F1... long season
08-06-2004, 01:41 PM
#363
Burning Brakes
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Yeah, it's definately bad that Villeneuve burned the bridge with BAR. Looks like in the 2005 season, many drivers are playing musical chairs and Villeneuve is left standing there alone.
08-09-2004, 10:21 AM
#365
Senior Moderator
excerpt from Daily Telegraph
It emerged at the weekend that the relationship between Button and BAR began to sour over an alleged failure to honour performance bonuses stretching back to last season and continuing this year. But any legal dispute would centre on the wording of the contractual options on Button that BAR have taken up.
Though those options were executed and lodged with the Contracts Recognition Board in Switzerland before the July 31 deadline, Button is citing a loophole concerning engine guarantees from the Japanese manufacturer Honda. Williams have seen the relevant documents and are confident that there is no threat to the status of the contract that they signed with Button last week. There has been no shortage of calls to Richards from drivers queuing to replace Button, including David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve. The 1997 world champion was axed by BAR at the end of last year and is seeking a route back into Formula One. Mika Hakkinen, world champion with McLaren in 1998 and 1999, is another campaigning for the drive.
Hakkinen had been in talks with BAR about a test at the end of the year before the Button situation developed. He and Richards attended the Finnish Rally at the weekend but even with Button out, senior management figures at BAR have said that Hakkinen is not under serious consideration.
Though those options were executed and lodged with the Contracts Recognition Board in Switzerland before the July 31 deadline, Button is citing a loophole concerning engine guarantees from the Japanese manufacturer Honda. Williams have seen the relevant documents and are confident that there is no threat to the status of the contract that they signed with Button last week. There has been no shortage of calls to Richards from drivers queuing to replace Button, including David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve. The 1997 world champion was axed by BAR at the end of last year and is seeking a route back into Formula One. Mika Hakkinen, world champion with McLaren in 1998 and 1999, is another campaigning for the drive.
Hakkinen had been in talks with BAR about a test at the end of the year before the Button situation developed. He and Richards attended the Finnish Rally at the weekend but even with Button out, senior management figures at BAR have said that Hakkinen is not under serious consideration.
08-09-2004, 10:56 AM
#367
Senior Moderator
More....
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has waded into the Jenson Button affair, suggesting the British driver has a moral obligation to remain at BAR-Honda. He adds that if its found Button breached his contract with the team, he could lose his F1 superlicense.
"When agents, promises and big money come into it, morals go out the window," Ecclestone tells the Daily Star newspaper. "We are not like (soccer) - I like to think our players stick to their agreements and promises.
"We have a contracts board in Geneva which will examine the issue and decide what's right and what's wrong, if anything. If Button is found to be in breach of contract with BAR and wants to move on illegally, he could lose his super license and that would mean he couldn't drive for Williams."
Ecclestone says the whole affair has been "stupidly" handled and if Button is allowed to leave because of a technicality, then he doesn't consider him much of a gentleman.
Meanwhile, BAR-Honda boss David Richards reiterated his intention to fight to keep Button from leaving for BMW-Williams at the end of the season.
"There is absolutely no way I am going to back down on this matter, no way." Richards told The Guardian. "The guy has a contract with our team. We are talking here about a point of integrity. You can't just welch out of your commitments."
The two met for the first time on Sunday since the dispute became public last week. Following that meeting, Button issued a statement declaring his intentions to drive for BMW-Williams in 2005.
Richards added that there are no plans to replace Button for the remainder of the season while they sort the matter out.
"Jenson has a contract with us to the end of the year. The point of difference between us is whether or not he is committed for next year as well."
Even if Richards wanted to replace Button for the remaining six races, such a move could prove financially disastrous for the F1 team. BAR-Honda are currently third in the constructors championship, trailing Renault by nine points while Williams and McLaren are 29 points and 39 points behind respectively. A drop in the standings could mean a loss of several million dollars in bonus money.
"When agents, promises and big money come into it, morals go out the window," Ecclestone tells the Daily Star newspaper. "We are not like (soccer) - I like to think our players stick to their agreements and promises.
"We have a contracts board in Geneva which will examine the issue and decide what's right and what's wrong, if anything. If Button is found to be in breach of contract with BAR and wants to move on illegally, he could lose his super license and that would mean he couldn't drive for Williams."
