Webber out of Williams next season
Discussion
Apparently, Kimi-Renault discussions haven't been going too well so Kimi's a bit of a shoe-in for Ferrari along with The Hun.
Webber'll have to go to Renault really - he's managed by Briatore, he used to test for them and there's no way R Dennis will have 2 Briatore managed drivers in the team.
Surprised Williams took Wurz though, he hasn't raced since 2000 and wasn't exactly setting the world alight then. On the other hand, he could have had a deal going since last year - Wurz was out of McLaren (A front runner) into Williams (A then mid-runner) like a shot so he must have had his reasons. Ron alluded to the fact that he was let go because he was always on the hunt for a race drive aswell....
Webber'll have to go to Renault really - he's managed by Briatore, he used to test for them and there's no way R Dennis will have 2 Briatore managed drivers in the team.
Surprised Williams took Wurz though, he hasn't raced since 2000 and wasn't exactly setting the world alight then. On the other hand, he could have had a deal going since last year - Wurz was out of McLaren (A front runner) into Williams (A then mid-runner) like a shot so he must have had his reasons. Ron alluded to the fact that he was let go because he was always on the hunt for a race drive aswell....
Edited by muzzer79 on Wednesday 2nd August 17:05
minghis said:
I'm sorry if this is going a little off topic but I really wish teams like Williams would somehow get a Brit or two in their cars.
Agree but Williams are a British team competing in a "World" championship with global brands bank rolling much of the team. Given the Toyota deal, I'm surprised they've not found themselves with a Jap' driver.
minghis said:
I'm sorry if this is going a little off topic but I really wish teams like Williams would somehow get a Brit or two in their cars.
Let's face it, Frank Williams has never exactly been loyal to the Brits... Mansell, Hill and Button probably all have good cause to complain about their treatment and subsequent departure.
fozzi said:
minghis said:
I'm sorry if this is going a little off topic but I really wish teams like Williams would somehow get a Brit or two in their cars.
Let's face it, Frank Williams has never exactly been loyal to the Brits... Mansell, Hill and Button probably all have good cause to complain about their treatment and subsequent departure.
I'm sorry - Button should be the one complained about - he told Frank he was available when he wasnt, then signed a contract he then tried to get out of...
and ive never heard either Mansell or Hill complain about Williams..
fidgits said:
fozzi said:
Let's face it, Frank Williams has never exactly been loyal to the Brits... Mansell, Hill and Button probably all have good cause to complain about their treatment and subsequent departure.
I'm sorry - Button should be the one complained about - he told Frank he was available when he wasnt, then signed a contract he then tried to get out of...
and ive never heard either Mansell or Hill complain about Williams..
I think you may be misunderstanding about Button. I think fozzi was refering to him being dropped at the end of the 2000 season for Montoya despite a decent performance that year. I seem to remember that Williams had already signed Juan Pablo for the '01 season so in that instance they didn't have much choice.
Hill certainly had good reason to comlain about Williams: after he won both championships with them in '96 they dropped him in favour of Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Great choice guys.
I don't know much about the Mansell situation but it's my understanding he left the team and F1 after he learned Prost would be joining in '93. Correct me if I'm wrong with this.
Williams had an option on Mark Webber for he 2007 season, meaning he was theirs unless by mutual agreement he was able to find a race seat elsewhere, and I cant see Mark being in mutual agreement to Willims giving the seat to someone who has mimimal race experience in the last 6 years unless he has found a seat elsewhere, and one that he foresees at this stage of the season to the Williams seat he currently has.
Although it looks likely he will go to Renault, being managed by Flavio and being their test driver for 2 years before he joined Minardi, he might well have gone and gotten him a seat with one of the other teams, including Honda, who have had a very public 2 way disagreement with Rubens this year. Also, it would also be possible he could be part of a larger plan, Red bull are keen to use Renault engines next year, Ferrari are against this, massa wants a 2 year extension to his contract, ferrari wont do this, so as part of the buyout of the contract for Renault to supply Red Bull, Webber goes to Ferrari for 1 year untill they get Kimi(if), and Torro Rosso use the ferrari engines that red bull should have done. It made sense when i heard it, even if it might not do written down there.
