My thanks to those of you who have so mercilessly pointed out the weaknesses in my 2010 motor sport predictions. I do like a bit of feedback…
I am a huge fan of opera, particularly Italian opera. More specifically I am a devotee of Giacomo Puccini whose passions in life, other than his music, were women and fast cars. The music brought him wealth, enabling him to indulge in the fastest and raciest of the 1920s. I am referring here to the cars.
In daring to predict the outcome of a sport such as Formula 1, risks must be taken. Following the premieres of La Boheme and Tosca, two of Puccini’s finest, both were demolished by the critics who were they alive today would be squirming.
This brings me to motor racing, which aside from food and opera is the abiding passion in Italy. Ferrari of course is akin to a religion, vying with the Vatican and Serie ‘A’ football for devotion.
Back in the day, a Grand Prix grid without Italians was unthinkable, whether they were hotshots from lower formulae or sons of a wealthy Papa who brought bags of lire to the party. Both were welcome. There has been a Gran Premio d’Italia every year since 1950 without exception, and always at L’Autodromo Nazionale Monza, a circuit first used for racing in 1922. The country oozes motor racing and has done all the way from Ascari to Zanardi and beyond. Astonishingly, Alberto Ascari was the last Italian to win the World Championship in 1953, unless we’re counting Mario Andretti as an Italian. Today, there are but two Italians on the F1 grid: Jarno Trulli, in his twilight years, and Vitantonio Liuzzi fighting to keep his seat.
What on earth has gone wrong? The last Italian to win a Grand Prix in a Ferrari was Michele Alboreto in 1985. Only Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella have raced recently for the Scuderia, and only then in place of the injured Felipe Massa.
Some lay the blame at the gates of Maranello. Enzo Ferrari could not tempt the likes of Moss, Clark and Hill to race the red cars, but he wanted them. The (itals) Commendatore cared not where his driver came from as long as he was the fastest, and the Prancing Horse won the race, taking all the glory. If you look upon Ferrari as the university of Italian motor racing, you’ll see that precious few locals have gained entry, let alone graduated with any kind of honours. In recent decades not one Italian has raced regularly for the team, and this may have adversely affected the country’s ‘staircase of talent’, as Sir Jackie Stewart likes to call it. Not Agip, Fiat or Marelli have been of much assistance in the way that Elf and Gitanes have invested in the future of French motor racing.
It is extraordinary to note that post-Tazio Nuvolari, Alberto Ascari remains the most successful Italian with 13 Grand Prix wins followed by ‘American’ Andretti with 12 – and these are the only two in double figures. Riccardo Patrese scored six, while Giuseppe Farina and Michele Alboreto won five apiece. Fisichella took three and de Angelis two, while the rest have only a single victory. This only reflects the modern World Championship, but it does tell a story.
The Scuderia has recently tested three young Italians, including Formula 3 hotshot Mirko Bortolotti. At the same time its ‘Advanced Driver Programme’ includes an 11-year-old Canadian boy who’s been winning kart races in Quebec. As stated, it’s winners they want, wherever they come from.
Forza Italia. Viva Veloce. But when? Not any time soon, it seems. And that’s a real sadness for someone like me, who would choose Italy over any country were I to move from Britain.
Italy is a great place to vacation and visit for sure. Wonderful!
Ivan Capelli did indeed get a shot at the Scuderia after Alboreto – but the over-riding image I have remaining of the Italian’s Ferrari experience was him ending upside down at Monaco!
I think Ferrari used to pride themselves on “making” World Champions (as opposed to “buying” them) but the weak driver era following Senna’s death meant there was no one other than Schumacher to sign – along, of course, with his core Benetton entourage. Raikkonen was of the former category but Alonso is an effort by Maranello to re-imagine the Schumacher era, It would seem.
It won’t work, of course: We’re in a ‘Control’/'Homologated’ Formula One (and the racing is proving to be all the more exciting for it) and also because di Montezemolo seems to being going the OTHER way in terms of Italians/Latins behind the scenes:
Whereas they used to have Internationals designing and running the team in the Todt era, di Montozemolo has turned Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro into, basically, an Italian Team…except at the driver level.
Mind, they had Fisichella coming off from a Pole-and-near-win at Spa to partner Raikkonen in the last handful of races of 2009…but a) Fisi wasn’t used to KERS cars and b) he proved he wasn’t in the Ace league.
