Ferrari sign Vettel?

nycuk · 20 Mar 2008, 11:03 (Ref:2157123)

Good God - only one Grand Prix in and silly season has started already!!

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20141.html

jellison · 20 Mar 2008, 11:06 (Ref:2157128)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycuk

Good God - only one Grand Prix in and silly season has started already!!

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20141.html

Good call - Massa is OK but not a true Natural - He has to go to a Big Team now that TR are going down the Tubes! He is the future Mega Talent.

zac510 · 20 Mar 2008, 11:20 (Ref:2157136)

Read this initial speculation on a different web forum on Monday.. 3 days later it's 'news'.
His manager must have acted quickly!

climb · 20 Mar 2008, 12:58 (Ref:2157227)

Vettel to Ferrai would be a good move, and I would like to see him pair with Nico Hulkenberg once Kimi retires/changes team.

Pro Racer · 20 Mar 2008, 13:05 (Ref:2157232)

don't Ferrari want Nando in 09 now??? IMO Vettel is way better signing big talent.

SimonY · 20 Mar 2008, 14:01 (Ref:2157275)

Vettel is no doubt a good driver but imo is massively over-hyped, and I can see absolutely no reason why he would be a better signing than Massa.

jellison · 20 Mar 2008, 14:06 (Ref:2157281)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonY

Vettel is no doubt a good driver but imo is massively over-hyped, and I can see absolutely no reason why he would be a better signing than Massa.

Cos Massa was Fast but crashed ALOT in his first year or two. Vettel is JUST FAST. Massa has ended up pretty good, but better on an open track than cutting through the pack (i..e. last weekend). So many people could do more with that car. Don't get me wrong I do like Massa too, but would rather see Vettel in it

BootsOntheSide · 20 Mar 2008, 14:10 (Ref:2157286)

I can't remember Massa taking a team-mate out under safety car though. If Massa had driven a brilliant race last weekend, we'd all be astonished at this. In reality it's odd, because Vettel is already in a tug-of-love between BMW and Red Bull, and RBR are likely to want a new driver for 2009? Perhaps Red Bull have signed his contract over in exchange for a supply of Ferrari engines for 2009 (and perhaps for RBR beyond then, or as an option for whoever buys STR?), while keeping him with STR on loan until he is needed/ready?

jellison · 20 Mar 2008, 14:15 (Ref:2157288)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

I can't remember Massa taking a team-mate out under safety car though. If Massa had driven a brilliant race last weekend, we'd all be astonished at this. In reality it's odd, because Vettel is already in a tug-of-love between BMW and Red Bull, and RBR are likely to want a new driver for 2009? Perhaps Red Bull have signed his contract over in exchange for a supply of Ferrari engines for 2009 (and perhaps for RBR beyond then, or as an option for whoever buys STR?), while keeping him with STR on loan until he is needed/ready?

Indeed, get rid of the Dead wood that is Webber!

nycuk · 20 Mar 2008, 14:19 (Ref:2157294)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jellison

Cos Massa was Fast but crashed ALOT in his first year or two. Vettel is JUST FAST. Massa has ended up pretty good, but better on an open track than cutting through the pack (i..e. last weekend). So many people could do more with that car. Don't get me wrong I do like Massa too, but would rather see Vettel in it

I'd imagine that Massa's position within Ferrari has weakened too now that his manager's dad isn't team principal anymore.

When Massa is good he's VERY good (Interlagos '06 for instance) - trouble is he's not good every weekend. Vettel has the speed and seems to have the consistency too.

Ralf's Girl · 20 Mar 2008, 15:27 (Ref:2157342)

I don't think Vettel needs any more contracts just at the moment. He's in danger of being signed to as many teams as Jenson Button.

I'd be surprised if this rumour turned out to be true - there's no doubting that Vettel is very talented, but Ferrari do have two contracted drivers for next year, and I doubt it would be that easy to just get rid of Massa.

Marbot · 20 Mar 2008, 16:04 (Ref:2157366)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

and I doubt it would be that easy to just get rid of Massa.

It'sa no problem! We getta DC to senda da boys around.

orrmate · 20 Mar 2008, 17:14 (Ref:2157410)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonY

Vettel is no doubt a good driver but imo is massively over-hyped, and I can see absolutely no reason why he would be a better signing than Massa.

I don't think he's overhyped at all. IMO, he's more talented than Hamilton. Not that that will be a popular view...

Satorian · 20 Mar 2008, 17:33 (Ref:2157427)

Quote:

Originally Posted by orrmate

I don't think he's overhyped at all. IMO, he's more talented than Hamilton. Not that that will be a popular view...

