Irvine Predicts DC "Will Go Mad"

[GP Racer]

Eddie Irvine is never one to mince words. I saw this bit of honesty from him on the Speed site, and was wondering if anyone thinks it has some truth in it:



Former Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine has warned David Coulthard that 'he could go mad' following his decision to join the new Red Bull Racing team.

"I think Coulthard will go mad. I don't think he understands how bad the smaller teams are," the Irishman warned. "I was shocked when I went [to Jaguar from Ferrari], I couldn't believe how bad they were. I'm sure they are a bit better now but they can't be a lot better.”

"DC is used to McLaren, which is probably the equal best team with Ferrari in Formula One, maybe even better than Ferrari. He's going to ask for things and it just isn't going to happen and that's the big thing I found whenever I went to Jaguar,” he revealed.

As an example of “things that don’t happen” in F1’s poorer squads, Irvine said that he always had the split times from his laps as soon as he climbed off his Ferrari during practice sessions, whereas at Jaguar he had to ask for similar data every time, and then wait “up to three minutes” to get it…

[Kicking-back]

This is a warmed up quote taken from Autosport magazine of about three weeks ago.

For what it's worth - I think David's temprement for dealing with small team reality is rather better suited than Edmund's.

[Fantasy GP610]

I'd take a wild guess that DC has taken the differences between the teams into consideration.

As K-B has already said Eddie Irvine and DC are two completely different personalities..........and therefore their reaction to those differences will not be the same.

The phrase "true grit" springs to mind.

[BootsOntheSide]

I thought that said "true git" at first - sometimes I think that describes Eddie quite well. I'd say he's under-estimating DC's personality on this occasion - David seems well-suited to a bit of hard work and adjusting to compromises.

[Pitstop]

I rather thought this thread was going to be about DC 'whooping everyone's backsides' this year - again.

DC may be a lot of things, but he's not quite as daft as EI imight think. Boots is correct in his comments, IMO.

[garcon]

Irvine predicts DC "will go mad".

Well, it takes one to know one...

[foreversideways]

As i said on another thread. DC will throw the towel in mid season when he gets a taste of whats on offer. Mansell /Mclaren syndrome

[Down F0rce]

DC is a very determined person. Unlike Eddie, he has no ego.

[pitcrew]

or maybe he can improve the new team!

[minirda]

Well unlike my British friends on this board i agree with the words of the Irish F1-Eddie i like most.
I don't know if Eddie and DC are good friends and if there's any wishful thinking here involved.
But DC might easily get frustrated being in a minor team. We've seen this before with drivers with great potential, driving a car which is not competitive. It's hard. I am certainly not a great fan of DC, but i think he deserved better, than the Red Bull drive. I really would have loved to see him joining Sauber or Toyota in stead.

[Down F0rce]

Eddie and DC are not good freinds

[Kirk]

No doubt DC will be in for a large dose of reality, especially after all those years at McLaren in a competitive car. But if there is some light at the end of the tunnel and the team shows some progress as the season unwinds, he should be fine. If that doesn't happen, he just may walk away before '06.

[Raven]

When Irv retired, I remember DC saying he misses him being in the sport like a hole in the head. Me too.

[KE30MAN]

I think DC will improve with Red Bull. He doesn't like excessive pressure as wintnessed in the 1-lap qulaifying, so with less expection on him now, I think he'll actually go better.

[minirda]

Originally Posted by Raven

When Irv retired, I remember DC saying he misses him being in the sport like a hole in the head. Me too.

If DC really said this it's a bit shamefull, IMO. Why putting extra salt in the wound?

Not very chique to say these things about a (former) colleague. I'm really dissapointed in DC if he actually has said this words in public.

Even if you dislike the other one.

In the Netherlands most of the f1 fans truelly miss Irivine on the grid, in fact.

[Korr]

Bottom line is DC has a job in F1, Eddie doesn't.

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by Kirk

But if there is some light at the end of the tunnel..............................

The only light associated with a tunnel will be the one the caretaker forgot to turn of in the wind tunnel

DC is not a quitter though and I am sure he will see it through.

[Skam85]

Yeah, not anymore anyway. I can't see DC getting de-motivated. Look at his career. 1994 he had to make way for Mansell toward season end. Yet he came back in 95. Skip to 97 where he had to give way to Mika in Jerez. 1998 he came back. And in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 he came back. 2003 he wasn't really on it, mainly thanks to qually. But he didn't give up. And the beginning of 2004, he saw the humourous side of McLaren's woes. And he kept trying. See the pattern? Compare that to Irvine and you can see that DC WILL stick around. And always give 110%.

[Marbot]

Maybe 90% 95....

[Skam85]

but DC's 110% is probably Michael's 90%. DC and Michael at Ferrari I would have liked to see. Maybe if Rubens falls out of favour and Ferrari need a one year Michael lap-dog while they are giving Liuzzi Red Bull experience.

[Irv the Swerve]

I think it's a fair comment from someone who has taken this road (and saw out his 3 year contract - what's all this 'at least DC will hang around' business about?) - and knows how frustrating it can be. Nobody can tell the future and obviously it may turn out completely differently but it's an educated opinion from Eddie. He knows DC fairly well and knows what he is about to do.
It's hardly that zany of an opinion.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Another Irvine gaff? Not really the likeable Irishman always suffered from foot in mouth desease.

As for DC going mad - that's as likely as Irvine getting another drive in F1!

Glad to see the back of Irvine? Not really.

Want to see him back? NEVER

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by minirda

If DC really said this it's a bit shamefull, IMO. Why putting extra salt in the wound?
Not very chique to say these things about a (former) colleague. I'm really dissapointed in DC if he actually has said this words in public.
Even if you dislike the other one.
In the Netherlands most of the f1 fans truelly miss Irivine on the grid, in fact.

These two never saw eye to eye, and Eddie has made plenty of worse comments about DC over the years.

[Roundy Mooney]

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

Another Irvine gaff? Not really the likeable Irishman always suffered from foot in mouth desease.

Foot in mouth or just brutally honest?? When asked if he could have beaten Schui in a equal or even a better car he said no. Compare that to DC or Ruben who would go to great lengths to tell you if only the had the right car, tyres, gear knob or fluffy dice and then they could put it up to Schui. When in reality they are also rans. Irvine just speaks out loud what others say behind your back. Love him or hate him at least he brought a bit of drama to the whole thing.

It always amused me how he was British when he was winning and a paddy when anything controversial popped up.

Also remind when me the last time the British had a Bad F1 Driver !!!
whoops what was I thinking must be a Irish thing that foot in mouth.

[neil_davidson2]

I have a feeling that DC might actually enjoy this coming season. His entire F1 career to date has been in front running teams where there is a very high expectation to produce consistent results in terms of race wins.

Whether he's achieved that or not is another discussion, but this coming year no-one expects him to win and so he might actually relax a little, and if he does produce the occasional well-placed result then he's done a good job.