Away from the track, Ferrari has also been distracted and in the news following confirmation that it is taking legal action against former engineer Nigel Stepney.
That is very difficult to understand. I can’t see why somebody would go to the kind of levels that has been alleged just because they have a gripe after being overlooked for a job – that seems to be the root of what has been reported.
There is obviously a long way to go before we see the outcome of this, but I can’t believe that Ferrari’s pace – or lack of it - is being put down to one individual.
Certainly, in Italy, it is a huge story at the moment, but it makes little sense to me personally. But, then, that is
Formula 1 in many respects - we don’t always understand things until they have happened.
Back to this weekend, and the fight for victory will certainly be between
McLaren and
Ferrari. On current form, you have got to go with the McLaren MP4-22 suiting the circuit best. The way it is operating – on all sorts of track at the moment, and the confidence inside the team and its drivers, could be the crucial factor.
But, as I say, I think the Ferrari F2007 will be a little bit stronger than of late and I wouldn’t write
Felipe Massa or
Kimi Raikkonen off under any circumstances.
As for Magny-Cours itself, it is not one of the best places to get to for a grand prix. It is a little bit remote and it doesn’t lend itself to having a great crowd. It has not really promoted itself as being a great circuit in many ways, although it is quite a nice circuit to drive. I know it well from my Ligier days.
For
Renault, as it is one of its ‘home’ tracks, it is an important meeting and the
regie will be up there, chasing the top two, along with
BMW Sauber.
