Yes, I think Kovalainen is particularily talented and is out of place at Air Asia Lotus, not quite convinced about Glock.
I also rate Kovalainen, but I think he's happy where he is at the moment (well, at least in a recent interview he said he was), which is helping him drive well. I think he's outqualified Trulli in every race so far? And often by some margin! Long shot, but maybe he'll replace Button at Mclaren when Button retires? Heikki has said he enjoyed being at Mclaren, and was just disappointed it didn't work out. I think they parted amicably though.
I thought Kovalainen fitted very well at McLaren, he got on well with Hamilton and the team seemed to like him, he maybe didn't have the legs to hold Lewis.
I rate Kovalainen over Glock but Timo was very good at Toyota, I thought. Now, Heikki is a bit of a hero, a David (as in Goliath) pushing the Lotus into contention with the established teams. I think it's great what he's doing; it's a different way to make his reputation, modest like the man himself. Glock, however, is struggling at the back in a team that it seems no one loves. Then there's Kubica but I'm not confident that he can come back: the severed hand! I hope he can, it would be an amazing comeback but even if he is back next year, I expect he'd not be at his best, as with other drivers returning from serious accidents.
Hiekki is doing a stirling job at Air Asia Lotus and is almost too good for that team but as you say he's happy and pulling them along nicely acting the virtual team leader role. The problem Air Asia have with public perception is, they tried to be something they never could be, ie Lotus. And Fernandes is still trying to create a branding that appeals favorably to the F1 fraternity, but we all have long memories and these things cannot be forced along. I greatly admire Tony Fernandes for his ambitious approach but he needs to work on success with what he has, that's his best route to acceptance and recognition in my opinion. As for Kubica, well, what a stupid man, he's blown it, a prime example of how to finish a promising F1 career without thinking of the bigger picture, why oh why, would a serious thinking person go off on a jolly and participate in a silly rally around an Italian mountain of all places, asking for trouble or what !
I agree Ernie. I like Fernandes but I can see how his zeal and his spiel might be a bit much. Lotus were my first team when I was a kid and I'm glad he's brought the name back. As a team, they seem to have a great spirit and I hope they're a success. Kubica, yes it was stupid. Glad you said it first! He does seem to be kind of sacred now. I forgot DiResta as a potential top driver but, as with Perez, I think it's too soon to say.
Now are Ferrari just saying this or do they mean it: BBC link Also what about keeping Massa, they don't seem to talk about that but it could just be the reporting.
I think they made it very clear last season: Felipe is lucky to still be at Ferrari, and unless he drives like he did in 2008, he won't be there in 2012. As for Alonso's future teammate, I don't think Alonso will give it too much thought. Contrary to several media reports, Alonso doesn't thrive when he is clear No.1 in the team, it's just that the only time he had serious competition with a teammate, there were issues between himself and the team boss - which the media (and fans) mistook as Hamilton vs Alonso. If Ferrari wanted to sign Hamilton, I don't think Alonso would veto it (not even sure he has the power to do so).
Alonso has always said that he does not need to be or has ever asked to be the number one driver, he just wants equal treatment which is where the problems of 2007 came from. I think that Alonso's drive, focus and leadership skills just naturally gravitate the team around him if the other driver is not as strong. I do not think Alonso will veto any driver becoming his team-mate because Alonso will feel he is the best driver on the grid and he will be confident that the other driver will not get preferential treatment so he will feel he will beat them, and that will include Vettel, Hamilton or Kubica.
I love the photo with the BBC article: "Bye-bye, Felipe, go home", er, maybe Still, I thought Montezemolo was saying just the other day that Massa was safe at Ferrari for the remainder of his contract.
because it gets the most publicity, and therefore is the better advertising to car buyers, which is what it's all about at the end of the day for Ferrari. As to a team-mate, past knowledge of the way Ferrari work, coupled with Alonso's penchant for having his team back him over a faster team-mate 'or else' would suggest that whoever takes the team-mate role will be someone without ambition or with an horrendously self serving manager/agent
According to Eddie Jordan (the font of all knowledge ) Alonso vetoed a move for Kubica this year. Personally I think Alonso does demand number one status, he certainly expects Felipe to yield to him and judging by his reaction at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix he even seemed to think Petrov owed him something. I think he'd rather have the second best team centred around him, than the best team split between him and someone else. Unless of course, the best team is as dominant as Red Bull look.
I guess this is the only appropriate place to post this without starting a new thread. Stefano Domenicali believes the best 3 drivers on the grid are (in no particular order): Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91557 I completely agree with him, but I wonder what Felipe will be thinking. By signing Alonso until 2016, and then openly stating that a top driver could take the second seat, it wont do Felipe any good to his confidence.
Surely Lewis can't get into Ferrari, I would laugh so hard at both sides. Be a damn world war every year while vettel is just shrugging his shoulders enjoying himself.
Or equally, it could be sending a message to Massa to prove he is a top driver, and so deserves to stay? Or saying that, it could be aimed at crushing his new-found fragile confidence so that he is easier to replace? Its a win-win situation for Ferrari I guess.
