In Praise of Fumbles 13/08/2008 If there is anything that we all have plenty of, it is opinions. We carry them about with us and are ready to present them on the slightest of pretexts. This is admirably illustrated when we come to Ferrari's situation at present, some, like myself, suggesting that their failure to dominate this year is part of an inevitable decline resulting from the dissolution of their dream team, others feeling that it is merely a blip in their fortunes and success will return in the coming races.Kimi RaikkonenEveryone has a favorite solution, too, and this week some big names have been offering their prescriptions. Cesare Fiorio, who ran the team before Jean Todt happened along (and therefore dubiously qualified to say anything - Ferrari were hardly overburdened with victories during his reign), feels that there is nothing wrong with the car. The fault lies with those who decide strategy and with the drivers themselves, apparently.His solution is to appoint one driver as team leader and he suggests Raikkonen as best qualified for this role, in spite of his problems at the moment. Marc Surer, a driver for Arrows in the 1980s, suspects that Raikkonen has lost motivation, however, while Raikkonen's team mate, Felipe Massa, points at Kimi's difficulties with tires in qualifying as being the real problem.The Ferrari team agrees with Massa's assessment, muttering that Bridgestone's tire choice for each circuit has erred on the side of being too hard for the conditions. And it is certainly true that tires have played a major role in the championship so far.All this debate and theorizing does mean one thing, however: Ferrari is troubled and quite capable of losing both championships to McLaren this year. It is obvious that, regardless of the reasons, things are not running smoothly for the Scuderia and the steam roller of the Schumacher era is faltering. And that, to my mind, is good for F1.Ferrari have been the team to beat for so long that it is hard to imagine the sport without that. The fact that McLaren seems to be developing a habit of shooting itself in the foot, too, only allows other teams to creep closer to the front and we can see the result in championships that become hard-fought to the end and almost every race turning up surprises. Long may this situation continue.So I do not worry too much about Ferrari's problems and I am glad that McLaren have yet to seize their opportunity to be top dog. I have my opinion of what is going wrong in the two teams but I really do not care whether I am right or wrong - what matters is that the problems continue and we get a fascinating battle on track as a result. Here's a toast to the glitches and gremlins, the foul-ups and stumbles, the altered scripts and capricious weather. Let them confound our predictions forever!
Clive
donwatters I think the problems both Ferrari and McLaren have experienced this year have added tremendously to the drama and excitement of the season. Years ago, when the cars were not so bullet-proof as they are today, reliability and driver error were much bigger factors. I rather miss that. Date Added: 13/08/2008
Clive I agree, Don - we may occasionally have felt that a driver was robbed by poor reliability but the championships tended to be more closely-fought as a result. Date Added: 13/08/2008
AJ14Foyt - San Clemente, CA It is hard for me to not think that Jean Todt and Ross Brawn probably have a big smile on their face reading this, but on the other hand they both admit the talent is still very high at Ferrari and who is to say that Montezemolo is not right in promoting from within and giving the youth movement a shot at proving themselves. It means a healthier Ferrari for the future, and I don't think anyone can argue that a healthy Ferrari is good for F1.As for the drivers, both have suffered from bad luck, poor reliability and suffered from poor race strategies. That probably explains much of the moodiness and lack of consistency. But I sense (especially in Kimi) that the situation is not improving. This Italian opera certainly seems headed toward an emotional and unhappy ending. I wonder how much patience Montezemolo truly has in his drivers and team management?It will be awfully fun to watch! Date Added: 13/08/2008
Steven Roy I can't see what having a lead driver would do. It's not like they have been taking points from each other. When one driver has won a race the other has usually either binned the car or failed to make the podium.I have argued for years that the last thing F1 needs is a strong Ferrari. When Max was elected originally he made a statement that F1 needed a strong Ferrari and did everything he could to make them a success. F1 was much better before we were subjected to all the Schumacher years and dubious FIA decisions. It is a shame that Ferrari didn't leave the sport along with Maserati and Lancia. Date Added: 13/08/2008
David Just once in my lifetime (and there’s not much of it left) it would be nice to see the problem addressed, rather than the result. Few would argue the dream team’s departure is the overriding factor behind Ferrari’s current problems. Luca Montezemolo was responsible for their departure.Both of the current drivers are better than average, or they wouldn’t be there. So let’s give these guys a break and look to the problem.Ferrari have no-one to blame but themselves ... or more correctly perhaps, their revered President! Date Added: 14/08/2008
Keith Collantine I went to see the Batman film last night and now I'm wondering if Clive's the Joker, cackling maniacally as chaos ensues... Date Added: 14/08/2008
Steven Roy Who esle saw the title was 'In Praise of Fumbles' and thought who is Fumbles. Date Added: 14/08/2008
Clive I see Keith has seen through my disguise, hehehe. It does look as though Luca has brought Ferrari back to its roots and the Italian opera is the result. They are far more likable that way, in my opinion, and more an essential part of the sport. In that guise they will still win races and the occasional championship but will no longer resemble a Germanic steam roller like Mercedes in the fifties. I guess everything returns to its natural state sooner or later... Date Added: 14/08/2008
Clive It hadn't occurred to me, Steven but now you've got me wondering. Perhaps a GP2 racer in line for Vettel's seat at STR? ;) Date Added: 14/08/2008
Steven Roy My first thought was that it was one of Max's friends but why that would make him/her praiseworthy was beyond me? Date Added: 14/08/2008
verasaki ferrari really are more fun when they're down, aren't they? especially if they have a really likeable driver behind the wheel like alesi---or dare i say it? fisi? poor guy,born too late or too early. in another time he may have had that seat. i think the pre-schumi era was the last time i actually found myself cheering for the team. but, clive, you know what your powers of divination are like- might you not have just doomed us to round two of the silver arrows domination period you mentioned? might we all be hating mclaren this time in say---2011or 12? yes, steven roy, from the title for a minute i thought maybe max or bernie had made another brilliant film debut. Date Added: 14/08/2008
Clive I don't think I could manage that, even at my most obtuse, Steven.As for a period of McLaren domination, Vera, I hated them on the occasions they've done it before and I'd hate it if they did it again. That's why I want BMW to succeed and as many of the others as possible too. Variety is the spice of life, they say. Date Added: 14/08/2008
Lonny Renault managed to steal Ferrari's thunder the last two years of the Schumi reign, their problems today show how easy it is to slip back when you lose a key piece of the puzzle. Ferrari seems to lack the strategies that took them to the top; Kimi starts on too much fuel, then follows Alonzo all the way to the appointed pit window, only to come back out behind...Alonzo. Where was an early stop or a short fill to get him some clear track? If Kimi is good on the softer compounds why not start him light and on softs and let him run? Notice that Honda is beginning to improve under Brawn, better strategy on and off the track. Date Added: 15/08/2008
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