- 16 Aug 09, 16:47#143468
I usually see Badoer referred to as TEST driver for Ferrari - sometimes even as 'permanent' test driver. He's been at it for 13 years! And he was overlooked before, when MS broke his leg in 99 and Ferrari hired Mika Salo instead of giving the seat to their test driver Badoer.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. 
They have a test and reserve driver so I don't know why there was ever any question about him. If I were hired as the test and reserve driver then I would expect to get the seat. I wouldn't want to do my duties with the fear that I might not get reserve duty hanging over my head.
A good test driver doesn't necessarily use the same skill set as a race driver - see, e.g., AW, a great test driver and a lesser race driver. So, your logic with respect to causality is flawed I'm afraid.
I'm not 6, you don't need to explain that stuff. I said he's the test and RESERVE driver. He's perfectly qualified to race. Ferrari obviously feels he can race. DC was given Senna's seat and Sir Frank said it was only logical since he was the reserve driver. No one else was considered. Mansell's one offs were just for show(although Nigel did see it as an audition for 95 and tried to Psychologically keep DC down). We all know that any driver who takes a test role does so because he wants to race and probably wasn't offered any race drive and this is better than nothing and maybe I can impress someone etc.
If the is driver is just a TEST driver then there's alot less entitlement, yes, but Badoer is the RESERVE driver.
I know you're not 6 and you didn't need this told to you.
I usually see Badoer referred to as TEST driver for Ferrari - sometimes even as 'permanent' test driver. He's been at it for 13 years! And he was overlooked before, when MS broke his leg in 99 and Ferrari hired Mika Salo instead of giving the seat to their test driver Badoer.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. 
