[F1] Mark Webber to Williams

[Aveirenses]

Who cares, a team with JPM and RS side by side as 'team-mates' was never going to function, especially after it became clear they hated each other.

Though I think that's more of Ralf's fault, remember what he said after 9/11 occured about Colombians?

 

[emmer]

lately i'd say the treatmant is even. williams don't seem to treat them both very well.
anyway, besides the 2003 french gp incident, ralf's salary is (was?) way bigger than monty's and his (ralf's) relationship with the bmw crew is better.

 

[rpvankasteren]

This just in!

Taken from F1racing.net
Zonta to replace Da Matta at Toyota

The Toyota team has today announced that its third driver Ricardo Zonta will be promoted to the role of race driver with effect from the upcoming Grand Prix of Hungary next week. Zonta will replace Cristiano da Matta and race alongside Olivier Panis.

The team's test driver Ryan Briscoe will in turn assume Zonta's role during the race weekend, running the third car during Friday's free practice sessions.

Cristiano da Matta will continue to be employed as a Toyota driver for the remainder of the year and could consequently still be called upon to partake in any driving or marketing-related activities for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team.

Team Principal of Panasonic Toyota Racing, Tsutomu Tomita said: "We revised our original plans after we reviewed the results of the last three Grands Prix. Ricardo Zonta consistently performed very well, as indeed he also did in the first half of the 2004 season."

"We believe it is fair to offer Ricardo the chance to show his potential in full race conditions, before we enter into the final step of our driver evaluation for the 2005 season. We decided to retain Olivier Panis as a race driver for the rest of this season, based on the fact that he is the driver who has secured the team's best race result of the year so far (5th in Indianapolis) and has collected the higher number of championship points (5). Cristiano da Matta will remain a Panasonic Toyota Racing driver until the end of 2004 and could still be called upon to undertake activities accordingly."

Sad news for Cristiano, but somewhat good for him. He hasn't brought what Toyota expected from the champion he is, but Toyota sucks anyway.


And also, some excellent news:

Taken from http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=59115]F1Racing.net
Williams ditch radical nose in Hungary

It's curtains for the radical looking nose
The BMW WilliamsF1 cars will feature new, more conventional style nose profiles in the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team has confirmed. The team is ditching its radical walrus style nose for a more conventional design which it believes will work better with other aerodynamic modificaitons made to the car.

"The team will present its cars in Hungary with some aero modifications, including a return to a more conventional nose and front wing solution," team chief Frank Williams confirmed.

A statement from the team said the new nose, "has been validated as an improved geometry in relation to the other aerodynamic improvements released at recent races."

With the three-week testing ban the team has obviously not been able to test the new nose on track.

:Carlos*o:

 

[rsnjg]

Button to join Williams

Britain's Jenson Button has signed a two-year deal to drive for Williams from next season.
The 24-year-old has decided to quit BAR and rejoin the outfit where he began his Formula One career.

Button currently lies third in the drivers' championship with 61 points from 12 races.

He became Britain's youngest ever F1 driver and the fifth youngest ever when he raced for Williams at the Australian Grand Prix in 2000.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3540478.stm

 

[IceBlu]

Originally posted by rsnjg
Button to join Williams

Britain's Jenson Button has signed a two-year deal to drive for Williams from next season.
The 24-year-old has decided to quit BAR and rejoin the outfit where he began his Formula One career.

Button currently lies third in the drivers' championship with 61 points from 12 races.

He became Britain's youngest ever F1 driver and the fifth youngest ever when he raced for Williams at the Australian Grand Prix in 2000.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3540478.stm

Ah F*CK !




I wish he had stayed at BAR and made the team a consistent threat.

all i can say is....... GAY !

 

[Hendrik]

Häkkinen is supposed to replace him at BAR...

 

[IceBlu]

really ?! if that happens

 

[Spurs4Life]

Originally posted by -Vince-
Häkkinen is supposed to replace him at BAR...

He is coming back?!?

 

[IceBlu]

Originally posted by Spurs4Life
He is coming back?!?

i heard he was thinking about comin back ...but i expected him to return to McLaren...


oh man . I cant wait for the Hakkinen - Schumacher battles

i miss those days

 

[Spurs4Life]

Originally posted by IceBlu
i heard he was thinking about comin back ...but i expected him to return to McLaren...


oh man . I cant wait for the Hakkinen - Schumacher battles

i miss those days

So he is going to replace Coulthard at McLaren?...I really don't see him coming back, Wouldn't BAR and McLaren want a younger driver?. Your right though I miss the Battles too

 

[celtic_bhoy]

JPM is replacing DC, Kimi will still be there next season hopefully

 

[Áļéאָ]

about that hakkinen thigy. Why do you all think we call this part of the season sily season ?

Button also has announced he will be leaving BAR for a Williams drive in 2005. News are on every f1 website, so just go check your fav website for the news.

 

[rpvankasteren]

Yes, and Dave Richards says he isn't going to let it happen just like that. Button had his contract extended for next season, and BAR will hold him to it (until Williams pay a gazillion dollars, most likely).

IF Button leaves and Williams pay a considerable fee, Davidson will replace JB at BAR, I think.

 

[IceBlu]

http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/motori/2004/pp_1.0.463604777.shtml



Hakkinen to BAR is seeming more and more likely.


Gazzetta are very reliable.

 

[Spurs4Life]

Yeh it would be reliable if you know how to read Italian

 

[IceBlu]

English version.


Mika Hakkinen linked to BAR Honda
Talks taking place with former Champion



Mika Hakkinen and BAR Honda have held initial discussions regarding a possible racing return for the 1998 and 1999 World Champion according to French AFP sources.

The news broke today, less than 24-hours after BMW Williams announced that current BAR driver Jenson Button is to join their team in 2005, an announcement very much disputed by BAR’s boss Dave Richards.

The Hakkinen link to BAR was revealed today on his visit to Jyvaskyla during the Finnish World Rally Championship event. Rumour circulating at the rally service park is that he has already signed a contract with the team.

"There is no smoke without fire," Hakkinen told Finnish Television. "I don't want to say more at the moment. Suffice to say the discussions with BAR are particularly interesting."

Should Williams achieve their aim and Button does move to the team for next season, the seat alongside Takuma Sato is up for grabs. Mika Hakkinen joins the list of many drivers, including test driver Anthony Davidson, who would love a shot at driving for BAR Honda.

 

[Áļéאָ]

personaly, I think it's typical sily season crap. About the button move, I think Williams and Button have found a release clause thingy to use. At least I read something like that...somewhere

 

[rpvankasteren]

Supposedly the option BAR had on Button's services, for next year and 2006, hadn't been lifted. Williams acted within hours of the end to sign Button. BAR now say the option was an automatic one, only not lifting it would need action, therefore Button's 2 year contract was automatically extended by 2 years.

Legal battle it is then.

 

[Alex]

I dont think Hakkinen coming back (if he does) is that big an issue...In my eyes he was def. one of those World Champions because he was in the best car...He wasnt ever as good a driver as schuey...Not close.

Ralph, Button, Alonso and Webber in my eyes are all better drivers..

 

[IceBlu]

Hakkinen wasn't as good as Schumacher ... course not... but i think he is the one driver who is capable of putting up a fight due to his steady aggressive driving style. Even if he was in the best car, he had a lot of work to do. for example look at Coulthard...

Hakkinen hardly ever made mistakes and he was very consistent.


As for Ralf, Button, Alonso and Webber being better than Hakkinen ? hahaha yeah.... right.