WhiteBlue wrote:So my impression is that Seb will eventually drive a BMW against Nico in a Merc. Although there is denial Nico and Keke's patience with Williams is running out.
I agree with you on the "patience issue" but see Nico at Ferrari. Nico is technically adept, soft spoken, not a petulant child, a sacrificial team player, very fast, still young and malleable. Fernando, while he is doubtless fast and championship stock, is just not compliant enough to fit in at Ferrari. They don't want personality conflicts. Their best days were when they dumped Irvine for Rubens. That should tell you something. Fernando should make the best of it at Renault. I know BMW would never sign him either. Thiessen's experience with Ralf is enough to steer him away from someone who has even a hint of a primadonna complex and who acts like a spoiled child. That is why he likes Nick because Heidfeld knows how to sacrifice quietly. With Robert, Mario has his Michael and with Nick he has his Rubens. Fernando's stock plummeted after last year's spoiled fits and blackmail threats. Even worse, Fernando may get forgotten if he doesn't focus on lifting the Renault up the grid. A few years in a mid-pack car will get him forgotten faster than you can say Jacques Button. If/when Kimi retires, Ferrari will have better options that to take on a disruptive unharmonious driver who could wreck the team. Kubica came from nowhere, Vettel also. And years before that, Kimi came from nowhere. There will always be fast drivers but I think Nico will drive a scarlet car in 2010.
One caveat though, Kaz is impressing and Nico's stock can go down if he is not careful. In a year we could be talking about Kaz in this tone. Kaz will only get better as he beds in and learns the tracks etc. I must confess that I am the most surprised. I figured him to be another Ide or even a Sato at best. Now I am rethinking my hasty nationalist opinion.
Innovation over refinement is the prefered path to performance. -- Get rid of the dopey regs in F1
