Schumacher set to go after 2004

[MiniMe]

I really can't see MS driving for anyone else other than Ferrari - he'll finish his career with them, for sure.

[Valve Bounce]

Let's look back at the history of F1 - it is not inconceivable for any of the current top teams like Ferrari or Williams to pull out if things don't go their way. Even Honda. Mercedes pulled out when they had extracted what they needed from F1, Renault and Honda have pulled out before. Brabham is gone. They come and go - the F1 field is not static. We have discussed this at great lengths on other threads. In fact, if the cost spiral keeps going up, it would be interesting how many teams willl remain. The point both Red and I agree on is that Ferrari will not fire SchM because of cut backs in expenditure, something allen insist they will. That's the debate on this thead.

[Jukebox]

maybe allen failed to notice that it's not Ferrari that pays Michael his salary but the sponsors, and they still have huge amounts left to develop the car and for Rubens paycheck

[allen_overy]

hey, where is the source of your information that it is sponsors who pay MS?

[Valve Bounce]

Some pay site up at the Peak

[Jukebox]

Originally posted by allen_overy
hey, where is the source of your information that it is sponsors who pay MS?

Don push it allen....I've been to many F1 sites in the net and some posted by members in here before that we all found to be rather ridicilous.

For your second question....i believe my good friend Valve have answered anyway find out how much sponsors have to pay to have their stickers pasted on the Red car then you'll get the picture.

And further more....we all in here come from different background, some might suprise you. So take it easy....

[Valve Bounce]

OK, this is how things are here. This is a discussion forum where we come here to have fun with our friends, have serious or otherwise discussions, and make friends. Jukes and Red are two of my very good friends and we seldom agree on anything. But we have a good time here.
I hope that clears things up a little, allen. I won't go into an in depth technical discussion on slope stabilisation methods for Landslip Preventive Measures. However, I could give you a hint - I was out there in the middle of the night during typhoons and rainstorms clearing squatter villages.

[Red]

Originally posted by TeddyG
Yes I'm suggesting that Ferrari [...etc...]Change is inevitable.

TeddyG. Of course that Ferrari do not spend money just because they have a great fun doing it. Now, define "scale back". They would, of course, but only if Williams/McLaren/etc would "scale their programs" some more.

And there's one more thing that you have difficulties to understand: Ferrari does NOT use their F1 program to advertise their road cars. It's the other way around. They sell car to support their F1 programms. And Ferrari is not Fiat. Indeed Fiat owns a large part of it but that's it.

PS: Cutting salaries or increasing them has nothing to do with worldwide economy. But if you think that cutting salaries would be the method they would adopt, it's easier to suspect that they would fire Rubens and hire Massa for 1/10 of his salary.

[allen_overy]

i get what you mean, VB. I have not intended to make things personal, even if that turned out to be.

i have always found your knowledge about my place impressive, albeit inaccurate at times.
Good posts about Tung Chee Wah, though.

[Valve Bounce]

allen, just a little secret between you and me - I have probably spent more years in "your place" than you have. Any inaccuracies were intended although unavoidable. Let me put it this way: I am willing to bet that I have walked over more, driven over more, inspected more, studied aerial survey maps more than you have ever done, let alone dreamt of. I know most of HK like the back of my hand. I'll add sailed over more as well, just to be complete.

[Valve Bounce]

Just to let you know, allen,I watched an interview with Ross Brawn in which he informs that Ferrari sells 500 million dollars of merchandise a year. You can guess how much of that is influenced by SchM's success.

[allen_overy]

Thanks

[allen_overy]

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlin...12000517.shtml

[Red]

Allen, that certainly doesn't fit into a "set to go" thread.

Anyway, not even the "pay-cut" part has any more credibility. The story clearly say that they don't know what his current sallary is, do you want me to believe that they know what his sallary will be? Furthermore, the story say something that we all say:

"Ferrari's main worry would be to see the German going to another team (Mercedes, BMW, Toyota...). In that case, Ferrari may be willing to bring more money to the table to avoid such a possibility. At 34, Michael may still have some good seasons ahead of him"

[TeddyG]

Nevertheless Red I think it's interesting that they've apparently, and I say that loosely as nothing is confirmed, offered Schumacher less money than the estimations of his current deal. It'll be interesting to see if the other big boys, Mclaren and Williams will follow with counter offers of their own. Bearing in mind that Michael will be 35 after his current deal expires.

[Peter Mallett]

This is just a thought but do you think its possible that these issues had a bearing on his performance on Sunday? I mean he made two uncharacteristic mistakes (possibly just one) which led to damage to his car.

I was surprised to see him fight so hard with Kimi and then to put himself off the road by pushing too hard (my theories - not necessarily fact) seemed to suggest he was under a bit of pressure.

BTW. I was also pleased to see him race for a change.

