Which driver to replace Badoer at Ferrari after Spa?

No doubt disappointed by Luca Badoer’s underperformance during the European Grand Prix this weekend, Stefano Domenicali informed the press that a change could occur in his driver line-up after the Belgian Grand Prix, which will take place starting Friday.

Badoer replaces Massa, seriously injured in Hungary, but has not lived up to the Scuderia’s expectations. The Italian made several errors and spun out during the race on Sunday, yet he was confirmed to race at Spa. Domenicali hasn’t confirmed him for the future, leaving the door open for a replacement of the replacement. But who for the Reds?

« Our priority is to find Massa. And for Badoer, the coming weekend will be decisive: we expect significant progress from him. » Commented Domenicali yesterday after the Grand Prix.

The results not being up to expectations, « Ferrari cannot afford to have a car in the last position, » continued the head of the Scuderia. We can then very well imagine an early driver transfer during the 2010 season. Thus, Jarno Trulli, threatened at Toyota, could leave the Japanese team earlier than expected. This is also a plausible hypothesis for Nico Rosberg or especially Giancarlo Fisichella. The Force India driver is Italian, and like Trulli, has experience.

The return of Michael Schumacher has been definitively ruled out – at least for 2009 – but why not use a driver who is free from his duties: Nelson Piquet has just been fired from Renault and knows how the KERS works, used at Renault at the beginning of the season.

Another strong replacement hypothesis concerns Sébastien Bourdais; the Frenchman was recently let go from Toro Rosso. He is in good shape, knows the 2009 single-seaters, and especially the Ferrari engine that powered the STR4. Additionally, the Frenchman has the advantage of his manager. Nicolas Todt is Bourdais’ manager, just as Todt is the manager of Massa, the driver to be replaced.

Finally, the last hypothesis mentions Marc Géné. The Spaniard is the 4th driver, originally, for Scuderia Ferrari this 2009 season, and could therefore take over from Badoer without causing much fuss or jealousy; until the return of the Brazilian, Felipe Massa.