[WEC] Ferrari Hypercar Discussion

[Sodemo]

Is Allan McNish or Tom Kristensen too old to be tempted out of retirement? I think a Ferrari program could use their development talents.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Is Allan McNish or Tom Kristensen too old to be tempted out of retirement? I think a Ferrari program could use their development talents.

Since Tom Kristensen is on the Audi books till he dies, I do not see him throwing that contrat away for joining Ferrari .

Audi is another matter, but for Tom Kristensen side I believe that he rather see young guns taking the reins than himself.

Besides Audi did have younger experienced drivers like Lotterer who would be ideal!

[blankfile]

I see Raikkonen getting one of the seats

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by blankfile

I see Raikkonen getting one of the seats

That would be interesting to see. Bearing in mind his dalliance with rallying, I suspect he'd be quite interested as an alternative to tooling around at the back of the F1 grid.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by CTD

Since Tom Kristensen is on the Audi books till he dies, I do not see him throwing that contract away for joining Ferrari .

Audi is another matter, but for Tom Kristensen side I believe that he rather see young guns taking the reins than himself.

Besides Audi did have younger experienced drivers like Lotterer who would be ideal!

I agree. I can't see either being put into an Audi again, let alone a Ferrari. They're Audi men, through and through.

[chernaudi]

Allan and Tom, and probably most of the Audi Sport old guard, probably won't be tempted away from Audi any time soon, or get back into competitive racing. All have shown a huge amount of loyalty to Audi and Audi Sport. Besides, all of these guys are basically retired from driving, not to mention that Allan and Tom have management jobs at Audi Sport, and I can see one or both being involved in the LMDH program. Besides, Tom seems to be happy with occasional vintage/historic racing drives and Allan hasn't really shown much interest into getting back into a race car in a competitive outing since he retired.


I do wonder if Ferrari will poach from the GT ranks to get some of their drivers, as well as some of their junior drivers who probably won't get too close to a F1 car in the near future.

[canaglia]

Aside their involvement in audi activities, Kristensen is 54, McNish is 52 and it's about 10 years they retired from motorsport. They could still run competitively in lmp2 maybe, but they would go nowhere in modern days lmp1 level of drivers competitivity. Not to say that if Kristensen was still good when he retired, McNish in his last years could easily score the record lap first and then demolish the car during the very next lap...

[krzysiek_aleks]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Allan and Tom have management jobs at Audi Sport, and I can see one or both being involved in the LMDH program.

McNish seems to be natural choice for head of (potential) factory team. He's some years of experience in that role in FE and he's quite good as a boss.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by canaglia

Aside their involvement in audi activities, Kristensen is 54, McNish is 52 and it's about 10 years they retired from motorsport. They could still run competitively in lmp2 maybe, but they would go nowhere in modern days lmp1 level of drivers competitivity. Not to say that if Kristensen was still good when he retired, McNish in his last years could easily score the record lap first and then demolish the car during the very next lap...

Do not knock Kristensen physical abilities, he is more that keeping up with the young guns - something which has made him a quite interesting specimen for the medical industry .
I seem to recall that he is actually in charge of the physical and mental training of the Audi drivers - and that is not by standing idling by the side.

Nevertheless, they are out as drivers, so not really a topic which should be kept in a Ferrari thread

[Sodemo]

When did Martin Brundle last race an LMP car?

[Aysedasi]

Le Mans 2012? You're not seriously thinking.......? At 61 (62 by June this year), I don't somehow think he's in contention. If he is, I'm throwing my hat into the ring too......

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

That would be interesting to see. Bearing in mind his dalliance with rallying, I suspect he'd be quite interested as an alternative to tooling around at the back of the F1 grid.

He's seems rather happy there however and as long as Ferrari pays him to do so, he might just do so.


His teammate Antonio Giovinazzi seems a more likely contender with having fairly recent LMP2 and LM24 experience. And plenty more youth than Raikkonen.


Albuquerque, Derani, Nasr, Kobayashi and v/d Zande would all be great picks imo and are - as far as I know - currently not tied to one of the other major manufacturers (Toyota, Peugeot, Audi, Porsche).

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

He's seems rather happy there however and as long as Ferrari pays him to do so, he might just do so.


His teammate Antonio Giovinazzi seems a more likely contender with having fairly recent LMP2 and LM24 experience. And plenty more youth than Raikkonen.


Albuquerque, Derani, Nasr, Kobayashi and v/d Zande would all be great picks imo and are - as far as I know - currently not tied to one of the other major manufacturers (Toyota, Peugeot, Audi, Porsche).

Kobayashi is currently with Toyota, and not sure if Albuquerque still has any Audi links, but yeah the others aren't tied down.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Le Mans 2012? You're not seriously thinking.......? At 61 (62 by June this year), I don't somehow think he's in contention. If he is, I'm throwing my hat into the ring too......

Much more likely is that Nino Vaccarella is involved, even if only as a reserve driver. He gives continuity from previous Ferrari efforts and doesn't have the burden of unlearning experiences from driving contemporary LMP1s.

[Mal]

I can see Raikonnen as a possibility, but generally I think it will be drivers from their academy and GT drivers, plus hopefully LeClerc for Le Mans.

However there will be no shortage of suitors from all forms of racing - the chance to drive for the Ferrari factory will be very attractive to many drivers new and old.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Mal

I can see Raikonnen as a possibility, but generally I think it will be drivers from their academy and GT drivers, plus hopefully LeClerc for Le Mans.

However there will be no shortage of suitors from all forms of racing - the chance to drive for the Ferrari factory will be very attractive to many drivers new and old.

To include Leclerc they would need to add another car or stand one of their full season drivers down. Seems unlikely.

[Aysedasi]

I would have said that Leclerc was an incredibly remote possibility, unless he and Ferrari really want to do it. To be honest, I'm far from convinced that Leclerc in a proto for 24 hours would be a good decision.

[canaglia]

I honestly don't know, in last two seasons Leclerc made a lot of mistakes caught in the heat of recovering or defend positions... germany 2019, monaco 2019, austria 2019 and 2020, monza 2020, turkey 2020. But I agree, to me is extremely unlikely ferrari F1 drivers could take part at le mans, considering also that Leclerc will look for sure at other options if ferrari 2022 f1 car will be a failure.

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Mike E

To include Leclerc they would need to add another car or stand one of their full season drivers down. Seems unlikely.

This year AF Corse has only 2 drivers per car for full season. If they do the same in 2023 they could include Leclerc for Le Mans without adding another car.

[TF110]

Whats Nico Hulkenberg up to these days?

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by TF110

Whats Nico Hulkenberg up to these days?

Still hoping for a chance.... somewhere....

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I would have said that Leclerc was an incredibly remote possibility, unless he and Ferrari really want to do it. To be honest, I'm far from convinced that Leclerc in a proto for 24 hours would be a good decision.

News flash - he does want to do it: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...sqPA0AMWE.html


Also can we just take a moment for F1 publishing this on their own website. Fair play, we really have come a long way since Bernie.

[DistortedSmile]

Originally Posted by Simmi

News flash - he does want to do it: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...sqPA0AMWE.html


Also can we just take a moment for F1 publishing this on their own website. Fair play, we really have come a long way since Bernie.

The article also claims Ferrari's return wasn't due to to the F1 budget cap.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Also can we just take a moment for F1 publishing this on their own website. Fair play, we really have come a long way since Bernie.

Indeed!

[Coach Ep]

Leclerc-Giovinazzi-Hulkenberg would make a more than stellar driver line-up!