This phrase has been said so often that it might as well be true: "What's good for Ferrari is good for Formula 1." Case in point, Scuderia Ferrari snatched the talents of Fernando Alonso, arguably the strongest F1 driver on the grid, since 2010.
Regarding the Spanish maestro, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said, "I'm immensely pleased with Alonso. He's more than a driver, he's a key figure. He fits into the way the team work perfectly."
That said, Montezemolo dropped a bombshell when he attended the Ferrari Maranello factory to speak before Christmas break. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 65-year-old said, "If for whatever reason Fernando Alonso were to leave one day, maybe because he wants to retire in Hawaii with his girlfriend, then I want Vettel.
"Sebastian is a potential Ferrari driver for the future."
No doubt, the triple-consecutive Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is a hot commodity right now. At just 25-years-old, Vettel's career is bright and any team would be excited to have Vettel on board. In fact, the Red Bull driver has previously been linked to Ferrari rumors this season. What's more, sources claim a pre-contract for 2014 was offered. Of course, Red Bull Racing and its #1 driver quickly put speculation to rest.
Given a premature opportunity, would Ferrari dare sign Vettel on before Alonso retires? A bold notion given the fierce rivalry among the elite drivers, Montezemolo said he did not wish to see "two roosters in the same hen house" but rather two drivers "who race for Ferrari and not for themselves."
Many publications are suggesting the matter here is that Ferrari is elevating Vettel's worth beyond that of 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton. However, there's no evidence that Lewis Hamilton is a slower driver. In fact, when pushed to 10/10ths, there's no one on the grid that would brake later or jump on the throttle sooner.
There said, there is clearly a display of Ferrari's intellect. Think back to Lewis Hamilton's rookie season with Fernando Alonso at McLaren. By mid-season, team tension between the two drivers were so high that Alonso opted to return to race for Renault for 2009 before he moved to Ferrari in 2010.
What about Ferrari #2 driver Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton? Don't even think about it. A tense rivalry from 2008 through 2011, to say that the two drivers are disgusted of one another is an understatement.
Finally, let's not forget that Lewis Hamilton will join Mercedes after his six-year tenure at McLaren for the start of the 2013 season. Perhaps, the statement from Montezemolo factors in the fact that Hamilton may not be available on the market anyway.
In a separate interview with Britain's Sky Sports television, Montezemolo also showed favoritism towards Hamilton as well. "Alonso is in Ferrari. If tomorrow, and I would be very unhappy with this, he will decide to go to live in the moon then for sure Hamilton is a driver that I like very much."
Finally, it's your turn: What if both Vettel and Hamilton were available? What sort of team would Scuderia Ferrari become if the two young aces drove in the same team?
For the sake of amusement, check out Lewis Hamilton's many encounters with the two current Ferrari drivers in the video below:
