Schumi Lite's future.

[Dan Fielden]

By Cora i mean Ralfs wife BTW Don't mean to be patronising but i don't want to look daft either

[santori]

He's doing pretty well for the fourth best German driver, isn't he? A good driver, but not great, he should sign anything Williams' gives him.

[zetta]

Sir Frank paid Zanardi a full year of Not Driving (after paying him another full year of Driving Awfully), and replaced him with Button, whom he signed for a song. Now he has Gene already under contract, so he might just decide to let Ralfie on the sidelines for the good of the team. It wouldn't cost him anything he's not paying already, and the team performance would certainly increase. I hope he does.

[JohnSSC]

I thought Gene did rather well filling in for Schumi Lite last season. I was thinking along the lines of dumping Lite, bring in Gene to partner JPM and at least make a harmonious push for the WCC, if not the WCC.
In any event he can keep Gene and get a new #1 such as the rumored Button or Webber and have some continuity or lose Gene as well and nab both or some other mystery driver.

I think Sir Frank has had it with the whining.

[Alan Jones]

I think he'd make a great test driver for Ferrari.

[JohnSSC]

More great typing from me! that should be "push for the WCC, if not the WDC."

Sorry!

[Led ZeppF1]

Originally posted by Alan Jones
I think he'd make a great test driver for Ferrari.

Yup, he can prove his ability to develop car, and help his old brother.

[Ralf]

BORING!

[Led ZeppF1]

Well, Ralf, finnally you show up.

[Ralf]

Ease up boys, go easy on me!
I'm a bit sensitive at the moment & would appreciate some support

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Alan Jones
I think he'd make a great test driver for Ferrari.

Yes, no passing required.

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Ralf
Ease up boys, go easy on me!
I'm a bit sensitive at the moment & would appreciate some support

Looks like you've come to the wrong thread.

[Ralf]

Seems so.

Pop quiz.....
Montoya, Fisichella, Webber, Heidfeld, Massa, Button, Gene.
How many races combined have these drivers (touted replacements for Ralf) won? :confused:

And Ralf has won?

Get over it!

[006_007]

Originally posted by Ralf
Seems so.

Pop quiz.....
Montoya, Fisichella, Webber, Heidfeld, Massa, Button, Gene.
How many races combined have these drivers (touted replacements for Ralf) won? :confused:

And Ralf has won?

Get over it!

Montoya is touted as a replacement for Ralf? I did not hear the rumor about Ralf signing with McLaren.....

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Ralf


And Ralf has won?

Not as many as he should have in a car/team of that calibre.

[ASCII Man]

Originally posted by Ralf
Seems so.

Pop quiz.....
Montoya, Fisichella, Webber, Heidfeld, Massa, Button, Gene.
How many races combined have these drivers (touted replacements for Ralf) won? :confused:

And Ralf has won?

Get over it!

If you call the BAR, Minardi, Sauber, Benetton (2000/2001) and Jaguar top of the range cars that are capable of winning races then MAYBE you have a point.
On top of that Ralfy has now been in a top team for over three years now and what does he have shown so far?

And Ralf has won?

Get over it yourself!

[climb]

ASCII you're basically right, btu what you say can be said about any driver other than MS.
Ralf has won almost nothing, but JPM won even less.
The problem is that in the last 4 years everybody was a loser, except for MS-Ferrari.

[Teretonga]

The problem is Climb, if we accepted that as an answer (no ones done much winning except TGF) we'd also have to stop bashing people like DC and J Vil.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by climb
Ralf has won almost nothing, but JPM won even less.

It has to be remembered that at least 2 of Rafes wins, Hockenheim 01 and Malaysia 02, Rafe won due to an elongated pit-stop and subsequent retirement for JPM (Hoc 01) and JPM and Michael having to fight their way through the field due to a first corner collision (Mal 02)

The question should be, how many races could JPM have won had it not been for retirements?

[BootsOntheSide]

Montoya could've easily had 10 wins and at least 20 podiums,whereas I can't think of many races where Ralf has been unlucky - adn uite a few where he's inherited results due to other people's (usually Juan's) misfortune.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Montoya could've easily had {....} at least 20 podiums,

Boots, dispite JPM's misfortunes, he already has 21 podiums

[hamsmith]

Oh Look, ANOTHER Ralf Bash. Yawn.

[ollie86]

Originally posted by JohnSSC
But why Bahrain as a deadline?

Is a mid-season or earlier switch in the offing?

I'm a bit of a novice with F1 contracts, but if they work in the same way as football ones then Frank should be able to talk to anyone who doesn't have a deal next year. I'd personally like to see Ralf go, he's had his chance and can't cut it, preferring to have a go at everyone. In his place I think Scott Dixon would be a great driver, and also Mark Webber, this would be a fresh Williams start, and probably the kind that they need for some success.

On the case of Webber now I think about it...I remember the ITV commentary at Melbourne (I think!) saying that Webber was almost guaranteed a drive at either Renault or Williams for 2005 because he has Flavio Briatore as a manager. However it goes, I think 2005 will be even better than however this year pans out!

[GTRMagic]

Marc Gene is a nice bloke. He was at the Ultimate Speed Comparison at the AGP last year, running a previous season Williams BMW against a Holden Commodore Supercar, and a road going BMW 318...

... and chatted to anyone who was around, signing autographs, making conversation... and seemed to be well thought of by the technical guys (all 6 of them!) who were looking after his car.

Certainly good fun... and that Willie Bimmer makes some seriously sexy noise!