Jensen Button's return to Williams

[Valve Bounce]

Depending on the reliability of the Williams BMW, I think that the JPM and Ralf combination will win the Constructors championship for Williams, and with a little luck, he might also claim the WDC through JPM. However, I did read that JPM is only on a salary of 1.5 million this year, he does not appear to be tied down by contract to Williams, and I am predicting that by August, other teams will be beating a well worn path to his manager's door. I predict that Ferrari will cough up big bucks for JPM if he is leading MSch around August, or is even close to him, simply to stop him from winning the WDC for someone else next year. Because Ralf is tied to Williams by contract, I think Williams will have to let JPM go because they will not be able to match the Ferrari offer.
Don't forget, if there is half a chance, Ron Dennis will also make a play for JPM.

[BBKing]

Relax. Half Schumacher will get himself out of Williams before the season is over. That does not mean Button will drive for them. Pizzonia looks impresive so far.

[Mania]

I think Ralf will beat Montoya this season - not by much but enough. Secondly, BMW are a major player in this entire equation. Frank and Patrick may bullsh|t all they want but the fact is that BMW DOES have a say in what hapens at Williams...just cast your mind back to Zanardis exit from F1 and Ralf's susequent contract extention. The only way for Ralf not to be driving a Williams in 03 would be for him to have an absolutely terrible season and whether you like him or not - if you're even a bit realistic you`ll understand that he`s a very good and capable pilot. So in my book, Ralf will be the top dog once again this season and who knows he may win the title if Ferrari get of to a slow start this season and Ralf wins the early races.

Montoya on the other hand may have other plans by mid season. He`s looking for a major pay hike and Williams may not be to keen to cough up the cash so I think if Ferrari makes him an offer - he`ll take it. Whether Ferrari go for him or Villeneuve or Massa for that matter - remains to be seen.

Button is certainly not good enough to replace on merit - either Ralf or Juan - but he may slide in if Montoya leaves. If not, Button is headed for the test bench.

[Gt_R]

Quote BBK:"Relax. Half Schumacher will get himself out of Williams before the season is over."

So what happens to the other Half? Sitting in the Williams cockpit, refusing to get out? LOL

[BBKing]

Half Schumacher is the way I call little bro. He does not have the speed to be a full Schumacher...LOL

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Mania

Button is certainly not good enough to replace on merit - either Ralf or Juan - but he may slide in if Montoya leaves. If not, Button is headed for the test bench.

anyone who can outqualify his highly regarded and more experienced 6 times, especially at tracks like spa (where jenson even out qualified tgf!!) and suzuka is certainly good enough to be in F1 and especially a williams, and sir frank knows it!

contract or not, this is a make or break season for RAFE, just as much as it is for DC and RUBENS.

this is RAFES first season at williams where he isn't racing a rookie (i know zanardi wasn't technically a rookie..but he'd been out of F1 for 4 years).

the 2 seasons that RAFE hasn't driven alongside a team mate with less experience ('97.fisi and '98.damon) he's been the lower scorer each time!

if, as expected, by mid-season, JPM is ahead of RAFE, and sir frank has to make a decision, i think he'll be advising RAFE to look elsewhere!

[Mr V]

Originally posted by senna12
Frank is in the enviable position of having 5 good drivers under contract, including Pizzonia and Gene.

just out of interest...........does anybody know if junquera is still contracted to williams?? as i can't see him being brought back into F1 by sir frank if he is!

[Stephen Green]

Mr V, once again you are right about the Button/Schumacher partnership of two years ago. Talent like that doesn't come and go in a year!

It's an interesting topic and one in which Sir frank and Patrick could actually come out of the losers. If Ferarri or McLaren do snap up JPM (which I admit is quite possible) and Ralph gets the hump and decides the grass is greener elsewhere (also quite possible) then Sir Frank could be left with much egg on face.

Like many others I expect JPM to walk all over Ralph this year, not because Ralph is a poor driver but I believe JPM is an amazing talent in the same mould as Prost, Senna and Michael. If so, then I believe Frank will realise that Ralph is not as good as many thought and start to look elsewhere for a replacement. In my opinion JV is too old now to realistically be the target of either McLaren or Williams as both teams would have made another approach had they been that interested. I believe JV has damaged his own worth by staying with BAR and Mr Pollock.

Oh well, it all makes for an interesting seson doesn't it? Only a couple of weeks to go and we will start to see the real form and those that are, and those that are not going to make it.

[neilap]

It would be intresting to see the most gifted driver in the field race in the best car in the field. Ferrari wont be on top forever though. Williams is in an enviable position. They are on the rise. The other two teams are nervous.

[Stephen Green]

Correct Neil,

McLaren with the backing of Mercedes and Williams with BMW, not forgetting our friends at Renault who have an enviable pedigree in Formula 1. Ferarri have come good for two reasons in my opinion.