Ferrari have a lot of fans everywhere (I was at the Canadian GP (for which I wrote a report in it’s section which is STILL AWAITING MODERATION!!!) and there were lots of them at Montreal) and is a big enough marque to have a McLaren-like driver ‘academy’.
The funny thing about the 11 year old Canadian (Lance Stroll) is that his father, apparently, owns Mont Tremblant race track – which means that the young boy will hit a ceiling and hungrier (and less wealthy) animals are likely to eat him up and spit him out when it comes time to step into a Formula One car. Money will only buy you a ride and publicity and hype up to a certain point.
PS
Jacques Villeneuve and Robert Kubica came from Italian junior formula and speak Italian…
…so, does that count? Ha ha!
:)
As an illustration, the link below will tell you all you need to know about 11 year old Lance’s connections with Ferrari:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100609/ferrari-kid-montreal-100609/20100609?s_name=Autos
Not only does daddy own Mont Tremblant, but daddy also imports Ferraris!
Ha ha!
I’m not sure that one can blame ferrari for the lack of home grown talent. It has only recently become vogue to start ‘buying’ 10 year olds and hoping they turn into champions so maybe theyve been caught on the hop a little but I feel the problem goes a lot deeper than that.
whilst I’ve always admired jarno trullis ultimate speed he showed from an early stage in his career that he lacked consistency and the ability to manage a car through its poorer phases of a race. Also many Italians seem to favour doing their formative years in italian formuale or maybe elswhere in mainland europe where the quality and the opposition (and maybe even the tracks) aren’t a match for the UK. Its been the same for many years, if you want to test yourself and become the best you can be you need to race in the UK, diversity of tracks and weather seem to make better all round drivers – its just a shame that we never seem to be able to financially back our own talent and develop it to the level it deserves.
If we’re really honest when was the last great italian F1 driver? Liuzzi fits well into mould of ‘almost’ good enough, but lets face it he isn’t, he’s been around for what feels like years and has always been out driven and outscored by his teams mates, if he was going to be ‘the man’ he would have shown it by now.
I’m quite hopeful for Ferraris new crop of young talent though, but they need to either get them into F1 machinery soon (not to race) to get used to it or to place them intelligently in formulae where they get to develop there all round skills. I think many of Italys true greats where great because they drove anything and everything in all sorts of conditions at a time when road racing was aplenty . Now that the targa floria, mille millia etc are no longer they dont breed drivers with a good all round talent.
Ship the boys off for a winter F3 series in the UK, oulton park, knockhill and thruxton will soon sort them out and they’ll be all the better for their experience.
Didn’t the old man say something following the death of Lorenzo in 1967 about his reluctance to sign any Italian drivers because of the bad press he got from Lorenzo’s terrible death?
but then he did sign mezario when his cars weren’t doing very well andMichele was often quoted as the most unlikely Italian – i didn’t understand why he didn’t sign Elio as i did think in a very good car Elio could deliver and could have been a WC – in a very good car -
For sure F1 is in need of good Italian talent, but the truth is that in today’s F1 you only get in if you are well off. Either that or you are VERY GOOD but most of the times you need a healthy dose of “sponsorship”.
Ferrari has seen some amazing talent from Italy. People like Castellotti, Bandini, Vaccarella (who is very underrated, although he didn’t do well in F1)..
But these days it’s hard… Too bad, too. I used to think that teams had a “responsibility” to their host countries but by now I don’t believe that anymore. Although I am a fan of the fact that Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is recovering the team’s Italian core. I’m probably one of the few people who believe this, but I don’t care. I’m not even Italian…
Perhaps if they could field a 3rd car, they would have the chance to experiment…. Bring back the NART name and start a lower level team…or maybe even Maserati…how cool would that be?
Mario
Also, I believe that had Ferrari a proper sports car team, running at Le Mans and other important events, they would have a valuable breeding ground… Who knows they could even rake up some wins.
(I know I know, it’s too expensive, not their “main focus” & all of that, but it never hurts to dream)
Mario
By the way – and I apologize for posting 3 times – the article on Bruno Giacomelli in a recent issue is another good representation of how Ferrari let a potentially great talent slip through their fingers. Kind of like what DS is talking about with Elio di Angelis.
‘Ferrari of course is akin to a religion, vying with the Vatican and Serie ‘A’ football for devotion.’
There are comparisons to be made with the English soccer Premiership? Grow your own talent or just buy in overseas stars?
