Ralf-Toyota contract for €100 million

[Gt_R]

It's funny really, being drawn attention to signatures, i could swear F1 so far without Jos was pretty good.... hmmm..

Oh..wait..does J stand for Jos or Jacques? Nahh..guess it doesn't matter

[Gt_R]

Let's not get overly personal yah?

[dsg]

This makes Weber the creator of one of the best April fools jokes in F1 for quite some time or manager of the year.

I think Ralf is a very talented driver but several other drivers of equal talent and at a far cheaper cost are waiting in the wings.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by zetta
Montoya is said to be getting $ 50 million for a three year contract at McLaren. It's surely a better deal to be paid $ 16 million and change per year at a top team than 20 million per year at Toyota, don't you think?

Well if you think Macaroon is currently a top team you may have a point. However the feeling is that Monty jumped ship for money and if so then he's allegedly failed to gain as much dosh.

Certainly Mac is better than Toyota is now but they are struggling don't you think?

BTW. The relative difference between 16 and 20 million per year is very little I would suggest. Having said that I haven't made my first million yet!

[golem]

Personally, I don't think Toyota will pay that unless it's a performance claused contract 'potentially' worth that much.

If Ralf had half a brain, he'd stay at Williams for much less. ie: his real worth.

[Peter Mallett]

Golem,

I agree. With Monty out of the way and a team determined to win, he'd get his best shot at the title.

[Gt_R]

If Ralf does think that he could bring Toyota to the top step like his brother did for Ferrari, then good luck to him...he needs pretty much of it.

Not trying to put Ralf down, but although he could provide good technical feedback and have quite a few positives, there is a huge pool of drivers who can easily match him in the various qualities yet undercut his pay demands.

Granted, it is Weber who does the deals and no wonder that Weber is trying to get a larger cut, but still, he's playing a very risky game because right now, Ralf isn't the only driver left.

Scott/Button/Webber/Alonso/Trulli/Coulthard/Fisichella are pretty much all available, and there are even a few more in Rossi/Jacques/Zonta/Pizzaboy/Gene who though are riskier options but come with a larger financial sense.

Hope the whole issue settles before the 4th race..it's dragging on for too long.

[kdr]

i think we should all apply for jobs at toyota, and get as much out of them as we can before they leave...

[RWC]

This is absolute bull ****.He won't be getting 20 mil pounds for a start!

This is another case of dopey f1 journo's and fans not bothering to check wether it's a dollar or pound sign on the start of the amount.............

[climb]

Toyota have denied this rumour; already yesterday on Italian Gazzetta there was an article about. Seems once again to be another marketing manoeuvre unsuccessfully carried by WW in Ralfie's favour like the recent one invovling Renault (as I had suspected!)

WW must be real desperate.

[woodbine]

I think that WW is just beginning to realise that you can only push Sir Frank so far. At previous renewals there was BMW and their desire to see a German in the team on Ralf's side. That has now gone and Williams knows that they have the upper hand, the car is the most important piece of the championship jigsaw. After all if you put Michael in a Minardi he would still be near the back.

It is a buyers market for Williams. They sign a seriously quick No 1 driver (I expect Webber) and then choose from Pizzonia, Dixon, Piquet, Rosberg or even Gene, all of whom are available or already with the team

[BootsOntheSide]

I'll believe this when something official comes along. Even €100m (that's about £60m) for 5 years seems ridiculous, especially if that's going to invovle a salary of €12, rahter than something perofrmance based. Tellingly the BBC have yet to report this. I'm not convinced.

[Gt_R]

Quote:"This is another case of dopey f1 journo's and fans not bothering to check wether it's a dollar or pound sign on the start of the amount............."

Okay, i've checked. It's 20mil Rupiah...although some sources claim it's Ringgit. To complicate matters, an "insider source" from Toyota HQ in Japan claim it's in YENS, while the factory foreman at Toyota's Thailand factory insist it is in Baht.

So for the exchange rate, go check out at any major banks.

[golem]

Yep, Baht. sounds about right.

[Peter Mallett]

Don't you mean abaht right?

[Adam43]

Ralf says
It must be because Ferrari is winning that everyone has got a little bit bored and started talking about my contract. I am a Williams driver, we are still negotiating and there is no hurry.

From http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=26635&s=5

[TeddyG]

Sounds like Ralphy doesn't really have any solid offers for 2005. He denyed again the Toyota contract and Williams clearly aren't negotiating at the moment.

It's all been a big ploy by Willi Webber, and I'm sure its got to be irritating some of the paddock by now, especially Williams, Toyota and Renault who he keeps claiming to have signed contacts with every other week thus destabalizing those teams, making their drivers feel a bit insecure no doubt and irritating management who have to keep denying such rumours!

If Willi isn't more careful he could "negotiate" Ralph right out of a competitive seat. Not that he deserves one anyways.

[chunterer]

Re last pare of your quote:

I certainly hope that's the end result!!

Ralf proved once and for all he's not upto the job by frittering away a golden podium opportunity last weekend. He needs:
a/ a kick up the backside
b/ a reality check