Retro Silly Season - Page 9

**chunterer** · 8 Jan 2020, 21:02 (Ref:3950496)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theunser

In 2011 Jaime Alguersuari turned down a Lotus offer-I mean the better Lotus, because this was a confusion at the time-because he tought his seat is safe at Toro Rosso.
After he was sacked from STR he had an offer from HRT, but turned it down.

Another mystery 'what if' for me.

He won the British F3 in a classic season.

I thought he was unfortunate not to get a seat elsewhere after he was 'released'by Dr M.

He showed flashes of speed in his time with STR. Fair play to him for turning his back on a sport and not just take anything going!

S griffin · 8 Jan 2020, 22:02 (Ref:3950509)

Oh yes I remember the classic 2008 F3 season. We had Alguersuari, Turvey, Hartley and Checo all fighting for the title and 3 of them made F1. Just a shame Turvey couldn’t make it further than a McLaren test seat. We also some good performances by the likes of Mustonen and Ericsson

Back to Jaime, I think he might also have been linked to a Caterham seat in 2014

S griffin · 8 Jan 2020, 22:14 (Ref:3950514)

Tiago Monteiro was linked to an STR seat for 2007

Theunser · 12 Jan 2020, 10:44 (Ref:3951166)

After Tom Pryce won the Monaco F3 race in 1974, three F1 teams were interested in him:Williams, Hesketh and Shadow.

S griffin · 12 Jan 2020, 10:51 (Ref:3951172)

Zanardi was originally nominated for a Tyrrell drive in 1992 so the team could meet the deadline, before they signed up de Cesaris

Theunser · 12 Jan 2020, 12:13 (Ref:3951189)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

Zanardi was originally nominated for a Tyrrell drive in 1992 so the team could meet the deadline, before they signed up de Cesaris

And in the pre-season everyone thought he will be at Jordan, but eventually Gugelmin came and took the seat.

Theunser · 12 Jan 2020, 12:14 (Ref:3951190)

Also in 1992, Karl Wendlinger was close to Tyrrell, but he didn't have enough money. So they took Grouillard.

S griffin · 12 Jan 2020, 12:22 (Ref:3951193)

Emmanuel Collard was first choice to replace the injured Panis for 97, but after an unsuccessful test, they went with Trulli instead

Theunser · 16 Jan 2020, 20:18 (Ref:3951985)

A.J.Foyt was close to race with BRM in the sixties.

And Emerson Fittipaldi was a candidate to replace Lauda at Ferrari in '76.

S griffin · 17 Jan 2020, 10:04 (Ref:3952058)

When Renault decided to add a second car for 1979, their originally wanted Pironi, but Ken Tyrrell wouldn’t let him go

Theunser · 18 Jan 2020, 20:23 (Ref:3952230)

In 1982 Williams approached Gilles Villeneuve.
He would only be 70 today.

S griffin · 18 Jan 2020, 20:30 (Ref:3952231)

McLaren also made an offer to him for 82. In the 81 Canadian GP, they used pitboards to communicate a possible deal between the two

Theunser · 18 Jan 2020, 23:03 (Ref:3952243)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

McLaren also made an offer to him for 82. In the 81 Canadian GP, they used pitboards to communicate a possible deal between the two

And as Ron Dennis told, he signed for 1983

S griffin · 19 Jan 2020, 09:26 (Ref:3952266)

After BMS pulled out at the end of 93, their drivers Alboreto and Badoer both were contenders for the second Benetton seat for 94. In the end they BMS's merger with Minardi meant they went there, Alboreto as race driver, Badoer as test driver

S griffin · 19 Jan 2020, 11:27 (Ref:3952278)

Bernoldi was another one linked to the second Jordan seat for 2003

Theunser · 19 Jan 2020, 12:37 (Ref:3952284)

Andrea Montermini tested a Larrousse pre-1992, and was expected to go there, but it didn't happen.

S griffin · 19 Jan 2020, 12:45 (Ref:3952285)

Gary Paffet was a candidate for Sauber in 05. As was DC, Davidson, Liuzzi and Richard Lyons

Theunser · 19 Jan 2020, 15:09 (Ref:3952300)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

Gary Paffet was a candidate for Sauber in 05. As was DC, Davidson, Liuzzi and Richard Lyons

And, I belive, Panis, or am I wrong?

S griffin · 19 Jan 2020, 15:20 (Ref:3952301)

I think his name was in connection now you mention it

**chunterer** · 20 Jan 2020, 23:33 (Ref:3952500)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

After BMS pulled out at the end of 93, their drivers Alboreto and Badoer both were contenders for the second Benetton seat for 94. In the end they BMS's merger with Minardi meant they went there, Alboreto as race driver, Badoer as test driver

Well neither got the 2nd Enstone seat cause Lehto blew them away 😉

**chunterer** · 20 Jan 2020, 23:38 (Ref:3952502)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theunser

And as Ron Dennis told, he signed for 1983

I always felt Gilles would have won the '83 title cauae the C2b was arguably the best car, aftet all it won the constructors.
But logically he would have left Ferrari at the end of '82 after getting 'effed over' so the Mclaren deal is more than likely true.
He would have been in prime position for the Tag engine programme....
Prost may never have been signed as Gilles would have partnered Lauda.

**ghinzani** · 21 Jan 2020, 03:22 (Ref:3952520)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

Bernoldi was another one linked to the second Jordan seat for 2003

Red Bull thought they had a deal to buy Jordan the year before they bought Minardi and would have started 'Torro Rosso' in 2004 with Bernoldi and the winner of their American driver search of 2002 Paul Edwards. Scott Speed who finished runner up in the driver search would have been test driver.

S griffin · 21 Jan 2020, 16:14 (Ref:3952605)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

I always felt Gilles would have won the '83 title cauae the C2b was arguably the best car, aftet all it won the constructors.

But logically he would have left Ferrari at the end of '82 after getting 'effed over' so the Mclaren deal is more than likely true.

He would have been in prime position for the Tag engine programme....

Prost may never have been signed as Gilles would have partnered Lauda.

Prost only signed for McLaren after being fired by Renault and the fact Wattie was still working out a contract with Macca. So yes it’s logical to suggest Prost wouldn’t have gone there with Gilles already there

Theunser · 21 Jan 2020, 20:19 (Ref:3952654)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

Prost only signed for McLaren after being fired by Renault and the fact Wattie was still working out a contract with Macca. So yes it’s logical to suggest Prost wouldn’t have gone there with Gilles already there

Prost was talking to Ferrari first, after he was sacked by Renault. But they kept Arnoux and the recently signed Alboreto.

**chunterer** · 21 Jan 2020, 23:13 (Ref:3952665)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theunser

Prost was talking to Ferrari first, after he was sacked by Renault. But they kept Arnoux and the recently signed Alboreto.

How did that work out for them?

If they seriously had the chance to sign Prost for '84 they would have fared much better than they did. No disrespect to the late Michele but he wasn't in Le Prof's league but woukd have mafe a great back up man.
However at the time Alboreto was as hot a property as anyone else I guess.

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