Rubens should be fired

[mansellmania]

Rubens admits to Michelin worries

Ferrari star anticipates major tyre threat in 2004

"If I look at the last few seasons, there are reasons to worry, of course,The improvement Michelin made in 2003 was impressive. If they make another one like that next year, we will have to catch up.I'm under no illusions, It will be a hard battle against McLaren, Williams and Renault, and who knows if some other team will manage to come out with a competitive car that can fight for the top spots. Obviously I hope that the end of the season will be like it was this year, with Ferrari winning."

i wonder if any italian fans could tell me what exactly was said in that gazetta della sport article.
if he looks at the past seasons? i didnt find michelin that much a worry in 2002.

[ASCII Man]

Got a link to the article?

[BootsOntheSide]

Rubens must've meant "looking at the improvement, they will be a threat in 2004", which is true. Ferrari may well be strong enough to fight the onslaught off, but it's no certainly, and, I they take their eyes off the ball, and/or Bridgestone fail to improve their dry-weather tyres, it could be a difficult season. And no man should be fired for telling it as he sees it.

[mansellmania]

http://www.gazzetta.it/statics/speci...che/index.html

i could not find the article.
Damien Smith wouldnt be so low as to invent such an article no?
At autosport.com theres a small conclusion of rubens talking to the gazetta
http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=25593&s=5

[Super Tourer]

http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=8233

More here. They keep saying F1 needs more outspoken characters....Ruben's is just expressing genuine concerns, Bridgestone can't deny that the hot mid-season weather handed the advantage to Michelin. No doubt its a public 'wake up call' to all parties.

[Knowlesy]

Rubens views here just seem to reflect everyone elses: that Michelin are looking hot and Bridgestone simply MUST improve and keep pushing development at a fair old rate.

Can't you see that mansellmania?

[jj2728]

here's the link, hope it works..
http://www.f1racing.net/news.php?ID=66760

[paulzinho]

I think the whole of Ferrari were worried by Michelin last year.

IIRC Autosports post Hungary cartoon depicted Michaels contract demands as a contract with Michelin! Tounge firmly in cheek of course!

[Wrex]

Originally posted by mansellmania
if he looks at the past seasons? i didnt find michelin that much a worry in 2002.

Hmm, only watched the wet races then did you?

Michelin were without question the tyre of choice last year. That said, I dont think Bridgestone are going to be sitting on their hands either.

As for "Rubins should be fired", what a load of ! It means absolutely nothing. He was asked a question, he answered it. For all we know, Ferrari told him to answer it that way.

[Gt_R]

Quote:"if he looks at the past seasons? i didnt find michelin that much a worry in 2002."

Pardon me..what should Rubens be sacked for? Telling his concern?

Unfortunately, F1 doesn't work based on "past seasons". Everything is fought for the next race, not the previous. Honda had a brilliant history din't it?

Ok...let's see the past seasons anyways...2003:Michelins were superior enough to push Renault and Toyota to challenge Ferrari. It's enough to let JPM pull off a huge lead in Germany, and Alonso to lap Michael in Hungary. I don't care if Michelins cheated or not, but i dont find such a sight pleasing. And the problem is not the car, nor the drivers...so?

2002, true, Ferrari dominated. But Michelin had already showed signs of huge potential. The problems lie with compromising of tyres between teams. BS is improving, but the problem lies with the fact that in the recent years, Michelin is improving at a rate double of BS.

[mansellmania]

Originally posted by Wrex
Hmm, only watched the wet races then did you?

Michelin were without question the tyre of choice last year. That said, I dont think Bridgestone are going to be sitting on their hands either.

As for "Rubins should be fired", what a load of ! It means absolutely nothing. He was asked a question, he answered it. For all we know, Ferrari told him to answer it that way.

Well, it was a joke off course.
But i always thought you are not supose to talk bad about ferrari.Nothing of the catching up next year.
The ferrari is the best car outthere ( even when it isnt )
I wonder if montezemolo is happy with such.

[Logrence]

Fair play to Rubens - beating Michael this last season has given him credibility.

[Snrub]

MS has said things like he's concerned that the competition is improving. No one suggested that he be fired.

All RB is saying is that Michelin has obviously gotten progressively more competitive. If the trend continues then Ferrari has something to worry about. What's the big deal?

[senna12]

I think most observers were of the impression that the only advantages Bridgestone enjoyed in '03, were in either wet or cold conditions. F1 being basically a late spring/summer sport, their advantage could not be exploited very often. Rubens is aware of this as well, he is not saying anything controversial. Regardless of what you think of BAR, they obviously feel Michelin have a competitive advantage as well.

So Rubens can say what he feels, he a.) is a good toady when he's told to be, and b.) won't be around a whole lot longer anyway.

[Mr V]

Maybe this should be merged with the Michelin doesn't threaten Ferrari thread

[Logrence]

We could merge all the threads into one at the moment...

[DieRitter]

I also think this thread should be merged. The title of the subject is quite inappropriate. Hard to believe that Rubens should be fired for making a fair comment.

[Wrex]

I have a better idea