F1 Testing 2012 - Week 3, Barcelona

[Skeeter]

I was so disappointed with McLaren for not turning up with KERS. What is this a gentlmens club.

See MSC and many other people/teams on what you need to do do to be great. Sod verbal agreements.

I think back then remaining part of FOTA was quite important to Mclaren. They were in the midst of massive budget and other discussions with FOM and the FIA. Dropping out of FOTA just to run KERS would have been quite damaging.

Now though, as Ferrari say, FOTA has sort of run its course. So jumping ship at the sacrifice of some gentleman's agreements is less of an issue.

It will be interesting to see how the Concorde agreement discussions go this year as a few of the big teams (Ferrari and RBR) will be very much fighting their own corners by not being in FOTA. I wonder if Bernie will try and play them off against each other ?

 

[~Mike~]

I thought I read that Ross Brawn said Merc were committed to FOTA and it still has a purpose. Have Ferrari/RBR said they would never rejoin?

 

[Skeeter]

People are committed either too or against FOTA depending on if it meets their needs at any given time. I'd imagine any teams membership is rather fluid. If FOM and the FIA start listening to FOTA over the non member teams when discussing the Concorde agreement then I would imagine Ferrari and RBR would jump back in.

 

[Mr Men]

I thought I read that Ross Brawn said Merc were committed to FOTA and it still has a purpose. Have Ferrari/RBR said they would never rejoin?

Don't know about Red Bull but Ferrari would come back to FOTA and still work with FOTA on various issues.

 

[arknor]

Don't know about Red Bull but Ferrari would come back to FOTA and still work with FOTA on various issues.

i get the feeling ferrari used RBR allegedly not sticking to the RRA as an excuse to jump out and do the same.

ferrari need to win or heads are going to roll its time for them to win races no matter the cost

 

[Mr Men]

i get the feeling ferrari used RBR allegedly not sticking to the RRA as an excuse to jump out and do the same.

ferrari need to win or heads are going to roll its time for them to win races no matter the cost

The RAA is still in force I believe and Ferrari will still stick to it, Ferrari have given up a lot to help cut costs in F1, they are not a bottomless pit of money compared to Merc, Red Bull etc

Ferrari always need to win, this year is no different It took the dream team 4/5 years to begin winning, lot's of changes at Ferrari so might take a while to get a winning team there. But not a lot of patience in Italy for that sort of thing

 

[Skeeter]

I'd say Fiat have a lot more resources than Red Bull...

 

[Mr Men]

I'd say Fiat have a lot more resources than Red Bull...

Fiat gives nothing to Ferrari.

 

[Skeeter]

Few rule tweaks

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/3/13088.html

Bit confused about the DRS rule. Last year whenever it rained it was practically dry before they enabled DRS again anyway, so well out of the window of spray causing any issues.

 

[Flibster]

Fiat gives nothing to Ferrari.

So Ferrari donate valuable sponsorship locations to Fiat for nothing?

 

[Mr Men]

So Ferrari donate valuable sponsorship locations to Fiat for nothing?

Valuable? not really in the context Skeeter was meaning. Yes Fiat are a sponsor, it's probably for free though yes.

 

[Lopéz]

Fiat gives nothing to Ferrari.

What makes you say this?

I only ask because you are wrong. Ferrari say:

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formula1/Partners/Sponsors/Fiat/Pages/Fiat.aspx
WWW.FIAT.IT

The historic Turin-based car manufacturer is also Ferrari’s major shareholder and traditionally appears on the nose of the F1 car. Fiat collaborates with the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro mainly on a strategic level, allowing the access to its Research & Development Centre (CRF) and contributing to guarantee the excellence of many sectors of the company.

 

[Mr Men]

In terms of money? As Skeeter was suggesting?

 

[Skeeter]

In terms of money? As Skeeter was suggesting?

You said money. I said resources.

Just because Fiat don't write a big cheque every year doesn't mean they give Ferrari nothing.

 

[Mr Men]

You said money. I said resources.

I might have guessed....

So you think Fiat has more F1 resources than Red Bull? really are you going to suggest this?

 

[Glaucus]

In terms of money? As Skeeter was suggesting?

Money/resources. It's the same thing. What does the money buy?

 

[arknor]

Don't know about Red Bull but Ferrari would come back to FOTA and still work with FOTA on various issues.

I might have guessed....

So you think Fiat has more F1 resources than Red Bull? really are you going to suggest this?

i'd have thought they had more motor racing resources

 

[Lopéz]

In terms of money? As Skeeter was suggesting?

Skeeter didn't say money, he said resources. And access to R&D facilities is pretty significant when we are talking about resources.

 

[Mr Men]

Money/resources. It's the same thing. What does the money buy?

If that's the case then McLaren and Merc and Red Bull/Renualt have loads more resources than Ferrari and Fiat, which was my initial point.

 

[sunama]

ferrari need to win or heads are going to roll its time for them to win races no matter the cost

Arknor, heads have already rolled.
It doesnt seem to be having any effect.

Something that Ferrari must realise is that when a bad car is produced, it hasn't been done on purpose. Sometimes, a team may simply have gone down the wrong route and 2-3 months later, they may find themselves with a car which is significantly slower than the opposition.

There is a lot of pressure on Ferrari to give Alonso a car capable of winning races. It's anybody's guess what will happen in Race1 and also if Ferrari are struggling, how long it will take for them to get on level terms with the other leading teams.

Much like in football, a staff members should be given time to implement their plans and get the results. Villas Boas, formerly of Chelsea FC, will tell you about this