Discussion
Ah well sounds like the old Frank Williams ego trip thing again. He and his cars are the most important thing, drivers just spoil them.
If I'm not mistaken similar things have happened in the past, such as Mansell not getting a renewed contract even thugh he was the reigning World Champion go figure,
(I think 
)
Harry
If I'm not mistaken similar things have happened in the past, such as Mansell not getting a renewed contract even thugh he was the reigning World Champion go figure,
(I think ) Harry
Mansell and Hill were both dumped by Williams in the years they won the World Championship for the team (1992 and 1996 respectively).
Frank Williams and Patrick Head are the not the most sentimental of people. Head once described drivers as being like light bulbs. They were a component of the car that could easily be replaced.
Frank Williams and Patrick Head are the not the most sentimental of people. Head once described drivers as being like light bulbs. They were a component of the car that could easily be replaced.
Flavio Briatore is denying it.
Flav probably thought Willi was trying to get Michael signed to Renault instead of Ralf and has backed out when he realised it was Ralf
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 9th March 10:45
Autosport said:
Renault's Formula 1 team principal Flavio Briatore has shot down a story in the German media that Ralf Schumacher will drive for the team in 2005.
Tuesday's edition of German tabloid Bild featured quotes from Schumacher's manager Willi Weber, saying: "Every point of the contract has already been discussed. The signing of the contract is now a mere formality."
Briatore, however, has denied this subject has been discussed, but did admit that he spoke to Weber in Melbourne.
"I saw Willi Weber in Melbourne," said Briatore, "And we certainly talked to each other – we are friends, so that is perfectly normal. However, at no time did we discuss, or have we discussed, a possible future for Ralf Schumacher in a Renault car."
Weber's quotes are viewed as an attempt at increasing the pressure on Williams to reopen contract talks with Schumacher Jr, which stalled after the Japanese Grand Prix, and are probably also aimed at German car manufacturer BMW to exert its influence to keep him on board.
Weber has been noticeably quiet on the subject of a potential deal with Toyota, where many F1 pundits believe Ralf will eventually end up for 2005.
Flav probably thought Willi was trying to get Michael signed to Renault instead of Ralf and has backed out when he realised it was Ralf
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 9th March 10:45
HarryW said:
Ah well sounds like the old Frank Williams ego trip thing again. He and his cars are the most important thing, drivers just spoil them.
If I'm not mistaken similar things have happened in the past, such as Mansell not getting a renewed contract even thugh he was the reigning World Champion go figure,
Harry
Well if Alain Prost offered to drive for you instead of Mansell and his dismal attitude, which would you choose? Exactly. The Hill affair was rather badly handled though, and poor Damon was particularly hard done by.
Ralf and his money-grabbing manager rate his talent rather higher than the rest of the paddock does, unfortunately. As Hakkinen said in his recent interview, Ralf should "moan a bit less". He's already far better paid than Montoya, despite his lack of consistent results over what is now a fairly lengthy career - this is his eighth season in F1.
Williams would be well rid of both him and Mr 10%, so I hope he buggers off to Toyota (or Renault - but could the Regie afford him?) and leaves Frank free to sign Webber and A N Other, whoever it may be. Oh, sod it - Villeneuve! There, I've said it. God, that'd be a good combo. I wasn't ever a massive fan of Jacques, but I admired his attitude and his forthright views, particularly in his Autosport interviews last year. Villeneuve or Ralf? Hmm, I think I know who Patrick Head would prefer...
>> Edited by Ahonen on Tuesday 9th March 19:57
Ahonen said:Head is also on record as saying that Villeneuve made very hard work of winning the world championship as his car was so far ahead of everyone elses (apart from his team mate of course), so I'm not sure that this is on the cards.
Villeneuve or Ralf? Hmm, I think I know who Patrick Head would prefer...
I'd like to see Williams with two new drivers - I can't see how Ralph's position is tennable any more, with all the public bad blood. As I said above though, I'm not sure what BMW would have to say about losing their German driver though.
Izza said:
This is GREAT.
It gives Scott Dixon an even better chance of getting a drive at Williams next year!!!
Hmmm ... an Indycar driver coming over to F1 ... worked well for Michael Andretti didn't it?
Personally I'd like to see a certain Dupont sponsored Mr Gordon given a chance .... he was phenomenaly quick at Indy when they gave him a test.
Gazboy said:
Villenerve was an Indy Driver
Of sorts....had a fair bit of experience in FNippon as well. Most, if not all of the recent CART > F1 transfers have been drivers with lots of prior "European" racing experience. Da Matta, Villeneuve and most recently Montoya all had a lot of F3/F3000 experience. Andretti had a crack, wasn't up to it and returned back home. Fair enough - he's one of the most successful CART drivers, so he must be doing something right.
Flip it round and look at the amount of non US drivers to succeed in CART/IRL though - Mansell being the most obvious recent(ish) success, then there's Gil DeFeran, Zanardi, Montoya, Blundell, Dario Franchitti, Kenny Brack and most recently Dan Wheldon, Darren Manning and Mark Taylor.
I have no doubt there are talented drivers coming through the ranks in the US (Hornish springs to mind), but I think the oval culture of IRL and the megabucks lure of NASCAR is robbing the wider World of genuine talent. I'd have loved to have seen Paul Tracy or Greg Moore given a crack at F1. Sadly we'll never know how good Moore could've been, but I think Paul Tracy was a missed opportunity. Trouble is, who wants to take a seat at a middling F1 team when you can win CART/IRL races? That's part of the problem, and is why continued dominamce of F1 (by whichever team) is bad for the sport.
The Wiz said:
Personally I'd like to see a certain Dupont sponsored Mr Gordon given a chance .... .
I'd like to see Tony Stewart given a proper test, he has been quick in everything he's driven and won Championships in both IRL and Nascar. He reminds me a lot of a certain Mario Andretti, winning in different classes.
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