Toyota: Ralf's Better than Juan

[Led ZeppF1]

Toyota Motorsport President John Howett has justified the team's signing of Ralf Schumacher saying that he's probably a better driver than Montoya.

"From my point of view we were just looking in the market place and I think during the course of last year, and a number of races this year, Ralf has proved to be as quick as Montoya, if not quicker. As a total package, we think he is probably better," Howett told Speedvision and pick up by Planet F1.

http://www.planet-f1.com/news/story_16570.shtml

[Dick Spanner]

Originally posted by Led ZeppF1
As a total package, we think he is probably better

"Probably" better? He doesn't sound too sure to me, surely he should be saying thing's like "Ralf's the mutt's nut's. He's far and away the best driver available".

I'm sure he doesn't mean to damn with faint praise but one could read it as such

[Peter Mallett]

Oops another "Ralf bash fest" on its way.

[Mark Webber]

I don't disagree with them IMHO Ralf and jpm are equal in talent

[enemy-ace]

Is being a couple of nuts on a mutt a good thing?

[Glen]

It pains me to say it, but as far as technical stuff goes I think he does have the edge - Montoya struggles more frequently to find a set-up and often resorts to trying stuff at the last minute. Montoya is inclined to drive around a poor car, whereas Ralf will either make the car better or sulk if he can't.

On the other side of the coin, Montoya doesn't seem subject to the fluctuations in form and temprament that have characterised Ralf in recent years.

[1200Datto27]

Of course they will say that he is better, they are paying him a fortune, not other drivers, and have to justify his hiring.

[Dick Spanner]

Originally posted by enemy-ace
Is being a couple of nuts on a mutt a good thing?

Erm, yeah. P'raps its a British thing.

I wasn't meaning to bash by the way, I don't think Ralf's the best but he's not the worst either and let's face it Montoya couldn't even beat Sly Stallone in a champcar so....
I just thought the guy could have been a little more effusive about the chap they've just hired for a huge wedge to drag them to the front of the grid.

[BootsOntheSide]

Can't say I agree with Toyota on that score. Ralf has quick races but is far too inconsistant, especially on raceday itself. He's also prone to msitakes and doens't always seem to work hard enough. In his favour he's a better development driver than Montoya, and may be easier to work with, but there's no way he deserves the kind of salaries he repeatedly gets.

[GTRMagic]

Technically Ferrari shouldnt pay M.Schumacher as much as they do because if he wasnt running Rubens would be leading the WDC

[Super Tourer]

Time will tell on this one.

Maybe Ralf will rise the challenge of a new team and hit a consistent run of form, or maybe Toyota will continue in the same vein and his head will go down.

Finely balanced, could go either way IMO.

As for Toyota in general, to my mind it's still an 'if' not 'when' they will get it right.

[RWC]

They feel the need to justify their choice to the world and 'Probably' is the word they used ??


Isn't this just dumb.Toyota make a great move to secure mike G to build world class cars then show they have no idea once it comes to driver hiring.
Can anyone else see them continuing to make more stupid decisions in future?

[Hugh Jarce]

On the basis of this season, I'm not 'big' on either.

However, in the past I would have gone for JPM but my guts now say if I had to pick between them, Ralf would be a less problematic choice.

With Monty you get too much 'hot' and 'cold'.

[Bleu]

IMO this year Ralf has done better job than Montoya only in Canada. Melbourne was quite even, JPM overtook Ralf soon after the start but was left behind in the round of pit stops.

Then there's two races which are too difficult to say, which of them was better. Those are Nürburgring and Indianapolis, as Ralf retired both within 10 laps.

[Adam43]

They've signed the best driver for themselves if they think that. Everyone's happy.

[dcp2685]

I think you have to be "blind or stupid" to think that Ralf is better than Juan. Juan has blasted and over the course of them being teammates. Look at all those poles he took in 2002. Look at that drive he had in Germany. Look at the pass he put on Micheal last year....he's the only one to do so.

