My point is about those who claim that Ferrari have Alonso as the number one in all considerations Ferrari. And likewise those that insist Alonso will always make himself and be number one in Ferrari at every point in time. When Felipe wins (and I sincerely hope he does it and does it often), I will wait to see those people's reactions.
That's pretty unreasonable, I don't see how you can possibly claim that Ferrari don't favour Alonso, nor do I really buy it that Mass getting a win proves otherwise. Barrichello won races at the Scuderia, and the team at the time was the Schumi machine. Likewise, DC won races at McLaren, and Ron Dennis barely even treated him like he was in the same team. Nobody says there are not exceptions where the number two is allowed some glory, but so far Ferrari have done nothing to portray Massa as anything more than Alonso's water-carrier. People shouldn't be asked to apologise for reacting to a clear trend.
On the one hand you're adamant that Ferrari treat Felipe as Fernando's water-boy. You're evidence is that Fernando did a lot better than Felipe last year. You say that Michael beating Rubens likewise proves that Micheal's wins came from Rubens being treated as second class.
No, my evidence that ferrari treat Massa as Alonso's water-carrier is the fact they
flagrantly broke the rules to hand Alonso a victory which was Massa's on merit, amongst other things not related to Massa's performance. My reference to Rubens was to demonstrate that a victory for the less-favoured driver (And please, don't waste our time claiming Ferrari did not favour Schumacher) in no way illustrates a lack of favouritism for the man in the other seat.
So, it's entirely impossible that Micheal just beat Rubens and likewise that Fernando was simply better last year than Felipe?
Both Schumacher and Alonso are clearly and indisputably better than Barrichello and Massa respectively. Not that it's at all relevant, because we're talking about favouritism - not performance. In fact, I was saying Massa was unworthy of the Ferrari seat long before Alonso showed up.
You're so entrenched in your belief that Ferrari set about treating Felipe as 2nd class, that you even have to come up with a "pre" excuse for when he wins - it's a "token" win - some sort of scrap that Ferrari will throw his way. To me that attitude is a little sad.
That is conjecture on your part, a form of strawman argument. I said nothing about it being a token, or a scrap. Merely that it is not indicative of a lack of favouritism. Favouritism can systematic and endemic (Indeed, that was how Ron Dennis did it), it does not have to be conscious in each instance.
I just hope Felipe has a standout year. He is a great driver. He's comeback from terrible accident. And, I for one, believe him when he said the tyres didn't suit him last year. He's been up against drivers with big reputations. Kimi beat him first time round in '07 but Felipe turned the tables big time in '08.
Well that's your prerogative. I don't think he is great, merely good. His performance is too inconsistent for me, personally, to rank him amongst the great.
Edit: I feel increasingly like you sense some kind of irrational hatred of Ferrari in me, which is not present. I'm no McLaren fan, I'm a Button fan. From 1999 through 2008, I was cheering for the red - though my favourite driver and teams were in the midfield, and it was the silver team which most frequently upset me - though I paused briefly to be outraged with Ferrari's antics in 2002 and some of Schumacher's more audacious stunts like the infamous Monaco car park controversy.
My opinions about the teams are not based on endemic passions, but on reactions to their actions. I couldn't stand the way Ron Dennis ran McLaren, and I still don't like him, but under Whitmarsh I have found them to be considerably less cold and ruthless. Simultaneously, Ferrari - despite my repeated efforts to re-acquaint with a team I was cheering happily at the time of their last championship victories - have begun to act in ways which I find fault, hence I am critical of them. That does not mean I consider them irredeemably evil, nor does it mean I don't still think McLaren's cheating in 2007 was atrocious.
My opinions are in flux. Do not assume I'm criticising Ferrari because I want them to be bad. I'm criticising them because that's how they're behaving. In this instance it doesn't even really amount to criticism. Many teams favour one driver over the other, intentionally or otherwise, and so long as they do so within the realms of the rules, they're free to get on with it - however if they or others try and pretend it's not happening then I'm going to have to call them out on it. It's not just Ferrari. I mean, honestly, do you
really think that if there was any indication of McLaren favouring Lewis, I wouldn't be the first person lined up to trash them for it? Of course not. I don't even particularly like Massa - though as the front-running Ferrari, I was cheering for his 2008 title charge after Kimi dropped out of the running - but that doesn't mean I'm going to ignore Ferrari's favouritism of his teammate.
But hey, I'd probably do the same - without breaking any rules anyway - because Massa's just not in Fernando's league.
The Frome Flyer: Smoother, Smarter, Calmer,
Winner.
Jenson Button: Professor, Chauffeur, World Champion Racing Driver.
specially in motor racing, when any racing fan KNOWS that track time is golden,and the more the BETTER!