1. The obvious talents of Michael Schumacher, combined with the design skills of Rory Byrne.

2. Unparalled reliability which has always been the achilles heel of Ferarri.

[Total-F1]

I liked Ralf during 1999 because he fought and made a name for himself, but he seems to get complacent, and has died off since 2000

Maybe he needs title contention to drive himself on...perhaps he has "Rubens syndrome," and his brother being in F1 is holding him back...

[Mania]

So what if Button outqualified Ralf a few times? Is there a rule that says a driver who has more experience HAS to beat his team mate in qualifying on all 17 tracks? Give me a break. Villeneueve was also supposedly a rookie yet he put Hill to shame in his first season - even grabbing pole in his first ever F1 race! Did any of you bad mouth Hill? No you didnt. So quit the double standards.

Button is NOT better than Ralf. And he is also not better than Montoya. He may have been the flavour of the month - but thats about it.


As for Frank - like I said he has BMW breathing down his neck and if Ralf performs as well as he did last season( barring the last 4 races) then there is no reason for him to go elsewhere.

[neilap]

Being outqualified when the person is in their first year of f1, is something to watch. When two years in a row your teammate seem to catch and pass you by the end of the year that is also something to watch. Villeneuve went on to later become WDC. So if these patterns hold then it would seem that RS is racing against people that are better than him. I think though this year will definitely tell the truth. If they (JPM&RS) are anywhere near even at the end of the season without extenuating circumstances I am sure the RS hating will at least be quieted.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Mania
So what if Button outqualified Ralf a few times? Is there a rule that says a driver who has more experience HAS to beat his team mate in qualifying on all 17 tracks? Give me a break.

i'm not saying that, what i am saying, is, that if a total and utter rookie (and not even a rookie who has won the cart championship and indy 500) can goto places like spa and suzuka, tracks that are often regarded as DRIVERS TRACKS, and out qualify his more experienced team mate, then said rookie is obviously a talent, and worthy of a seat in F1, and maybe that seat should be a williams.

come to think of it, as RAFE was out qualified by his next more in-experienced (in F1) team mate the following year at those same 2 "DRIVERS CIRCUITS" does that mean that he's not as much of a driver??.............just a thought!

[drexel]

Posted by mr v
come to think of it, as RAFE was out qualified by his next more in-experienced (in F1) team mate the following year at those same 2 "DRIVERS CIRCUITS" does that mean that he's not as much of a driver??.............just a thought!

Then what do you do on the other 15 tracks? Other than...."Drive??"

[Stephen Green]

Drexel, the point being made here is that circuits like Spa are openly regarded as those that take exceptional driver skill and courage to be quick om. Of course we know they drive all circuits, but some (like Spa) have an added degree of difficulty. It is also thought that if a driver can excell on a circuit like Spa then he/she is an outstanding talent.

[drexel]

True, maybe courage levels would be different (because of the high speed corners) but i would think circuits like Monaco, Hungoring, Sepang would would still require the same 'exceptional driver skill' to beat your team-mate...

Although it's pretty tough to separate F1 drivers in terms of courage...and therefore suggesting another F1 driver is scared?

[Stephen Green]

The problems with Monaco and the Hungoraring are that qualifying is so important as it is virtually impossible to pass on the race track for those two tracks.

[Gt_R]

Quote:"It is also thought that if a driver can excell on a circuit like Spa then he/she is an outstanding talent."

Say Senna...Say Michael...how many times have they won there?

[RussianFriend]

It seems that FW words not a half of intention but just a sort of blackmail.

Although even talented driver can loose some part of performance like Mika did last year. Ralf is father now, and who know the result? If any of Franks drivers doesn't get scores this year Frank will replace him.

So the warning drivers before the season's start is just a way to avoid their low motivation.

[Mr V]

sir frank pays his drivers alot of money, and i think he's within his right to say to them, if you don't perform at the level i expect, or whatever, then i've got others who will!!

after all, wasn't it once said.........F1 is not a coffee morning!

[Stephen Green]

Mr V, we really must meet one day as we seem to think very much alike!

[Mr V]

sounds good stephen, soon be time to start visiting brands again (can't wait!), we'll have to make arrangements nearer the time via the PM's

[Don K]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
Drexel, the point being made here is that circuits like Spa are openly regarded as those that take exceptional driver skill and courage to be quick om. Of course we know they drive all circuits, but some (like Spa) have an added degree of difficulty. It is also thought that if a driver can excell on a circuit like Spa then he/she is an outstanding talent.

Let's see.
Ralf has beaten his team mates at Spa during the last three seasons.
And in Japan he had the fastest lap last year...

[BBKing]

Originally posted by Don K
Let's see.
Ralf has beaten his team mates at Spa during the last three seasons.
And in Japan he had the fastest lap last year...

I forgot that Half Schumacher had the pole in 2001. I also forgot that He overtook Formula Juan during the race. Yeah. He has beaten all his teammates in spa in the last 3 seassons. Not to mention Button outquafying him in 2000.