Are Mercedes now the Ferrari of the past? - Team VVV
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  • #42118
    Tim GoodchildTim Goodchild
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    There was an interesting interview by the BBC with former Ferrari president, Luca Di Montezemolo (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45403007) claiming he was disgusted with the boos Lewis received and supported the tactics Mercedes used, citing its exactly what he did in the Schumacher/Irvine/Barrichello/Massa era. I sometimes feel people forget the sport is a team championship as well. Why was it okay for Ferrari back in the day, but doing it today is outrageous?

    #42174
    Andy Chung
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    I like this honesty from LDM – not sure if he was that honest back in the day about using these tactics/employing a number 2 driver/blocker.

    You’re right, F1 is a team sport and I think these types of strategies are part and parcel of the sport today and yesterday. Ferrari probably pioneered/perfected it!

    I would also be fine if it was the other way round, as long as it was fair and no one resorted to bad behaviour/tactics on the track.

    TBH, I think Lewis would have been boo’ed regardless of tactics (Lewis being the Monza pantomime villain), it’s just a shame that the most passionately led fans in the world today have eyes for one team and not for the incredible driving that was on display at Monza.

    One day Lewis may be driving for you…then that relationship will change!

    #42179
    Alan BoistonAlan Boiston
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    I didn’t like the way Ferrari operated back in the day, left a sour taste in my mouth after watching the races at times. There was one race (my memory is a bit vague now), I think it was Suzuka ’97, when Eddie Irvine was blocking Jacques to the point that he was clearly willing to take then both out should Jacques go for the overtake. Slowing a car down was one thing, but this was another, the fun went out of it, I guess this just wasn’t Formula One in my book.

    Though the record books see the success of Ferrari and Schumacher during this early 2000’s period, it was a dreadful period for Formula One as a whole. The viewing audience fell, the field unable to compete. As for the boo’ing, this is all part of the Tifosi, it’s part of the Ferrari culture you love about them. I remember watching Monza on TV when I was young and it felt terrifying hearing the passion and aggression of the crowd at that time but being there I love it, it was all pantomime.

    As for Mercedes, I have found that Valtteri’s attitude has changed this year. His driving becoming sloppy and desperate, his attitude becoming more cocky than confident, overall more erratic and less consistent. He’s just not a contender any more and given some of his recent driving conduct at Hungary and Spa that makes him dangerous to overtake, again adding to that negative feeling when watching.

    I accept team tactics, but if there was one move I didn’t like, it was calling the mechanics into the pits when they clearly had no intention of stopping. Not to fool the other car, as used to be the case, but to use the mechanics as a human wall to alter the course of the Ferrari entering the pits. This was supposed to be banned, I don’t like it, I don’t respect it.

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