Valentino Rossi? I think he’s Italian.
Do more Italians go into motorcycle racing?
Do brands like Aprilia and Ducati have more relevance and traction with the common man than Ferrari?
Actually Rob, as I’m sure you subsequently realised, the 1980 race was at the heavily revamped Imola rather than Monza and the popularity of the former venue ultimately led of course to the creation of the San Marino GP.
Rob should nationality be the determining factor in picking drivers. If you take Williams that quintessentially “English” team, they employ on the basis of talent -and sometimes on the nationality of their engine supplier – but mainly on talent as they have perceived it. If my memory serves they have employed twice as many German drivers, (Frentzen, Ralfie boy Hulkenberg and Rosberg) as English drivers (Mansell and Hill, I don’t count Martin Brundle’s one off drive at Spa in 1988). Ok the math is different if you convert that to British drivers but to the best of my memory they have employed as four Germans, three Brazilians, two Australians, two French drivers, two Englishmen, one Swiss, one Irishman, one Scot, one Argentine, one Italian, one Belgian, one Canadian, one Colombian, one Japanese, and one Finn as drivers for one or more seasons. I haven’t counted one off drives of Andretti or Brundle but undoubtedly someone will come up with a couple of other nationalities that I have forgotten. My argument is that teams pick their drivers on the basis of talent and talent alone -not nationality or sponsorship dollars – should be the determining factor of how F1 drivers are selected.
As well as Capelli don’t forget Nicola Larini!
..and Rob since i know your true allegiances, we nearly got Rossi…
oh yes and Morbidelli..uh i think that is it!
Just to set the record straight, MS (the Italian state tobacco monopoly) poured money into Italian motor racing for years- team sponsorship, driver development, event sponsorship- motorcycles and cars. Their racing programs ended when the EU put the brakes on tobacco advertising. So, there was that.
it’s a shame that ferrari don’t give the possibility to an italian guy to drive the car (don’t look to the fisico and badoer situation last year)…I think that after massa we could have julien bianchi and alonso (bianchi manager is todt’s son ;-) ) and after tonio and jarno probably we coul have no italian guy in the grid…The italian federation starting from this year (helped by minardi) to do something serious with the young talent…but the problems are the money that there isn’t..all the money here in italy are give to ferrari.nobody want investe in the young guys….I have spoke with Ghinzani and he told me how difficult is in italy to find money to help young italian driver…also because tv and lots of magazine in italy speaks only of ferrari and valentino rossi.
Fortunatley with dindo capello emanuele pirro and gianmaria bruni we have a lot of victory in the endurance series ;-) more that other countries
Rob, I’ve forgotten Nick Heidfeld, that’s five German drivers employed by Williams since they formed as WGPE oh and I forgot Patrick Neve in 1977 but that shouldn’t count as Williams had a customer March chassis in those days and was not a constructor.
I dont think Ferrari have a responsibility to fielding Italians in their F1 cars if they arent good enough but I do think they have a responsibility to fnding and nurturing young Italians in a sort of Academy type system.
I also think it would benefit Ferrari to enter sportscar racing, they could field young drivers to get a look at them, there are no testing restrictions so they could use Fiorano to their hearts content and it would give them an opportunity to show off their new turbo charged fuel efficient engine they want to put in the new Enzo. Then they could stop trying to lobby the FIA to make F1 engines all fuel efficient and green!
PS. I would love to see Valentino Rossi race for Ferrari if the stories of his testing pace are true. F1 lacks drivers with personality and flair and he certainly has that.
‘PS. I would love to see Valentino Rossi race for Ferrari if the stories of his testing pace are true. F1 lacks drivers with personality and flair and he certainly has that.’
It seems the environment of MotoGP is far more personality friendly. It seems just a 2 or 3 MotoGP drivers have the personalities to eclipse an entire F1 grid. Though I’m not sure how Rossi kneeling beside his mount before the race start would sit with Brundle’s grid walk?
I guess we get the odd bit of sparkle from F1 drivers? Button running back to the pits at Monaco last year, and Hamilton switching off and pushing his McLaren after setting that blistering Q3 time at Montreal?
Rossi would have been wasted at that first Grand Prix this year. I’ve not forgotten that disappointing season opener. I didn’t think that much about the Turkish GP either.
Rossi with his leg in plaster would have done better than Schumacher did last Sunday?
