The factors on the negative side of the ledger of hiring shu was maclaren's senna experience where they spent shedloads on the best driver but couldn't afford to have the best car (oh-that's fact by the way,i'm not being opinionated.It was admited to by both senna and mac at different times)
There's no doubt that by '99 shu was absolutally the best and would cost accordingly so it's no real surprise they backed away.After all,their policy of spending heaps on engineering was paying off...and they had an awsome driver in hakkinen
I do hope ron at least made it known that he was chasing shu...so ferrari would have to cough up more to make sure they kept him,LOL
-don't worry-that's just my wicked sense of humour