[TeddyG]

no I don't think so Peter. I think a reduced salary, and by the looks of it we're not looking at a major reduction if any at all, is simply a by-product of the failing economy. Everybody's reconsidering they're stakes in the big old F1 game. Nobody's immune to it. If Jukebox is right about the sponser's paying MS's salary then clearly their trying to reduce costs while maintaining the same amount of exposure. Anyway this is merely the beginning of the negotiation process, come 2004 if money's flowing back into the sport then we could see MS with a considerable pay rise.

[garcon]

Peter, I would think nothing was further from his mind on Sunday. He was enjoying having a race for a change, and he showed that
a) he's as hungry for victory as ever (which is why he fought so hard with Kimi),
b) he's willing to take risks to win (possibly moreso than some others),
c) he's human - sometimes taking risks doesn't pay off.

This season could show us a side of Schumacher we've forgotten - the born racer and risk taker. I just hope he keeps it clean...

On his contract, what are the facts?

1. His current contract runs out in 2004.
2. er, that's it.

Everything else is speculation.

Wille Webber (his manager - have I got his name right?) was quoted on UK ITV teletext (but not BBC interestingly, which makes me question sources) as saying that discussion on a 2 year extension to Schumacher's contract "at £20M a year" had started (or was about to), but that "Schumacher will only talk about a contract when he's ready".

That last bit I believe. I also believe that Schumacher and Ferrari's success are utterly inseperable in the minds of the vast majority of fans and F1 watchers. I cannot see any possible financial argument for letting Schumacher go, because they (Fiat SPa, Ferrari F1 and the sponsors) will lose far more in lost marketing and merchandising than they'll gain from not paying that salary.

Just to completely upset the applecart, what happens when Beelzebub... er, I mean General Motors... buys Fiat??

[Red]

Teddy,

Read more carefully the story. Actually the only sentences that might have some credibility are

1) Ross Brawn: "I don't believe it. Those who say that don't know the same Michael Schumacher that I work with. He enjoys racing more and more, race by race" (that was regarding his alleged retirement; and I repeat, the context in which he made such statement is unknown)

2) Mark Weber: "I have received an offer from Ferrari to go beyond 2004. Michael will let me know when he is ready to talk about it!" (irrespective of context.)

All the other stuff is pure speculations. At least F1-live had the decency to put both scenarios in the same story: pay cut and the raise...

[Mal]

With regard to Michaels pay and its value, any team boss including Paul Stoddard could offer Michael 25 million to race for them and be assured of making a profit, getting the sponsorship and personnel required to win championships and races. That is why Ferrari wont let him go, probably even after he retires from racing. I think I remember once that Ferrari are prepared to offer him an ambassador role once he retires.

I wouldnt be surprised to see Michael involved with Ferrari in one form or another for many years to come.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by Mal
I think I remember once that Ferrari are prepared to offer him an ambassador once he retires.

B'stards! That was a real dog of a car! Surely he won't stand for that.

Oops sorry, thought this was the road car forum.

[Mal]

That really was one of Britains finest wasnt it! MS would be a bit p***ed with that as a golden handshake. I'm sure you realise I meant 'an ambassadors role'.

[Peter Mallett]

LOL. The joys of the "quote" facility. Couldn't resist.

[allen_overy]

From ITV
http://www.itv-f1.com/news/news_story/14611


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SCHUEY TARGETED BY WILLIAMS?
2003-03-18 09:27:00
Williams have expressed an interest in signing Michael Schumacher if he becomes available.

Schumacher’s contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2004 and, although the world champions are keen to tie him down to a new deal, they are understood to want him to accept a pay cut from ?5million to ?0m.

That move could precipitate a bidding war for Schumacher’s services involving Ferrari, Williams and perhaps even McLaren.

Williams technical director Patrick Head admitted they would be interested in acquiring Schumacher’s services.

He told The Sun: "You'd have to say, and let's be honest about it, if every team was asked what driver they most wanted they would say Michael Schumacher.

"They probably wouldn't want to pay his salary - or couldn't afford to pay it - or keep up with the car's developments he would expect. But the fact remains that everyone would want him.

"I am extremely happy with our two drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher and I wouldn't want to change them - unless someone came along and said: 'Here's Michael'."

Head and Frank Williams have both made no secret of their admiration for Schumacher. Head told Montoya and Ralf at the start of the year that they should aim to replicate the world champion’s approach to the sport.


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Bye-bye MS from Ferrari!

[Fredman]

The last time Williams targeted the best drive in F1 was, let me think, 1993 ?

When a shoe decides to retire is when he doesn't feel competitive anymore, not by money. There are
an awful lot of drivers that 'retired', and then were killed in plane crashes, boat crashes, saloon car racing crashes, you name it, so to say someone
should retire before they get killed is a misnomer.

All drivers feel invincible, and if they do not feel that way, they are a danger to themselves and should not be racing. To drive 'safe' is very unsafe.