Although it looks likely he will go to Renault, being managed by Flavio and being their test driver for 2 years before he joined Minardi, he might well have gone and gotten him a seat with one of the other teams, including Honda, who have had a very public 2 way disagreement with Rubens this year. Also, it would also be possible he could be part of a larger plan, Red bull are keen to use Renault engines next year, Ferrari are against this, massa wants a 2 year extension to his contract, ferrari wont do this, so as part of the buyout of the contract for Renault to supply Red Bull, Webber goes to Ferrari for 1 year untill they get Kimi(if), and Torro Rosso use the ferrari engines that red bull should have done. It made sense when i heard it, even if it might not do written down there.
cj_eds said:
Webber is a good driver who's not had a chance in a top car yet. If he lands the empty Renault seat he'll do well for them. I think he'd been fissi anyway.
It would be a great shame if he ends up languishing at the back of the grid in a lesser team.
It would be a great shame if he ends up languishing at the back of the grid in a lesser team.
If Wurz is the best option Williams have it suggests that Webber left because he wanted to rather than being dumped in favour of someone better. The only reason I can see Webber leaving is because he had a better drive lined up, I'm guessing Renault or Ferrari. A move to Renault would contradict Fisi saying his 2007 team mate will be a Finn.
Its a strange one this, Webber can only really be targetting a drive at Renault or McMerc. Mclaren seems unlikely, they've got a proven world champion in Alonso next year and I'd have thought they'd be promoting one of their contracted younger drivers alongside him.
That leaves Renault, who've already got Fisi for next year. In turn that would have to mean Raikonnen at Ferrari, he'd never go there as a number 2 and Ferrari won't let their drivers compete with each other... So Schumacher must be retiring?
Perhaps its all already a done deal and Ferrari are just trying to keep the lid on Schumacher's retirement until Monza? Might also explain the recent mass damper furore, them being banned clearly has no grounding in the regulations so it must be an attempt to slow down Renault. FIA trying to make it so their favourite driver retires as world champion in their favourite red cars?
I suppose the other possibility is that Webber has simply been turfed out by Williams. Traditionally they've shown that they're pretty robust when dealing with their drivers, perhaps he was asking too much money or had some other falling out with the team?
That leaves Renault, who've already got Fisi for next year. In turn that would have to mean Raikonnen at Ferrari, he'd never go there as a number 2 and Ferrari won't let their drivers compete with each other... So Schumacher must be retiring?
Perhaps its all already a done deal and Ferrari are just trying to keep the lid on Schumacher's retirement until Monza? Might also explain the recent mass damper furore, them being banned clearly has no grounding in the regulations so it must be an attempt to slow down Renault. FIA trying to make it so their favourite driver retires as world champion in their favourite red cars?
I suppose the other possibility is that Webber has simply been turfed out by Williams. Traditionally they've shown that they're pretty robust when dealing with their drivers, perhaps he was asking too much money or had some other falling out with the team?
On the news down here(Australia) they said that Mark is in talks with Mclaren,Red Bull and Renault. I can't see him at mclaren as he wouldn't be allowed to beat Alonso and they got a few young guys comming through anyway. Red Bull i doubt because he will want a competive drive even if it means less money which leaves Renault which i think is quite lickley as Flavio is his manager(he was singing Mark's praises after Monaco)he used to test for them and Wouldn't command as big a salary as some others. I reckon he could do well at Renault as they seem to have a fairly goo car recently and i think he will beat Fisi.
Cheers
Cheers
megy said:
Williams had an option on Mark Webber for he 2007 season, meaning he was theirs unless by mutual agreement he was able to find a race seat elsewhere,
The option was contingent upon a salary demand being met. When Williams looked to back out of that, it left Webber free to break the contract or renegotiate. To his credit he chose the latter, but Williams do not appear to have been willing to accept those terms and thus he decided to look for other options.
I hope that he fulfils his promise at Renault next season.
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