Frank Williams fears Ferrari poach on JPM

Valve Bounce · 29 Jul 2002, 11:25 (Ref:345200)

Quote:

"I fear that he will succeed Michael Schumacher at Ferrari,” the Bild quoted Williams as saying. ”They are not stupid and will try to buy him off us. I am certain they will soon make an offer"

I have always felt that sooner or later JPM will end up at Ferrari - that Ferrari will make JPM and offer that he cannot refuse. I don't think it will be if, more like when.
My question here is will Ferrari try to work JPM into the team before SchM retires?

Valve[img]http://www.**************************/smilies/bouncy.gif[/img]

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 11:31 (Ref:345205)

Uh-oh, if Franks is so much afraid of that, why doesn't he actually make an offer so he can refuse the hypothetical Ferrari offer?

DavidStHubbins · 29 Jul 2002, 11:35 (Ref:345209)

I think Frank has only paid BEEG money to one driver - Ayrton Senna Da Silva... Say no more. I guess we will see if Frank views Montoya the same. I would like to see Montoya at Ferrari, he is a Gilles Villeneuve kinda driver, not always a perfect machine like TGF but a beast behind the wheel.

I would sell me granny to see JPM and TGF together at Ferrari. I'm probably not alone on that score!

f1manoz · 29 Jul 2002, 14:16 (Ref:345390)

JPM and Schu at Ferrari will never happen, for the simple reason that Schu would not allow it, unless it was his final season, then he could go there.

But Frank adores JPM and his driving, so it will take a serious offer by Ferrari before Frank lets him go.

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 14:34 (Ref:345402)

Like David, I can't see Montoya going to Ferrari until Michael has left. Even one season as the undoubted No2 driver would be too much for Montoya to swallow in my opinion. I think we should be asking what will happen to Ferrari once Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne leave as I feel that will have a much greater impact on the team than Michael alone. If you cast you minds back a few years, Ferrari is now effectively the old Benetton team of when MS won his first WDC.

Mr V · 29 Jul 2002, 14:39 (Ref:345403)

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Green
I think we should be asking what will happen to Ferrari once Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne leave as I feel that will have a much greater impact on the team than Michael alone.

Agreed here, whilst i have no doubts that JPM could do the same in a Ferrari as Michael has, Once Michael has gone i wonder if the likes of Brawn and Byrne would stay to help JPM in the same way as the have Michael, or will the look for different challanges with different teams?

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 14:48 (Ref:345412)

Or just retire as they have both said they would like to do.

kdr · 29 Jul 2002, 14:54 (Ref:345417)

perhaps ferrari will be looking at the current flavour of the month by the time schuey retires...and who knows who that might be.

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 14:58 (Ref:345422)

Just remember, as Michael always reminds us, winning is a TEAM effort. Whatever his skills are as a driver, without the rest of the team and the huge investment from Fiat, there would be no Ferrari championship.

drexel · 29 Jul 2002, 14:58 (Ref:345423)

That explains why some dodgy team-orders have gone against Ralf in the last two races. Franks making JPM feel nice and warm, and more importantly, the No 1 driver in the Williams garage.

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 15:00 (Ref:345427)

I wasn't aware of any team orders at Williams now or in the past. Which team orders are you referring to?

Speed · 29 Jul 2002, 15:25 (Ref:345435)

Montoya's last year bad luck is on Ralf this season...

**Peter Mallett** · 29 Jul 2002, 15:34 (Ref:345442)

I think there has only been one instance of team orders at Williams and that was Silverstone last year. As I recall, Ralf ignored them.

As explained elsewhere Ralf was a victim of circs. Trulli on track, JV in the pitlane and finally leaking pneumatic pressure. All things being equal he'd probably have got second if the Trulli incident hadn't occurred because I thought he was far enough ahead of JPM when he pitted behind JV.

Don't think he would have won though.

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 15:50 (Ref:345455)

I can imagine France this year too. Very rapidly Ralf closed a big gap to Montoya (after being screwed in pit-box; again) then mantained a very suspicious 1 second gap till the end of the race....

Mr V · 29 Jul 2002, 16:00 (Ref:345465)

Quote:

Originally posted by Red
then mantained a very suspicious 1 second gap till the end of the race....

If so, and i'm not saying your wrong, but if this happened, why didn't Rafe say that he was told to stay back? Sir Frank openly critised Rafe last week, why didn't Rafe say in response, "i'm not doing that bad, The team told me to hold station behind Juan Pablo last sunday!" ?, maybe, just maybe because it might not have happened.

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 16:09 (Ref:345474)

Because (unlike other drivers that I know) he's disciplined? :confused:

Mania · 29 Jul 2002, 16:10 (Ref:345475)

Maybe they told him to keep his mouth shut and not talk about it. He was certainly able to catch up quickly despite being screwed in the pits - but then again we will never really know. It seems the only one who doesent have a gag order on them at Williams is Patrick Head.

Mr V · 29 Jul 2002, 16:13 (Ref:345477)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mania
It seems the only one who doesent have a gag order on them at Williams is Patrick Head.

Good to see ya out and about Mania!

Talking of Patrick Head and no gag order, did anyone hear him saying to JPM during qualifying, that the black stuff was the quickest way around the circuit! That guy has got a dry sense of humour, got JPM laughing away too!

av8rirl · 29 Jul 2002, 16:14 (Ref:345480)

Quote:

Originally posted by Red
mantained a very suspicious 1 second gap till the end of the race....

I think he did the very same against his brother. The reason he didn't try to pass, is cause he doesn't have BIG BALLS...

Mr V · 29 Jul 2002, 16:15 (Ref:345482)

Quote:

Originally posted by Red
Because (unlike other drivers that I know) he's disciplined? :confused:

Red, with some of the comments that Rafe's come out with over the years, Disiplined is not one of my first descriptions i'd use for him!

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 16:15 (Ref:345485)

Quote:

Originally posted by av8rirl

I think he did the very same against his brother. The reason he didn't try to pass, is cause he doesn't have BIG BALLS...

There's a slight and subtle difference between overtaking Michael's Schumacher Ferrari and Pablo's ailing BMWillie.

Mr V, examples please!

av8rirl · 29 Jul 2002, 16:20 (Ref:345489)

Quote:

Originally posted by Red
There's a slight and subtle difference between overtaking Michael's Schumacher Ferrari and Pablo's ailing BMWillie.

Like???

Mania · 29 Jul 2002, 16:23 (Ref:345492)

Quote:

Originally posted by av8rirl

The reason he didn't try to pass, is cause he doesn't have BIG BALLS...

Really? Tell me how you can say that so convincingly..

Mr V · 29 Jul 2002, 16:26 (Ref:345497)

Quote:

Originally posted by Red

Mr V, examples please!

How would i know what size Rafe's nadgers are? And why are you asking me when your quoting av8ril?

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 16:27 (Ref:345499)

C'mon av! Only Pablo and Bernoldi can say that they overtook Michael. At least this year. Granted it didn't last more than a few corners but anyway...... are you trying to suggest that a broken Willie, almost without tyres wouldn't be an easy prey even for Yoong if he was in the vicinity?

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