Domenicali pretty much confirms Alonso to Ferrari?

[The FOZ]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77949

Then, you have to consider that if you put a young driver in, it is for the future. We are thinking for sure to see if we can work on a young driver programme for the future. We have already decided that but unfortunately after what has happened to us, where everything is going in a certain direction, which will be announced soon.

Draw what conclusions you will...

Now that Massa looks to be on the mend and in good shape for returning, they can safely ditch Kimi for Alonso without putting their 2010 season in jeopardy.

[ISLAMATRON]

Alonso is not the answer to their problems, but they will soon find that out... the search for the 6 tenths continues.

[Jersey Tom]

I would not remotely construe that as "Alonso to Ferrari."

[The FOZ]

I would not remotely construe that as "Alonso to Ferrari."

Would you put forward another theory as to what will be announced soon?

[adam2007]

Alonso is not the answer to their problems, but they will soon find that out... the search for the 6 tenths continues.

your a joke mate, course it will help them hes very commitited and fantastic driver, double champ.

[Jersey Tom]

Kimi likewise is a committed and talented driver, and WDC. Plus, he's already very familiar with the Ferrari system. Claiming Alonso would be any improvement is complete conjecture.

Domenicali says they're going to start a young driver program. So be it. Doesn't mean they're putting someone in a race seat just yet.

Plus... Massa was born in '81. Alonso also born in '81. Not any younger. Even Kimi was only born in '79, not that much older.

[ISLAMATRON]

Alonso is not the answer to their problems, but they will soon find that out... the search for the 6 tenths continues.

your a joke mate, course it will help them hes very commitited and fantastic driver, double champ.

much he's done at Renault the last couple years

Notice how many champonships he's won since Michilin is gone

but I wouldn't exactly call KIMI "committed"

[The FOZ]

Kimi won as WDC, got a huge raise, and hasn't produced a WDC since. We all remember what last season looked like for him.

I'm as big a Kimi fan as the next guy - but he never looks like he's pushing, he never shows any passion. Whether or not he actually is pushing, or actually has passion, I don't know. The point is, he's the highest paid guy in F1, one of the highest paid athletes in the world, and is following up a terrible WDC-defending season with a competent, but not stellar one this year. Now, if I were reporting to the board that the most expensive driver (by a good margin) in F1 is not beating the people making far less money than him, someone's gonna ask the question, "So why are we keeping him on the payroll"?

[ISLAMATRON]

he got the big money before his first WDC didnt he?

[Ciro Pabón]

I almost posted something this morning and then I got busy. The commentators at FoxSports Latin America said (during last race) that they've heard rumours about Kimi moving to McLaren and Alonso to Ferrari. Kovi said something about "the many rumours about many people competing for his position at McLaren". I guess (to complete the circle) that Kovi will move to Renault... Silly season is here already.

[Jersey Tom]

Kimi won as WDC, got a huge raise, and hasn't produced a WDC since. We all remember what last season looked like for him.

I'm as big a Kimi fan as the next guy - but he never looks like he's pushing, he never shows any passion. Whether or not he actually is pushing, or actually has passion, I don't know. The point is, he's the highest paid guy in F1, one of the highest paid athletes in the world, and is following up a terrible WDC-defending season with a competent, but not stellar one this year. Now, if I were reporting to the board that the most expensive driver (by a good margin) in F1 is not beating the people making far less money than him, someone's gonna ask the question, "So why are we keeping him on the payroll"?

Never shows any passion? How so? Because he's the ice man? So what. He had the same vibe now as before he won the WDC. I'd also argue a really talented driver doesn't LOOK like they're pushing. Not locking tires, not making dumb mistakes, not blowing his line.

With regard to his poor 2008 season, who knows why. Could be him. Could be as much his engineering staff. Could be luck.

With regard to this season, it's clear that BrawnGP and Red Bull have had much better cars than anyone for a while, which has put them well ahead of the competition. Exclude those, and you have Rosberg (=), Hamilton (-2.5), Raikkonen (-5.5). 5 points off with some races left, is pretty damn decent.

Bottom line, Massa and Raikkonen are both very talented drivers, and known quantities within the Ferrari organization. They've been investments. They know the organization, the engineers, the system. To put Alonso in a race seat.. maybe he'd do well. Maybe not. It's a crapshoot. A big gamble that a lot rides on. Managing bodies throwing around tens or hundreds of millions a year do not like gambles with no data to go on.

Best best for Ferrari? Offer some younger guys positions as test drivers. It'd be a logical offer to give Badoer's job to someone like Vettel (or any YOUNG talented guy maybe out of GP2 or F3) for a season, see how he does. If he consistently outperforms Massa or Kimi, then you have reason to replace one of them.

Rumors are just that, rumors. And generally a load of crap.

[Ciro Pabón]

Well, sorry for this lame joke, Tom, your post made me remember it:

The first ladies of UK, Russia and France were having a meeting with Hillary Clinton. The subject of discussion was the penis of their respective husbands.

The first lady of UK says, "It is like a gentleman- it stands up, as soon as I enter the room".

The lady from Russia says, "It is like an army officer- you do not know where he will attack from - front or back."

The French lady says, "It is like the screen in the auditorium- once the act is performed, it drops down...".

Then Hillary says, "It`s like a rumour... It moves from one mouth to another..."

[The FOZ]

he got the big money before his first WDC didnt he?

Possibly. I could be completely wrong on which came first.

But the point I'm driving at is, he certainly did not earn his wage last season, and isn't particularly doing so this season, last 2 races notwithstanding.

[Conceptual]

I seem to recall Kimi clearly stating that he will end his F1 career with Ferrari, either at the end of his current contract, or after an extension.

But with Ron Dennis gone from McMerc, maybe he would return? ALthough, who would want to be teamed up with Hamilton given the blatant bias towards him. The McMerc seat of Heikki's will probably be filled by someone that is happy playing second fiddle, not someone that would actually EXPECT to be number 1 in the team.

After 2007, does anyone believe that McMerc can possibly have co-no#1 drivers like the JPM/Kimi pairing?

I don't see it as long as Lewis is there...

[Ciro Pabón]

Well, name a driver who just get into the car and drives and couldn't care less about who's his partner at the team... altough Kimi has said (repeatedly) that he has a contract until 2010. Silly, silly season.