HHF left F1

[alonso11]

Now it's official,Heinz-Harald Frentzen couldn't secure that Jordan seat so he says bye-bye to the world of Formula One and joins the good old Alesi in DTM.He will drive the works Opel of Team Holzer.He rounded off his GP career well with that podium finish in USA.


from f1live.com:

German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen, described by former boss Frank Williams as being too sensitive for Formula One, is quitting the sport, the German agency SID reported Thursday.

Frentzen, runner-up to Jacques Villeneuve in the 1997 world championship, was left without a drive in 2004 after being released by Sauber. The 36-year-old, whose record stands at three wins from 157 grand prix, is planning to announce his return to the touring car circuit at a press conference Friday.

Frentzen had two seasons with the Williams team, winning once. In 1998 he moved to Jordan where he fared better, winning twice, but he fell out with team leader Eddie Jordan in 2001 and was sacked midway through the season. His fortunes took a turn for the worse then when he joined up with Prost which went bankrupt last year.

He fared little better with the financially troubled Arrows team before linking up with Sauber.

Speaking earlier this year Williams told the BBC: "I don't know of any other driver who has such a fantastic feeling for the car he drives as Frentzen does. But Heinz-Harald is a very sensitive character and not hard enough for this business."

Frentzen finished 11th in the 2003 championship with 13 points.

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/031118021002.shtml] source [/URL]


Tschüss und viel Glück Heinz!

[enemy-ace]

I'll be sorry to see him gone. Never a huge fan but he grew on me.

[twig]

Never a huge surprise that he is leaving, i think we all expected him to leave F1 at the end of this year.

Still, none the less, never a happy day to see a driver retire from F1, but at least he will keep on driving in the DTM, where i am sure he will have a great amount of fun.

Good also, to see him finish his second last F1 race on the podium.

See ya round HHF.

[mountainstar]

Considering the fact that he almost never made it to F1, I think he did quite well and I personally think highly of him.

[climb]

Frankly speaking, considering the strong popularity of DTM; I think it is certailnly better to be protagonist out there than being last and least in F1; good choice HH.

[GP Racer]

How can a driver retire at 36 and have it said of him, that he's "to sensitive and not hard enough for this business"? Kind of a strange comment about a driver who's been around for that long.

Was hoping to see him in the IRL, but maybe he's abit to old for that now... Good luck HHF!

[BertMk2]

Good move Harry! It's just a shame that the DTM isn't coming to Donington next year - there's a lot of top level driving talent in that series at the moment and it's always great to watch.

[BSchneiderFan]

HHF will always remain an enigma. Just how good was he? As quick as Schumacher, as some said in their younger days, but just not able to deliver on the track? Or overrated and propelled undeservedly into a plum seat at Williams for 1997, a great opportunity squandered?

I don't have the answer. But I shall remember 1999 rather fondly, when it really looked for a time as if HHF might sneak the title from under the noses of Swerve and Mika.

[darcym]

I liked HHF, good driving had potential wasted a championship winning car in Williams 97 - made a underfunder car a championship winning (potential) car with Jordan 99.

He always seemed a fun guy, but could only work if the conditions suited him (eg too hard at Williams, then tough times at Jordan) always seemed to get on ok at sauber (they where using Merc engines though at that time) but didn't look to comfortable this time around (ferrari engines) I wonder how much control Peter Sauber actually has now.

He loved Frenzten, and publicy said he rated Heidfield but was "forced" to take Massa.

Would Frentzen still be driving ??? I think possibly and maybe he had a good 2 years left in him.

[BootsOntheSide]

Frentzen's potential pace was always impressive. He did a lot with the 1999 Jordan - Canada and Monza were particualrly imrpessive, not to emntion his well-judged and precise win in France. He showed his pace at Sauber imemdiately, and was excellent in the underfunded Arrows.

But for most of his career, he seemed to waste opportunities. Sauber in 1996, Williams 97, Jordan 01 and now Sauber this year again, he didn't seem to really get everything out of the hardware.

Clearly he is one of the most tempramental drivers of recent years, and needs total support form the team. Ron Dennis would've been a much better boss than Frank Williams for him - maybe if his Mercedes connections had got him the 1996 McLaren drive, we'd be talking about him as a champion.

[EERO]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide

Clearly he is one of the most tempramental drivers of recent years, and needs total support form the team. Ron Dennis would've been a much better boss than Frank Williams for him - maybe if his Mercedes connections had got him the 1996 McLaren drive, we'd be talking about him as a champion.

I'll second that! I always thought he belonged at McLaren.

I'll miss him, he was one of my faves and seeing that great win in France in 1999 driving with a broken knee from his shunt in Canada sealed it for me.

I hope he has success where ever he goes, (Though i never get to see the DTM during the season)

[Jordi]

Heinz-Harald is one of those drivers that didn't really achieve what was expected from them, which is a shame.

He proved he can really floor it when the time is right, and I'll miss him. It's difficult to see the 1st and 2nd in 1997 leaving this way, through the back door. I really think Frentzen would have done better than Massa will in 2004, and maybe I'll have to eat humble pie, but that's my opinion.

[alonso11]

Here is the first picture of HHF wearing his new racing overalls

[RT]

Tschüss und viel Glück Heinz! [/B][/QUOTE]

Very nicely put Alonso11.

Heinz-Harald had a substantial career as an F1 driver. The paddock and his fans will miss his class, good humor and skill.

RT

[John Turner]

Yes, HHF, yet another driver who, for whatever reason didn't reach full potential in F1, but, at least, like Johnny Herbert, leaves with 3 GP wins under his belt which is more than some equally fine, if not better, drivers failed to do (Amon and Brundle particularly, come to mind). It's great that he is going to DTM to join Alesi and other notable drivers. Enjoy yourself Heinz-Harald!

[Korr]

Here's a studio shot of him!

[Adam43]

No, that is David Duchovney

[DriverT]

It does look like David Duchovny, doesn't it! I thought HHF's face was a bit more muscular thanthe guy in the photo.

[Sodemo]

Isn't that the chap from the X-Files?

[DriverT]

Yep!

[Wrex]

Did'nt Adam ask that already?

[Knowlesy]

No, he told us.

[Snrub]

I hope he does well with Opel. He seems like one of the few humans in F1. If you don't have fun doing what you're doing, why are you doing it? HHF proved that simply having ability and wanting to do something is not enough.