I'm a huge Vettel fan (and have been one for years now) and probably not as big a Hamilton fan as most people around here, but I do wonder whether Sebastian will be able to deliver the same level of professionalism and consistency, both on which Hamilton excels for a rookie/relative newbie in F1.

duke_toaster · 20 Mar 2008, 17:50 (Ref:2157446)

Congratulations, new sig!

Charlies · 20 Mar 2008, 18:06 (Ref:2157465)

Quote:

Originally Posted by orrmate

I don't think he's overhyped at all. IMO, he's more talented than Hamilton. Not that that will be a popular view...

I think he's as talented as Hamilton, not more. Of the new crop, Hamilton Kubica, Kovalainen, Piquet, Sutil, I'd put Vettel equal second. Certainly a better prospect than Massa.

According to autosport.com's interview with Berger, he's solely contracted to Red Bull now and for he next three years, and I'd expect to see him at their senior team next season.

Ferrari meanwhile has Massa and Raikkonen contracted, and those rumours about Alonso don't go away. They're going to have to run two teams at this rate...

mjstallard · 20 Mar 2008, 18:07 (Ref:2157470)

Isn't there an F1 team up for sale somewhere?

Chiefy · 20 Mar 2008, 18:35 (Ref:2157492)

I think Vettel should at least make a good go of this season before we decide he is everything we've believed he is up to this point.

Undeniably he should form part of the next generation of top drivers, to include Hamilton, Kubica and Rosberg (maybe Sutil?) - but with Massa signed up for the next couple of seasons some of these "young pups" have a little while to wait. Personally, I just wouldn't have given Massa the extension. If nothing else, it detracted from what could have been a very exciting and tense period of waiting to see who Ferrari would sign for 2009. And now we know. And the news is disappointing. I bet Vettel gets nowhere near a Ferrari drive before 2011.

**Bononi** · 20 Mar 2008, 22:27 (Ref:2157655)

The only way to know is wait until the season is over... I remember a driver with a contract for more than 1 year, breaking up and going back to his former team... I just can't quite remember the names though...

wills · 20 Mar 2008, 22:44 (Ref:2157665)

Pierluigi Martini?

I can't see why people doubt Massa, he's won races very convincingly and is a good battler. Seeing him duke it out against Kubica in the wet on the final lap in Fuji proves his raw talent. Vettel is more likely to drive for Red Bull than Ferrari period.

Super Hans · 20 Mar 2008, 22:54 (Ref:2157671)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wills

I can't see why people doubt Massa, he's won races very convincingly and is a good battler.

I'm convinced that Massa is a good driver who, whilst superb on his day, lacks that certain something which seperates the great from the good.

Vettel, on the other hand, looks like he could be the complete package, although it is possibly too early to say.

If I had to choose between them, I'd take a chance on Vettel.

Pro Racer · 21 Mar 2008, 00:16 (Ref:2157716)

Webber to finally go to Renault and DC/Vettel at RBR or DC into retirement and Webber/Vettel at RBR???

ralf fan · 21 Mar 2008, 00:30 (Ref:2157721)

Schumacher is a 'talent scout' for Ferrari and he has previously said that Vettel has a lot of potential so this isn't a surprise. Vettel is a bit of a gem and i am sure all the top teams are looking closely at his contract situation.

OZ_HCR32 · 21 Mar 2008, 04:38 (Ref:2157795)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro Racer

Webber to finally go to Renault and DC/Vettel at RBR or DC into retirement and Webber/Vettel at RBR???

I can see DC moving into a testing role with RBR next year, and Vettel getting the call up to sit alongside Webber. Thing is RBR really have to start to turn things around. BMW are quick, Williams are quick. McLaren/Ferrari are always quick. Renault will improve.

If RBR dont step up then they will be battling in the teens

In which case Vettel will entertain the idea of one of the big teams who no doubt are wining and dining him.

Sev · 21 Mar 2008, 14:59 (Ref:2158217)

I still can't look past the fact that Vettel was beaten by Di Resta in F3. They were in the same car, with similar previous experience. None of the "greats" were ever bested by an equivilent team-mate. So either F1 is missing out big on Di Resta (quite likely in my opinion), or Vettel is over-rated.

Now, his performances so far have been impressive, but he hasn't had tough enough opposition to really show what he's made of.

Additionally, is anyone else amused by how many up and coming German drivers there are who all started karting between 1993-1997, compared to other generations?

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