes at Monza, he should be with the programme by then, the KERS will help him no end and Italians are generally worth a second at home, seeing as they call on the ghosts of the Monza greats like Brambilla and Cazanigga.

I am surprised Nicholas Todt hasnt tried to squeeze Bourdais in there though, maybe that shows Ferraris current management are making a political statement to Jean to say "eff orf we are a different team now you have left".

[HughGJohnson]

Originally Posted by Fox89

Well Sato wont get it because Ferrari like their cars in on piece at the end of a race. Davidson wont because he's not flamboyant enough by virtue of being British, and I don't see Piquet or Bourdais getting a drive because they've got a reputation of under performing in worse cars then the Ferrari.

My money would be on either Gene or Hulkenberg. Or on them being too lazy and leaving Badoer in.

Hard to imagine anybody being that lazy...

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by ghinzani

I am surprised Nicholas Todt hasnt tried to squeeze Bourdais in there though, maybe that shows Ferraris current management are making a political statement to Jean to say "eff orf we are a different team now you have left".

Yes,eff orf Jean! You were bloody useless!