Ecclestone says the whole affair has been "stupidly" handled and if Button is allowed to leave because of a technicality, then he doesn't consider him much of a gentleman.
Meanwhile, BAR-Honda boss David Richards reiterated his intention to fight to keep Button from leaving for BMW-Williams at the end of the season.
"There is absolutely no way I am going to back down on this matter, no way." Richards told The Guardian. "The guy has a contract with our team. We are talking here about a point of integrity. You can't just welch out of your commitments."
The two met for the first time on Sunday since the dispute became public last week. Following that meeting, Button issued a statement declaring his intentions to drive for BMW-Williams in 2005.
Richards added that there are no plans to replace Button for the remainder of the season while they sort the matter out.
"Jenson has a contract with us to the end of the year. The point of difference between us is whether or not he is committed for next year as well."
Even if Richards wanted to replace Button for the remaining six races, such a move could prove financially disastrous for the F1 team. BAR-Honda are currently third in the constructors championship, trailing Renault by nine points while Williams and McLaren are 29 points and 39 points behind respectively. A drop in the standings could mean a loss of several million dollars in bonus money.
08-09-2004, 11:23 AM
#368
Senior Moderator
Never a dull moment in F1. 
08-14-2004, 06:32 AM
#371
Moderator Alumnus
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Are they just plain out toying with us again, or is hell frezing up to a solid block?
Villeneuve linked with BAR return
Silly-season getting sillier?
Villeneuve last raced at the US GP in 2003
According to the Sun newspaper Jacques Villeneuve could be back in Formula One next season. Not only could Villeneuve be back racing, but he could be back racing with BAR Honda the newspaper claims.
Villeneuve did not have his contract renewed last summer with the team. The Canadian then missed the season finale in Japan with Takuma Sato taking over the vacated seat. Until recent events with Jenson Button and BMW Williams, no one expected the current driver lineup to change for 2005.
According to the Sun Villeneuve believes he and Dave Richards can patch up their differences from the past and start afresh. The Canadian believes that BAR is second only to Ferrari.
“I’ve spoken to David and it would be good if something can be worked out but we have to wait and see what happens to Jenson,” the Sun report Villeneuve as saying. “But I want to get back into F1 and fight at the front. I’ve been watching the races on TV this season and I’ve been training since the winter. I’m hungry for a return.”
Should Villeneuve return to BAR Honda, it would be one of the unlikeliest returns of the modern era. David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Anthony Davidson and now Villeneuve are linked to Button’s seat should he move to Williams. However, anything is possible in Formula One.
Earl ALEXANDER
CAPSIS International
Villeneuve linked with BAR return
Silly-season getting sillier?
Villeneuve last raced at the US GP in 2003
According to the Sun newspaper Jacques Villeneuve could be back in Formula One next season. Not only could Villeneuve be back racing, but he could be back racing with BAR Honda the newspaper claims.
Villeneuve did not have his contract renewed last summer with the team. The Canadian then missed the season finale in Japan with Takuma Sato taking over the vacated seat. Until recent events with Jenson Button and BMW Williams, no one expected the current driver lineup to change for 2005.
According to the Sun Villeneuve believes he and Dave Richards can patch up their differences from the past and start afresh. The Canadian believes that BAR is second only to Ferrari.
“I’ve spoken to David and it would be good if something can be worked out but we have to wait and see what happens to Jenson,” the Sun report Villeneuve as saying. “But I want to get back into F1 and fight at the front. I’ve been watching the races on TV this season and I’ve been training since the winter. I’m hungry for a return.”
Should Villeneuve return to BAR Honda, it would be one of the unlikeliest returns of the modern era. David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Anthony Davidson and now Villeneuve are linked to Button’s seat should he move to Williams. However, anything is possible in Formula One.
Earl ALEXANDER
CAPSIS International
08-15-2004, 09:42 PM
#375
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Originally Posted by soopa
Face it... Villeneuve is over!!!
You Canucks need to move on with your lives!
You Canucks need to move on with your lives!
08-17-2004, 10:59 AM
#376
Senior Moderator
Well, I'm not too keen on Villeneuve coming back to BAR, however, it might be the only viable option. BAR is a championship contender, we can't afford to have a high potential development driver, such as Bourdais or Davidson, hop into the car next year. There really aren't too many options this late in the silly season, even Trulli is taken. Let's drop Villeneuve into the seat for a test evaluation, maybe the year off has made him a little more humble and a lot more hungry.