OK, sorry guys, there was a deliberate error in my ramblings about Italian drivers and OK, maybe I missed a few. But I was not trying to relate the entire history in 200 words………………I was simply trying to make a point and one that would hopefully be something you guys could get your teeth into………..
Yes! Rossi in a Ferrari, wouldn’t that have been something to adore………………but, you know, it’s not going to happen. The moment has passed. Let’s just hope he’s fit enough to come back and stir things up in Moto GP.
Yup, I wasn’t going to go into the minutiae of the Canadian boy just yet, but thanks for the extra information. Time will tell. I’m supposed to be going to Mont Tremblant with Bobby Rahal soon – wonderful circuit, proper race track!
Meanwhile I’m off to Spain to have a look at a brand new circuit at Navarra which is near the little town of Pamplona where they engage in some rather horrible sport with bulls. These bulls are everywhere these days. Then it’s back for the podcast with Red Bull next week. Tune in, should be good.
But, thanks so much everyone for joining in the banter, propping up the virtual bar with me while I muse away on various unrelated topics.
I will be back on line soon with more musings. Meanwhile, before I sign off on this one, I have to say that Rossi in plaster would not have been quicker than Schumacher in Montreal because the Mercedes is just not working – but OK Alastair I know it was a joke…………………………..
There is much gnashing of teeth in Stuttgart. Beaten by a McLaren Mercedes and a Force India Mercedes. Oh dear, Ross Brawn has much work to do. But, hey, at least the engines are winning.
RW
No apology necessary Rob.
Rossi with a compound fracture wouldn’t have beaten Schumacher on Sunday?
Jorge Lorenzo got carried from his bike to the podium at Le Mans a couple of years ago. Did he have two broken legs or just the one? You don’t have to balance an F1 car, and you can’t fall of them can you?
Give Dr Costa and his needles a few hours with Schumacher and he’d soon be reining in the young Rosberg!
Regarding your last paragraph Rob, I was thinking much the same.
I am willing to bet CND $1000 to all comers that the 11 year old Canadian boy, Lance Stroll – son of Mont Tremblant owner and “collector” of Ferraris – will get decimated by much hungrier drivers by the time he gets anywhere near a Formula One car.
Anyone willing to take the other side of my bet?
My point is that the true greats of this era didn’t really get coddled with money. We’re talking KUBICA! We’re talking ALONSO. RAIKKONEN. Even Anthony HAMILTON didn’t have anywhere the resources Lance’s daddy has!
Fine, SENNA came from money but we all know his story about his time in England and his illness.
As per the original article, Robert Kubica is the one notable driver on the grid – of Ace Quality – who came out of Italy, speaks Italian and has an Italian manager (Daniell Morelli)…
…so is it any wonder why Kubica has been talked about as a future Ferrari driver?
I’m not saying 11 year old Lance Stroll isn’t talented. I’m sure he is. MANY MANY are but only a half dozen to a dozen in the ENTIRE world are truly gifted enough to win in F1 at any given time.
These drivers have an intensity and a hunger that only comes from going through adversity.
The only exception would be Hamilton who was described by Martin Whitmarsh as “a McLaren experiment” not long after his police/traffic problems in Melbourne this year. Hamilton is learning about ‘adversity’ “on the job”.
I have a sneaky feeling that the season just might come down to a battle between McLaren and Ferrari. But my predictions, as we know, are not always entirely accurate. Especially bearing in mind that I said, in January, that Sebastian Vettel would be the world champion this year.
But, without testing on track, development will be The Big Thing and McLaren have a breathtakingly sophisticated simulator at Woking which, these days, is a more useful tool than Fiorano.
I am very sad not to be at Silverstone this weekend for the Moto GP but you can’t do everything. It’s going to be a wonderful event and will, I hope, be packed to the rafters.
Soon be the Goodwood Festival of Speed, in my view an un-missable happening, and this year will be even better than ever with some great blues guitarists joining all those wonderful cars and bikes.
Kevin Schwanz makes his debut and Jackie Stewart will drive the newly restored Lotus 38. July 2,3&4 in case you’ve just woken up to summer.
RW
Rob, A McLaren driver will win the WDC;
1. McLaren have the stronger driver pairing.
2. Personnel changes within Ferrari will surface on Sundays.
3. Neither of the Ferrari drivers are as tyre friendly as Button.
What can stop McLaren? Pit stop problems? FIA interference?
So guys, there we have it. Or do we?