Not to take Ralf's abilities because he's clearly got skill. As others have pointed out Ralf's skill goes out the door when he's given a poor car to drive. Unfortunately in F1 90% of the time you don't get that ideal car to drive for the race. When Ralf gets that setup he's as quick if not quicker than anyone else out there. I.E. Europe and France last year in beating JPM by 13 sec and 16 respectfully. However the flipside is down right disasterous (Spain last year) and a lot less than awe-inspiring.

[dcp2685]

I also want to add that I hope he fares well at Toyota and helps bring them up the grid. I think he's probably a little more team oriented than JPM and will try to help the team give him that easier car to drive or that car that tailors to his driving style. I think Toyota will build a decent car now that Mike is there and with that engine in there we could finally see what Ralf's really made of. But given what we've seen thus far.....Ralf is definately second to JPM. time will tell.

[Logrence]

Well I think they've got themselves one of the top 3 drivers to race a Williams this season, so it's not bad all round.

[nickF1]

According to J. Clopatofsky, who was the only motor sport jounalist in Colombia before the Montoya Phenomenon, Toyota approached Juan before Ralf. He wrote that in a Column in a colombian newspaper. At the middle of last year Juan had both McLaren and Toyota Offers at hand, and apparently the offer from toyota was very atractive in $$$$.

[Hugh Jarce]

I'm sure it was and will probably be in terms of pace in a couple of years. Ralf and his agent are not stupid they must believe in Toyota's ability to 'cut it' given time.

[Mr V]

I should imagine that Ron Dennis would say that JPM is a better driver than Rafe.

Imo, JPM's definatly made the better career decision (or Ron has made it for him by signing him).

[Tamás]

Originally posted by Led ZeppF1
Toyota Motorsport President John Howett has justified the team's signing of Ralf Schumacher saying that he's probably a better driver than Montoya.

Montoya's best place was the 2nd, Ralf's was the 4th. Montoya was able to finish more races than Ralf. Aside from that I think it's not an excellent driver who can break his teammate's car and can't listen to the orders of the team.

[mp356a]

I read that interview and it is a pretty weak "defense" of their driver choice. Sad, really.
Mike

[Snrub]

I get the feeling Ralf is better from the technical perspective, but that's really hard to tell because we're not privy to the inner happenings at Williams. In terms of actual driving, Toyota need someone who will make thier back marker car look good. Even if you called them "equal" in driving, I don't htink anyone would dispute that JPM is much more able and willing to pass to grab those extra positions. JPM also appears to be better at driving a poor handling car.

[Gt_R]

I think to be fair, both guys have their own strengths and weaknesses.

For Toyota to come out so openly claiming Ralf is better than JPM can be embarrassing for Ralf when the media starts mocking such statements.

But, on the otherhand...Ralf really underperformed in the past 2 seasons... and a huge part of it undoubtedly is affected by his unstable relationship with the team, especially Patrick Head.

Ralf actually has quite a bit of potential, which just got lost in recent years. I've read on magazines before that Ralf is actually good at the technical stuffs, probably better than Montoya, and pays more attention to set ups and working out the car's problems before he pushes the car.

Montoya's strength is a more "hearts" approach..just get in and drive the car as fast as he can push...even if it has some set up flaws. And probably that's what makes Montoya specatular and quick in tricky cars.

Montoya is mentally stronger perhaps, and his performance is less affected by his emotions well-being compared to Ralf IMO (relative to each other), but when Ralf is on form, comfortable, and hit the sweet spot of his set up, he is actually more than a match for JPM and can be blistering fast, as we have witnessed before.

Anyway, for a driver to be so much criticised for being undeserving of a seat at Williams, Ralf isn't showing too bad against Montoya, so actually the two guys on a good day are actually pretty close. I'd still probably give Montoya that edge over Ralf though.

Hopefully, at Toyota, the experience would be comfortable and motivating enough to unlock the RALF we've missed for a few seasons. It can help him get his form back..or it can totally ruin his career as nothing more than a shadow of his brother.