08-30-2004, 02:52 AM
#380
Race Director
I would be rather weary of buying Michelins after seeing them disintegrate like on Button's car - not good advertising. The championship was never in doubt after the first few races.
08-30-2004, 11:01 AM
#382
Three Wheelin'
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The FIA should remove the red flag from the list of flags to wave. It is never used, they prefer a SC and full course yellow instead. They didn't learn the lessons of Indy, again, car after car had a puncture. Great race all in all and it was nice to have Spa back.
08-30-2004, 11:03 AM
#383
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Anybody remember the idiot Priest that tried to ruin the British GP? He ran out onto the track and almost got killed by one of the drivers? Well he struck again, this time at the olympics. He held onto the lead Marathon runner, costing him a gold. Well we don't know if it cost him the gold but we will never know now.
08-30-2004, 11:13 AM
#384
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by DEVO
Anybody remember the idiot Priest that tried to ruin the British GP? He ran out onto the track and almost got killed by one of the drivers? Well he struck again, this time at the olympics. He held onto the lead Marathon runner, costing him a gold. Well we don't know if it cost him the gold but we will never know now.
Unbelievable stuff. He was jailed for 2 months after the F1 stunt apparently. You figure hin buying a plane ticket to Athens would raise some eyebrows.
09-01-2004, 02:34 PM
#385
Senior Moderator
Even more unbelievable is that the Greeks released him with a suspended sentence.
09-02-2004, 10:03 AM
#389
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by DEVO
It's funny that a man jumping off the high dive in a tutu got a harsher sentence from the Greeks...
Really? what did the tutu Canadian get?
09-14-2004, 03:19 PM
#391
Senior Moderator
Villeneuve to test drive for Renault
Associated Press
9/14/2004
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) - Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve will test for Renault at Silverstone this week.
Renault said in a statement that the Iberville, Que., native would test at the site of the British Grand Prix on Wednesday and Thursday. He had a seat-fitting at the team's base on Tuesday.
``We have reached agreement for Jacques to test for the team,'' Renault managing director Flavio Briatore said.
``This test might lead to Jacques joining the team for the final three races of the season beginning next week at the Chinese Grand Prix.''
Renault's current drivers are Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso. It's third in the manufacturer's championship.
Villeneuve quit BAR-Honda with one race left in 2003 after he learned that the team planned to replace him this year with Japanese driver Takuma Sato. He was without a team this year.
He won the world championship in 1997 with Williams.
Associated Press
9/14/2004
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) - Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve will test for Renault at Silverstone this week.
Renault said in a statement that the Iberville, Que., native would test at the site of the British Grand Prix on Wednesday and Thursday. He had a seat-fitting at the team's base on Tuesday.
``We have reached agreement for Jacques to test for the team,'' Renault managing director Flavio Briatore said.
``This test might lead to Jacques joining the team for the final three races of the season beginning next week at the Chinese Grand Prix.''
Renault's current drivers are Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso. It's third in the manufacturer's championship.
Villeneuve quit BAR-Honda with one race left in 2003 after he learned that the team planned to replace him this year with Japanese driver Takuma Sato. He was without a team this year.
He won the world championship in 1997 with Williams.
What is the red text about? Is Trulli out next year at Renault? I'd love to see JV go wheel to wheel with Jensen for the remaining 3 races this season. It would be great to see JV deny BAR 2nd in the constructors race.
09-14-2004, 03:46 PM
#392
Three Wheelin'
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09-14-2004, 03:49 PM
#393
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Originally Posted by domn
What is the red text about? Is Trulli out next year at Renault? I'd love to see JV go wheel to wheel with Jensen for the remaining 3 races this season. It would be great to see JV deny BAR 2nd in the constructors race.
yeah trulli announced his departure a long time ago... he was really forced out to make room for fisi.
09-14-2004, 04:08 PM
#398
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fisi has beat his teammate at every team he has ever drove for. he has just been holding out to ride for Ferrari. He passed up a spot at williams this year to go back to his old team.
09-14-2004, 04:09 PM
#399
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the driver that i don't get... is mark webber. everybody is googoo over this guy. he has done nothing and will be the biggest dissappointment of the year, next year at williams.