Many things can stop McLaren – like Red Bull, Ferrari, a spat or two between the drivers and all the other jokers that lurk in the pack.
But yes, the car looks terrific now, the drivers are on a high and the engine is strong. The great thing is, we just have to watch and wait!
RW
A gentle reminder.
We record the next podcast with Christian Horner at Red Bull next Tuesday. Be sure to tune in. Your magazine needs you.
RW
Rob, thanks for re-mentioning Goodwood, sadly i cannae get there this year and i am somehwat bereft for that- i am however going to snetterton this sunday and whilst i understand the 38 isn’t going to be driven it is there along with virtually every other Loti and incl the new ones and that is worth a 4 hour drive anyday [or bike ride if its nice]
as for comments re champion – a ferrari fan i am not nor particularly an alonso fan, in fact if anything i dislike both but sadly my money is on him for this year- next year now having started to learn from someone he respects i really don’t see Lewis being touchable
I am quite sure that both Alonso, Vettel and Webber all see Lewis as being eminently ‘touchable’ – or perhaps catchable is more “appropriate” these days. Not to mention Mr Button who quite clearly views his team-mate as being catchable.
We will have to watch and wait. I am making no further predictions. Until my next moment of weakness and/or bravado.
Hope you had a great day at Snetterton with all those Lotuses. Should have been good.
I’m just back from Spain where I witnessed the launch of a superb new circuit at Navarra. More details in my next blog and in the magazine. Now it’s time to prepare to ask Christian Horner some searching questions on the current state of affairs at Red Bull Racing. If I can ever find my way through the labyrinth of streets and roundabouts that is the town of Milton Keynes. I may be some time, as the famous explorer said.
Meanwhile, keep on corresponding.
RW
RW
Mr Widdows, you forgot to mention Kubica!
Although Kubica may not have a car to “catch” Lewis for some time, I think the Pole might be the only one who is fast, relentlessly consistent and without ‘baggage’ to worry everyone in years to come.
Didn’t Lewis once privately say that Kubica is the one he fears the most?
Or is that just an urban legend?
:)
RW- Snetterton was brilliant and fantastic- well worth a 4 hour drive- shame the 38 wasn’t there but so many great cars were- and Lotus Racing- i don’t how big a thank you i can say but you guys not only did you look like you loved being there were brilliant- especially Jarno and Hieki racing the 72 and 77 around- awesome- you were so approachable and brilliant – i think you converted a lot of people back to F1
Autosports coverage was not so impressive although i can actually see me in the photo, well with a large magnifying class i can- [15minutes of fame condensed?] as a Jimmy fan to be so close to some of the cars he had driven – tears welled
as for next year RW- what i think i ws trying to say is that this is the 1st year in F1 Lewis is learning from another driver which will raise his game next year to an enormous level and won’t, in my extermely humble opinion, be catchable – but then i’ve been known to be wrong
Rt- yea i recollect that and think that Kubica is a champiom in waiting- but as an aside the only driver Jimmy said he feared was Dan Gurney and there are some simllarities i think
Snetterton sounds good to me, AND it’s in Lotus Land. Glad you had a close look at the cars – always a thrill!
Lewis is just maturing all the time, I agree, and in a good car he will always be a huge threat in any race at any circuit. But I do think he will always be more of a Senna than a Prost………………or more of Hamilton than Button…………………! He’s just plain, naturally, instinctively QUICK.
And what about Kubica? Well, I’m not decided because I have never seen him in a really good car for any length of time. Sure, he’s talented, and his record pre-F1 is excellent. Not easy to be sure until we see him consistently at the front, fighting week in and week out with the very best of them. I’m actually a bit disappointed that he’s not going to Ferrari with Alonso because I think that would have been a most intriguing situation in which to reach some kind of conclusion on his potential as a future World Champion.
Busy week. Goodwood, then Silverstone.
RW
RW- although i’ve been to most motor racing circuits in the UK this was my 1st visit to Snetterton and Dr Jonathon- i was impressed – it really was an excellent day-
As for Lewis as his fave was Senna – yea he is modelling himself – i think what i was trying to say was that now he has someone he is really learning from next year he will add a lot of brain to his ‘brawn’
For Robert, mmm i wasn’t a fan until this year but i’m beginning to be swayed – i like his no-nonsense approach and his levels of motivation – thats impressive, would rather see him in a williams [when they remember how to win again] that i think would be some partnership
enjoy Goodwood – ill be at silverstone but just the friday -