David O'Reilly
A bad quali means I can go forwards in the race.
I have written before about Hamilton and McLaren, Ill add that the only thing stopping Ferrari hiring Perez is that he is too fast. Montezemolo may opine that he lacks experience but for me the real answer lays in Alonso’s body language after Monza. Perez had beaten him in the Sauber fair and square. In fact Alonso may have not have even been on the podium were it not for team orders and a compliant Massa who drove a great race in fact.
Alonso did not even speak to Perez, did not face him or acknowledge his great achievement. In my view Perez has now made his name as a top driver and joins the elite group. To Alonso he is now the enemy. Alonso has proven he can be a gentleman and magnanimous in victory and a great team mate but only when he is clearly the dominant force. We all saw what happened at McLaren when Hamilton’s pure skill threatened him-complete meltdown. Followed by decisions to share secrets that ultimately cost McLaren £100m pounds in fines.
Alonso needs to be the star of the show to be happy.
Getting to my point. Ferrari does not want a driver to challenge and possibly beat Alonso. For some reason it’s just a scenario that the Maranello outfit has never been good at ever since Schumacher joined them. If you drive as #2 at Ferrari you are #2 and play a supporting role only. It was made clear to Eddie Irvine back when he signed for them (helped by Eddie Jordan). It was abundantly clear when Rubens drove as #2. It is ever clearer now.
So if you are Ferrari who do you want? In fact why do you even want to drop Massa if what you want is a clear #2 driver? It’s a quite bizarre conundrum. We want someone not too fast but not too slow. Can you think of anyone? Not sure I can, maybe Heikki Kovaleinen, he did that job at McLaren for a while.
Which leaves us to discuss Perez. He is a product of the Ferrari academy. They have helped him, helped built him up but if they don’t sign him what for him? Personally I think he has the makings of a World Champion and it would be nice if he can realise those talents. Will Sauber manage to challenge for a WDC? Ms Monisha Kaltenborn is clearly an intelligent and great operator but can they unlock the rivers of cash required to do this? It would be a fairy story if they did and in my view harder than when say Jordan F1 were in the title hunt in that famous season in Eddies History.
So where for Perez? I know a team that wants the best and is not locked in for a top driver for next season. I reckon Perez needs to give Martin Whitmarsh a call.
Alonso did not even speak to Perez, did not face him or acknowledge his great achievement. In my view Perez has now made his name as a top driver and joins the elite group. To Alonso he is now the enemy. Alonso has proven he can be a gentleman and magnanimous in victory and a great team mate but only when he is clearly the dominant force. We all saw what happened at McLaren when Hamilton’s pure skill threatened him-complete meltdown. Followed by decisions to share secrets that ultimately cost McLaren £100m pounds in fines.
Alonso needs to be the star of the show to be happy.
Getting to my point. Ferrari does not want a driver to challenge and possibly beat Alonso. For some reason it’s just a scenario that the Maranello outfit has never been good at ever since Schumacher joined them. If you drive as #2 at Ferrari you are #2 and play a supporting role only. It was made clear to Eddie Irvine back when he signed for them (helped by Eddie Jordan). It was abundantly clear when Rubens drove as #2. It is ever clearer now.
So if you are Ferrari who do you want? In fact why do you even want to drop Massa if what you want is a clear #2 driver? It’s a quite bizarre conundrum. We want someone not too fast but not too slow. Can you think of anyone? Not sure I can, maybe Heikki Kovaleinen, he did that job at McLaren for a while.
Which leaves us to discuss Perez. He is a product of the Ferrari academy. They have helped him, helped built him up but if they don’t sign him what for him? Personally I think he has the makings of a World Champion and it would be nice if he can realise those talents. Will Sauber manage to challenge for a WDC? Ms Monisha Kaltenborn is clearly an intelligent and great operator but can they unlock the rivers of cash required to do this? It would be a fairy story if they did and in my view harder than when say Jordan F1 were in the title hunt in that famous season in Eddies History.
So where for Perez? I know a team that wants the best and is not locked in for a top driver for next season. I reckon Perez needs to give Martin Whitmarsh a call.
