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[headless]

Early 2000's we did have 4 battling.

[EwanM]

We can only hope. Sincerely doubt we'll get 4 teams all battling for next years title though. Maybe 3 at a push.

[headless]

Yeah.
Manor, Force India and Williams

[EwanM]

Ferrari to confirm Alonso at Monza - report

http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/9577/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

September 11 2009 could be the date on which Fernando Alonso is revealed as a Ferrari driver for the next five formula one seasons. The Spanish newspaper Diario AS claims that the sport's best-known secret may already be scheduled for official confirmation on the Friday of the Italian grand prix at Monza.

The report believes Ferrari has not decided which of the team's contracted 2010 drivers, Felipe Massa or Kimi Räikkönen, will be ushered aside to make room for the former double world champion, who currently races for Renault.

AS said Ferrari intends to hold its major end-of-season event at Valencia in November, not only to welcome Alonso, 27, to the team, but also its new 2010 Spanish sponsor Santander. The report said Alonso could be the "surprise guest" at the event, but would have to wear casual clothes because of his Renault contract through December 31.

Source: GMM

[headless]

Hopefully.

[Jamie]

With the time,money and effort put in that useless piece of s*** called Kers,its no wonder this season has to be scrapped.
Budget savings FTW ! aye ?, yeah rite.

Exactly!
They have wasted more money than spent...testing has been around for years? They scrapped that? KERS? 1 Season......Scrapped?

[headless]

Tried and tested now.

[Jamie]

Still a waste of cash

[headless]

Still a waste of cash

Most definately

[scotty]

I think you'll find that these situations have nothing to do with Ferrari and McLaren, but the drivers in the cars!

Eh, no.

Erm... 98 - 01 was all about Schumacher and Hakkinen and the only real time the 'gloves were off' in the last two seasons was when Alonso had his spat with McLaren and Hamilton! Next you'll be saying 1990 was all about Ferrari vs McLaren and not the drivers... That said, i'm not denying that they were brilliant seasons!

[McLaren Fan]

Of course the title battle was more exciting with Schumacher and Hakkinen battling one another, but although McLaren and Ferrari are getting on a lot better (as Dennis and Todt now gone, and the FIA and Ferrari aren't as close), that was not always the case. There is the old historical divide between the garagistes and manufacturers, and in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were numerous points of conflict: Ferrari got banned McLaren's (legal) braking system in 1998; Ferrari's cars were reinstated after being disqualified for having oversize barge boards in the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix; there was bickering over how each team's driver policy; and Ferrari brought down Dennis' plans for a breakaway series in (?)2004. The fact is when you watch McLaren and Ferrari racing, it runs deeper than than a title battle involving other teams.

[7UpJordan]

The best years were when Ferraris were so embarrasingly poor they would be overtaken during races on merit by midfield strugglers, and even the McLarens looked tame whilst Williams walked to the title with the FW14B.

[EwanM]

Of course the title battle was more exciting with Schumacher and Hakkinen battling one another, but although McLaren and Ferrari are getting on a lot better (as Dennis and Todt now gone, and the FIA and Ferrari aren't as close), that was not always the case. There is the old historical divide between the garagistes and manufacturers, and in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were numerous points of conflict: Ferrari got banned McLaren's (legal) braking system in 1998; Ferrari's cars were reinstated after being disqualified for having oversize barge boards in the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix; there was bickering over how each team's driver policy; and Ferrari brought down Dennis' plans for a breakaway series in (?)2004. The fact is when you watch McLaren and Ferrari racing, it runs deeper than than a title battle involving other teams.

I agree that the Ferrari V Mclaren battles are pretty amazing. However I do feel that the same applied for Ferrari V Williams or Lotus back in the day.

I suppose it depends where your loyalties lie. I wouldn't mind a return of the battle for next season, but then again I wouldn't mind Red Bull V Brawn.

[darwin dali]

And what about Renault? Wouldn't you want to see them in the mix as well?

[EwanM]

And what about Renault? Wouldn't you want to see them in the mix as well?

Of course, but they aren't really a garagiste, in the old days they were a key member of the grandees. (to connect with the point I was trying to make)
However in this manufacturer dominated era I would love Renault to return to the front, but realistically I don't see that happening for sometime. Especially if Alonso leaves.