One more chance for Fizzy...

Kersh

Next year we can watch Kimi kick Fizzys ass at renault.... This decision mystifies me tbh.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=121142

steviec

Me too, I thought it'd be better for both sides to part ways, Fisi's getting nowhere with Renault. Maybe a different team mate will lead to a different mindset but doubtful.

Kovalainen would be a better choice I think, and try to sign Raikkonen or Webber as number 1.

thegoth

I will tell you I think they signed Fisi again.

I believe that Kimi is not now going to Renault. This leaves Renault with a problem as there is no other top class driver on the market. For a team like Renault, it would be too big of a risk to take on two rookies, such as Heikki Kovalainen, Gary Paffet, or Robert Kubica. Therefore the only option they have is to put Heikki Kovalainen in the team with the best driver AVAILABLE for next year, who is Fisi, and design the car around him and just cross their fingers.

Fisi had alot of class over his first 8 years or so in F1. He is to be as fast as Alsonso over one lap (sometimes). Renault needs to somehow make him consistent.

Kersh

Consistency isnt the problem, its pace, thats why his engieer is on the radio kicking his arse every race, tellimg him Alonso has the same car, same fuel, catch him etc.

thegoth

Yes Alonso is faster alright. Webber maybe. The trouble is that no one knows yet how fast Alonso is. Is he the best driver ever, therefore making Fisi look slow when he is not or has Fisi gone of the boil ? The answer to this question is not easy to find.

Renault probably don’t want to take a risk on Webber considering that he is probably only slightly faster than Fisi, if at all. The risk would not be worth to potential reward, and he has said that he would prefer to stay at Williams.

I think they should have gone for Webber is Alonso stay, but having two knew drivers in one year would be a nightmare for the Engineers, so this is why thy stayed with Fisi I think. Fisi is looking that Alonso left the team, otherwise he was gone. Not sure where he could find a home. Maybe he would have taken DC’s seat at Red Bull, but we will never know

Kersh

Hmm, Alonso is class alright, but I agree, its hard to gauge at the minute, he has to be at least very very good. If the teams all stay at the same performance next year for example (I know it wont), but then we would see how Alonso does with McLaren. But weekwnd in , weekend out, Alonso, Schumi and Kimi are the only ones in good cars who CAN get the job done.
Depressing eh... what happened the the fire and ice we expected at McLaren... they should keep JPM off the burgers to slim down his sump a bit..

steviec

There's better options than Fisi available, even if Kimi isn't possible. Montoya could be out of a drive at McLaren, or how about JV even, he's driving well this year but doesn't look like he'll be at BMW next year. They couldn't ask for a more experienced driver at the sharp end.

My choice would be Mark Webber, buy his contract out if they have to, Flavio is already his manager and for me he's the one driver other than Fernando, Michael and Kimi who can go and win a World Championship for them. Mind you, with the car as good as it is right now, if they continue as like this then Pat Symonds could probably drive the car to victory himself.

Not that Fisi is a terrible driver. Not by a long shot, but he's just got into a slump that I don't think he's going to get out of without a change of scenery.

thegoth

I would not consider JV, as Heidfield is slighter faster and a better racer so why not him.

I would not touch Montoya as he is too inconsistent and I believe he causes conflicts in teams. The McLaran mechanics would not even run him at a test in spain last month because of insulting remarks he made about the team.

Webber or Rosberg would be the one I would pick to replace Fisi. Think I would go for Rosberg as he is alreay a very good driver being a rookie, and will only be better next year.

But I think they are correct not to replace Fisi giving the fact that Alonso is leaving. Like I said before, having two knew drivers is an Engineers nightmare. They would be used to interpretate what both Alonso and Fisi said about the car. They would have to learn two knew drivers and how they feed data back from scratch. This could serious hold up development

steviec

I'd rate Heidfeld above Villeneuve too, but as far as I know he's contracted to BMW long term.

JPM I don't think is so bad though. He seems to be having a similar phase with McLaren as Fisi is at Renault, again a move might rejuvinate him.

Agreed, Williams have the possibly the best driver line up in Formula 1 right now in my opinion, when you look at both their drivers, I don't think they'd be keen on letting them go without a fight though.

thegoth

Villeneuve is out of contact at the end of season and it doesn't look like they want him for next year. Think they are going to run their test driver. He seems very fast

muckwarrior

thegoth wrote:

The trouble is that no one knows yet how fast Alonso is. Is he the best driver ever, therefore making Fisi look slow when he is not or has Fisi gone of the boil ?

Thats what I'd love to know. It's also why I'd love to see kimi going to renault because then we could roughly gague kimi vs alonso. But I reckon ye're right, they signed Fisi because they can't get kimi.

steviec

muckwarrior wrote:

Thats what I'd love to know. It's also why I'd love to see kimi going to renault because then we could roughly gague kimi vs alonso. But I reckon ye're right, they signed Fisi because they can't get kimi.

Well Kimi's guaranteed a place at one of the big three, so one way or another him and Alonso are going to be racing for the title again next year. Hopefully he'll be Schumacher's team-mate, see what he's really made of.

Jor

Well Kimi's guaranteed a place at one of the big three, so one way or another him and Alonso are going to be racing for the title again next year. Hopefully he'll be Schumacher's team-mate, see what he's really made of.

I can't see Michael agreeing to having an equal as a team-mate. I think he has had a big say in who drives the No. 2 (or No. 1B) car at Ferrari and is happy to have people he knows he can dominate on the track.

With Alonso going to McLaren. Kimi can either stay put or move to Renault.
I think the latter would be the smart move. The Renault just seems so good.

As for Fizi, I have been disappointed with him for the last few years. He really looked like he had the potential to be a top driver when he and Ralf were "team-mates" at Jordan. But it just didn't happen. He could not lead a top team and now he can't keep pace with a driver in the same car.

thegoth

I do not think Michael will have any input into his teammate this time, as Ferrari will now be thinking of his replacement in 2-3 years time. If they can land Kimi, Michael will not be able to stop it happening. Over Michaels career, what driver do you think COULD have been his team mate that would have been faster than him. I disagree with your remark that Michael only wants team mates he can can dominate. I cannot think of any team mate Michael could have had from 94 to 06 that could challenge. Next year if the first time Ferrari have had the chance to sign a truly great driver since signing Michael