Comments on: Alonso joins Ferrari – nine months after the story first broke

By: Marybeth

Marybeth — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:51:14 +0000

In 2007 Kimi was Ferrari’s first driver & he won the WDC. In 2008 & ¿09 Massa was first. Domenicali said that this ¿shows respect¿. If Kimi had remained their 1st driver, Ferrari would have had much better numbers at the end of the year. Now Ferrari has to put performance first again to regain the prestige they lost these past 2 years. That makes Massa 2nd, as in 2007. For the past 2 years Ferrari, backed Massa instead of Kimi, now they realize they have switch back to their best driver, Alonso, as 1st to regain prestige. I am beginning to understand what Kimi went through at Ferrari and I am glad that he is out.

By: James Allen

James Allen — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:00:20 +0000

F1 has always been a mass marketing exercise, even in the days when Stirling Moss had Dunlop on his overalls. It’s also a sport

By: Siverstoned

Siverstoned — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:33:22 +0000

I don’t disagree at all Dan. Just making a v different point about Kimi being regarded back in 2004/5, by Ferrari along with everyone else, as at least as desirable as Alonso. I was quoting JA as proof.

By: KNF

KNF — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:26:27 +0000

I’m scratching my head over the whole ice-cream incident myself, the car was already retired and it wasn’t as if he could do anything else…

Would there have been this much criticism if Button and Hamilton went off for waffles and a pint after their first lap off in Spa?

By: RobM

RobM — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:06:25 +0000

Cheers KNF

But there’s nothing wrong with being a hard taskmaster, maybe he was too intense, that’s how he always came across… still think there’s more to it though…
Now if James reads this i think Ron would be a good idea for his next book like Schumy he split people down the middle with his ways.

By: Fuchsia

Fuchsia — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:48:27 +0000

I agree with all you. This is one of the most sensible and intelligent posts about Kimi i’ve ever come across. I find it ridiculous that people simply assume Kimi is unmotivated. All drivers are out there to win. That’s why they race. Only Kimi can drive a car that has no right to be on the podium around Spa and win. Kimi bowed out of Ferrari with grace and dignity today. He deserves a lot of respect. I hope he makes Ferrari regret replacing him with Alonso next year.

P.S. I am fed up with all the derogatory ice-cream jokes. What’s wrong with grabbing an ice-cream after his car has been retired from a race?

By: Uppili

Uppili — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:32:18 +0000

DC’s engineer once put it so eloquently…here it is…

Understeer is when the front of your car hits the wall. Oversteer is when the back of your car hits the wall.

Gem.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:38:26 +0000

Count Ross Brawn out at your peril!!!

By: craig

craig — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:10:37 +0000

Well said. It seems that if you are not extravagant in F1 or a playboy you are unmotivated. So does that mean that the quiet, reserved Mr. Schumacher was unmotivated? No. So just because Kimi keeps to himself and is not media friendly does not make him any less motivated than anyone else. Let’s see all the armchair critics get in the current Ferrari and drive it faster. Fisi was up his date in Spa. Where is he now?? Wherever he goes he is still gonna be the same Kimi. He’ll do the best with what he is given. For the record, I’m quite partial to the odd ice cream myself

By: " for sure "

" for sure " — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:36:57 +0000

I share your thoughts. Way too many latin emotions in the mix. There will be big bust up sooner or later. I hope Rob Smedley and Felipe show them the way home.