GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Well, the 2003 season currently stands at the following:
Ferrari: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello
Williams: Juan-Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher
McLaren: David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen
Renault: Jarno Trulli, Fernando Alonso
Sauber: Nick Heidfeld, Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Jordan: Now confirmed: Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralph Firman
Jaguar: Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia
BAR: Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button
Toyota: Panis and da Matta
Minardi: Now confirmed: Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen
Arrows: one team entry available
Prost/Phoenix: one team entry available
As mentioned, Eddie Jordan said in a recent on-line chat that Takuma Sato has a contract for next year. I think that overall he deserves a drive for next year (there is a poll on this at my Fantasy F1 site). EJ is, however, basically accusing corporate Japan of forsaking their best hope for talent, so he could obviously do with a bob or two. I had heard that Honda were willing to 'sub' Sato to the tune of $6m - I wonder if they too are forsaking him.
EJ also said that he had had no real contact with Irvine, and that there was no truth to the rumour that Jordan were pursuing him. Obviously this does not mean that there's definitely no deal, but I for one think that Irvine is not only a waste of an F1 place, but actually a waste of space in general, and would breathe a hearty sigh of relief were he to 'retire'. A lot of people say he's a breath of fresh air, and he's always willing to speak his mind in these PR-obsessed times, but the fact of the matter is that while he does speak a lot, he rarely makes any sense. And as my mother used to say "If you don't have anything sensible to say, don't say anything".
At Jaguar, Irvine is definitely out of contract, and the team have about as clearly as possible stated that they're not interested in him next year. However, it now looks likely that they may do a volte-face on this one, and re-hire him, which would, I believe, be an over-account of his recent run of good fortune. They have Pedro de la Rosa on contract, but he recently stated on his personal web site that he had a contract and that was that, which in F1 parlance is equivalent to issuing a press release saying "I've been fired, and the team are a bunch of b******s".
Toyota have Panis under contract, and are more than likely to give Christiano da Matta a drive for next season. This looks like a marketing/guilt decision as he has delivered them the ChampCar title this year, only for them to pull out of the sport. Nonetheless, despite CdM's denials, I think he's on his way.
That leaves the two vacant team slots (I think it's fair to say that Arrows will not make it next year), and Jaguar and Minardi to sort out. I think Jaguar should hire Webber, especially now after Minardi have released him, and should keep de la Rosa on board, unless Eddie is telling the truth about DLR's lack of development skill. However, this is unlikely, and who better is there? There really isn't anyone experienced enough to take on the role of team leader, or development leader, apart from the wild card that is Allan McNish. All the others, Pizzonia, Davidson, Courtney can't give Jaguar what they need. Can Eddie? Well he hasn't thus far, has he? They should have gone for Panis!
Minardi will sign who ever brings the largest cheque.
Thoughts?
Ferrari: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello
Williams: Juan-Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher
McLaren: David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen
Renault: Jarno Trulli, Fernando Alonso
Sauber: Nick Heidfeld, Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Jordan: Now confirmed: Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralph Firman
Jaguar: Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia
BAR: Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button
Toyota: Panis and da Matta
Minardi: Now confirmed: Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen
Arrows: one team entry available
Prost/Phoenix: one team entry available
As mentioned, Eddie Jordan said in a recent on-line chat that Takuma Sato has a contract for next year. I think that overall he deserves a drive for next year (there is a poll on this at my Fantasy F1 site). EJ is, however, basically accusing corporate Japan of forsaking their best hope for talent, so he could obviously do with a bob or two. I had heard that Honda were willing to 'sub' Sato to the tune of $6m - I wonder if they too are forsaking him.
EJ also said that he had had no real contact with Irvine, and that there was no truth to the rumour that Jordan were pursuing him. Obviously this does not mean that there's definitely no deal, but I for one think that Irvine is not only a waste of an F1 place, but actually a waste of space in general, and would breathe a hearty sigh of relief were he to 'retire'. A lot of people say he's a breath of fresh air, and he's always willing to speak his mind in these PR-obsessed times, but the fact of the matter is that while he does speak a lot, he rarely makes any sense. And as my mother used to say "If you don't have anything sensible to say, don't say anything".
At Jaguar, Irvine is definitely out of contract, and the team have about as clearly as possible stated that they're not interested in him next year. However, it now looks likely that they may do a volte-face on this one, and re-hire him, which would, I believe, be an over-account of his recent run of good fortune. They have Pedro de la Rosa on contract, but he recently stated on his personal web site that he had a contract and that was that, which in F1 parlance is equivalent to issuing a press release saying "I've been fired, and the team are a bunch of b******s".
Toyota have Panis under contract, and are more than likely to give Christiano da Matta a drive for next season. This looks like a marketing/guilt decision as he has delivered them the ChampCar title this year, only for them to pull out of the sport. Nonetheless, despite CdM's denials, I think he's on his way.
That leaves the two vacant team slots (I think it's fair to say that Arrows will not make it next year), and Jaguar and Minardi to sort out. I think Jaguar should hire Webber, especially now after Minardi have released him, and should keep de la Rosa on board, unless Eddie is telling the truth about DLR's lack of development skill. However, this is unlikely, and who better is there? There really isn't anyone experienced enough to take on the role of team leader, or development leader, apart from the wild card that is Allan McNish. All the others, Pizzonia, Davidson, Courtney can't give Jaguar what they need. Can Eddie? Well he hasn't thus far, has he? They should have gone for Panis!
Minardi will sign who ever brings the largest cheque.
Thoughts?
