A thought on Pedro Diniz

[EERO]

Watching the replay of the race, in the early laps, the grocer spent a lot of time hounding JV (Dutch) and running ahead of JV (Quebecois). I thought the car looked very quick in his hands, there is no doubt that he has really come along as a driver. The question is: How long before we see some top flight team snap him up along with his fortune in potential sponsorship?

I think he has proven himself to be competitive with Salo, showed well against Alesi and Hill-what are Ferrari, Jordan, Benetton and Jag waiting for?

[Liz]

I agree with you though, Diniz is quietly improving just as Salo is - and some day those two will have the rides they deserve. All we have to do is boot some of those seat-warmers out of the way. (A restructured Benetton may have a place for Diniz, as it very obviously won't have one for Wurtz much longer, even if he brought Microsoft with him.)

Of course I keep thinking Alesi will get the ride he deserves too, but so far ... well next year I hope to see him driving for BMW at Le Mans.

[marcus]

actually i thought that pedro was slipping a bit this year...but anyway he has proved to be a class driver in the last few years and i thought that this year was the time he would step forward and be counted but as yet he hasnt done alot..still he was talked about as a possible replacement for irvine at Ferrari last year and it would be great to see him in a top car.

[Minardi fan]

I too think Pedro should have a decent drive at some point, and I think replacing Wurz is the most likely thing to happen. Salo is of course another driver who I have always rated and showed just how good he is at Ferrari last year.

[Tristan]

PDLR already has a competitive drive. The Arrows is a fine, fine car and will get better next year. He'd be silly to move.

[Gerard]

Tristan, it's Pedro Diniz we're talking about, not the other Pedro.

[Liz]

There are too many guys with the same names and initials in racing. But I must say that Pedro de la Arrows is much better looking than Pedro Sauber. Although I would not say no to either of them.... And both are very good pilotes.

Someone pointed out to me that Jimmy Vasser is yet another JV. If you want your kid to be successful in racing, give it initials JV.

[Gerard]

Remember Gilles?
Well, I'm a GV too.
That didn't do me any good.

Oh, and you wouldn't say no to any Brazilian, now would you Liz.
Or is that dependent on the question?

[Liz]

Absolutely dependent on the question, Gerard. If the question is "Would you please go away and stop following me," the answer would have to be "No."

And are you the same size as the Other GV so you could dress up as him and sneek into the Ferrari garage and scare Jean Todt et al.? You could be in the car before they brought him round - and who knows where you might end up.

[marcus]

now Liz ..do you really think young Zonta or even Pedro would say that to you ???

[Liz]

Well I think Zonta's mum might ... Apparently she thinks his life is dangerous enugh as it is.

I don't know a lot about Pedro de la Rosa, but I like his style. In the car and out of it.

Of course I like Pedro Diniz' style better in the car. I saw a tape once of him driving a bus and he seems to have the same attitude as Gilles about that kind of street driving. He'd be fun but bring prozac.

[jvilleneuve2000]

I dont think that Benetton will sign Diniz for next year, I think that they will get rid of Wurz and sign Jarno Trulli as they have a long term contract on him. Diniz could end up at BAR if JV leaves, or they could keep him at sauber.
The only thing stopping Trulli going to Benetton is Eddie Jordan who lost Fisichella to them in 1998.

[Minardi fan]

Liz, would you say no to ANY F1 driver???

[Tristan]

PLEASE, PLEASE excuse my stupidity. I am thick.

Diniz isn't so great. He's about average for a driver. I can think of many worse, but then again I can think of about the same number better. He's been consistently out-paced this season by Salo and I actually can't see him moving anywhere fast. Sauber needs the Parmalat money. However, I'm sure from a Brazilian perspective they're not too pleased he's driving a Petronas car... AHA!! THAT'S WHO'LL REPACE SCHUMACHER AT WILLIAMS 2002!! THEY'RE SPONSORED BY BRAZILIAN FUELS, SO THERE WE GO!! Don't you just love the way these ideas develop? I can assure you the rumours about HHF, Button etc. have a far more reliable than that!

[EERO]

Tristan, I agree with you about Diniz-I don't think he is great but he IS competant.
Given the Parmalat money he brings to F1, I think any team would be willing to have him as their No. 2 provided they had a really strong No. 1. Diniz' funding would help defray the expense of signing a top driver.

As for Williams, add Parmalat signage and Frank and Patrick will have really completed their homage to Bernie's early-eighties Brabhams.

[Liz]

MinardiGuy: Yes.

[enemy-ace]

boy i wish i could BUY myself an F1 ride, i would be right there.........at the back.

[EERO]

Liz, would Mika be one to whom you'd say "No!"?

Just a hunch.

[Liz]

Eero, by the time he got finished asking the question, I would have fallen asleep!

Actually I have learned something in Dutch to say to him, which should really confuse the daylights out of him:

"Ben je gek?" basically that means "Are you nutz?"