Chuckjr wrote: ↑14 Aug 2026, 12:36
It is interesting to see the driver dynamic coming to the fore in Ferrari. Many thought (myself included and stated as such) that letting Sainz go was a mistake because bringing in a multi-world champion would inevitably lead to one of them to be in a stronger position points wise than the other, and decisions would have to be made EARLY in the season to not have another 2007 situation. It’s an impossible situation now…for you have the sweetheart of Ferrari who made a covenant with his father on his death bed that he would win the championship, and he would win it in a Ferrari. Its like the entire tifosi made the vow with him…and then…you have an aging champion falling out of his prime and knowing he must win now, not in 4-5 years commitment to the team. Choose one driver or the other now and the entire ethos of the team becomes disillusioned and splits the fan base between the newcomers (who are there for Lewis) and the die hards who will never relinquish their sweetheart. They have to choose one to really have any chance, and yet that opens a door that won’t close for maybe 2 years if Lewis goes to 2028.
This all will carry into 2027 like a bad dream that won’t end should the first loser or lower position await them at the end of this season. IMO, Lewis no matter what will want that 2028 seat especially if Alonso finds re-birth at Aston Martin. Chuck just resigned for more years. There is no good decision at this point for Ferrari, and any choice made without a championship trophy at the other end of it, will be “the worst” of the rotten choices. There is no other option but to start winning a lot right now with the whole team behind one guy. That’s the only chance they have and neither driver will cooperate with that situation I don’t care what the contracts say. Championship loss this year will immediately lead to ENDLESS blame from BOTH sides sour from the wrong “obvious” driver choice (at that point) made now. This will actually be interesting to watch play out.
Good luck Ferrari. The choice made now is going to draw out for another 2 seasons.
Ya shoulda’ kept Sainz.
So you’re saying they have to pick a driver but if they do, the drivers won’t listen? I don’t know if I fully agree with either point but, let’s say it’s true that neither will play ball, then surely there’s no point picking? You’d just be upsetting everyone for no real benefit.
IMHO 2008 is a better example than 2007. They’re fighting against one driver at the opposition right now as Russell has so far been more of a Kovaleinen than an Alonso (albeit neither really fit perfectly). While Massa and Raikonnen taking points off each other arguably ultimately cost one of them the WDC (vs Lewis who always got McLaren’s top points, albeit primarily just because of performance not team orders) they did still win the WCC that year; one could make the case that neither would have been performing as well or pushing the other to go quicker if they didn’t think they had a chance at the title. If, for example, Raikonnen was the entrenched number 1 (as world champion and early points leader for Ferrari at various points) then Massa, who ultimately scored more points, wouldn’t have had the chance to show everything he had.
I think their only practical choice is to let both drivers go for it - with sensible racing rules and team orders to maximise team result at a given race, irrespective of driver - and then only pick if/when the maths truly make it obvious. There’s every chance that the ADUO + chassis upgrades put them in a place to go on a proper run and, if either does that, that driver will suddenly be in a great position. Lewis’ points advantage over Charles would be all-but eradicated if the reverse Barcelona happens (ie Lewis gets reliability DNF in a race Charles wins) at which point we’d all say it was too early to have backed a driver.
