|
| Site Partners: | SpotterGuides | Veloce Books |
| Related Sites: | Your Link Here |
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 14:10 (Ref:555967)
|
#1 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 1998
Posts: 2,762
 |
Ralf gets letter from Sir Frank
Apparently Williams GP has sent a letter to Ralf stating that "he needs to pull his finger out" and produce the results that he has in the past and those that he is being paid for this season.
This may or not be a fair tactic from Sir Frank and company but it surely is their modus operandi. I think that the new Williams car has some problems that have yet to be sorted and the new qualifying structure is apparently not helping Ralf out at all. Take into consideration that JPM seems to have stolen some of the support of the team from Ralf and that the qualifying procedure seems to favor the Columbian, it has put a lot of pressure on Ralf to perform. Its not fair, but that is part of the price a driver pays for racing with Williams GP. The questions come down to this... can Ralf recover from this? Is he mentally strong enough to look Sir Frank and Patrick Head in the eye and demand they improve the car while he improves his chances by qualifying better? I think he is a strong racer, but has some room for improvement. I also think that not all of his 2003 performances are completely his fault too. But, in the end, he must do a lot better if he plans on staying at Williams GP for next season. Sir Frank has played his "or else" card. |
||
|
__________________
Never forget #99 
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 14:37 (Ref:555996)
|
#2 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,546
 |
It was the same last year to a certain extent, in that quite often only one Williams went well, while the other struggled.
I don't think Ralf will be at the back of the grid all season. He'll probably put a decent qualifier together soon. However, given Williams history for chucking out drivers, If he doesn't pull his finger out very soon, I expect a statement announcing his replacement to be released by Williams before long! |
||
|
|
__________________
It's just my opinion.
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 14:45 (Ref:556014)
|
#3 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,867
|
He will stay at Williams for the next season, he already has a contract.
|
||
|
|
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 14:59 (Ref:556031)
|
#4 | |||
 Race OfficialVeteran
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,698
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
|
__________________
DDMC Rescue Crew, Post Chief & Flag Marshal
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 15:14 (Ref:556047)
|
#5 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
|
According to crash.net's report on this, he isn't under contract after this season. Not sure who's right, but I'm sure Frank could pay off Ralf's contract and hire someone like Heidfeld or Fisichella, to get an easy performacne boost, for much less than it would cost to develop a new gearbox or aero kit to make the car fast eough to mask his lack of form.
Ultimately, Ralf's salary is reputedly 3 times that of Juan, and, considering that Juan beat Ralf in his second season, despite that car being designed more around Ralf, Juan having more misfortunes, and the new rules having now furthered the advantage aggressive spirited racers (like Juan, not like Ralf) get, that is a real injustice, and doesn't seem good from a business perspective. If it were my decision, I'd give him 4 more races to get up to form, after that, tell him he's out for 2004, adn put all the resources behind JPM. |
||
|
|
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 15:43 (Ref:556088)
|
#6 | ||
|
Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 13,038
|
Or it could be the HR persons way of complying with English law, giving written warnings to members of staff before sacking them.
|
||
|
|
__________________
The Priest Catcher Honoured recipient of the BARC Browning Medal
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 16:21 (Ref:556138)
|
#7 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,986
|
Here is a vote for GF alongside JPM. Hell they should ditch RS now!! It wont happen though.
|
||
|
|
__________________
Eventually we learn
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 16:35 (Ref:556152)
|
#8 | |
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,598
|
Bring back Button. Put Ralf in the other BAR - now that would be funny! You'd see some serious toy-throwing-out-of-the-pram then - I don't think Ralf would take kindly to that kind of pressure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 Apr 2003, 17:08 (Ref:556173)
|
#9 | ||
|
14th
1% Club
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 42,639
|
My comedy F1 updates on my mobile said it was BMW who sent the letter.
If true it shows new levels of people management by Williams or BMW! Personally I think that Ralf is staying put and there is very little danger of him leaving Williams. |
||
|
|
__________________
Seriously not taking motorsport too seriously.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 01:53 (Ref:556700)
|
#10 | |||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 706
|
Re: Ralf gets letter from Sir Frank
Quote:
Ralf has no grounds to demand an improvement in the car - as the problem is comparison to JPM, not the rest of the field. I go with the formal warnings prior to sacking premise. Who is Williams current test driver? Could he end up with a couple of "guest" drives if Ralf continues to underperform? |
|||
|
|
__________________
"If a man could be crossed with a cat, it would improve the man but deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 01:58 (Ref:556704)
|
#11 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,744
|
I'm no Ralf fan, but I hope Frank does end up doing to Ralf what he did to HHF.
Question: Last year were Ralf's 1st qualifying laps bad? I seem to recall him putting in some quiet good 1st qualifying efforts, especially compared to JPM and MS. Last edited by Snrub; 3 Apr 2003 at 01:58. |
||
|
|
__________________
No Rotor, No Motor.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 02:01 (Ref:556706)
|
#12 | |
|
Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 5,702
|
Fisi is the only replacement to be considered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 02:25 (Ref:556722)
|
#13 | |||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,618
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
|
__________________
I refuse to let fact get in the way of my opinion
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 03:29 (Ref:556749)
|
#14 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,073
|
The thought of Schumi Lite "saving his engine" in a BAR is actually pretty amusing! It would almost be worth it for the JV quotes - who do I write a letter to? Sir Frank?
What does he do with the engines after he "saves" them, by the way? |
||
|
|
__________________
"He's still a young guy and I always think, slightly morbidly, the last thing you learn is how to die and at the end of the day everybody learns every single day." - The Ever-Cheerfull Ron Dennis on Lewis Hamilton.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 03:31 (Ref:556750)
|
#15 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 706
|
Can't understand how/why people are constantly rating Fisi so highly - seems a bit like the Alesi phenomena, which was equally perplexing. :confused:
Would he respond to "Williams" grade pressure? Frank should offer Mika H a comeback - he'd be getting withdrawal pangs by now. 
|
||
|
|
__________________
"If a man could be crossed with a cat, it would improve the man but deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 03:34 (Ref:556751)
|
#16 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 706
|
oooooohhhhhh - John SSC you are brilliant, JV and RS (isn't that appropriate!) can swap seats.
That way Williams get another real racer and BAR get somebody who Button can trash. Nice! |
||
|
|
__________________
"If a man could be crossed with a cat, it would improve the man but deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 03:34 (Ref:556752)
|
#17 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,073
|
GTV27, by the look of Mikachu recently, I suspect he is also lacing quite heavily (mooseburgers?) and is not exactly in "race trim" right now.
Goodness, that makes 700!!! |
||
|
|
__________________
"He's still a young guy and I always think, slightly morbidly, the last thing you learn is how to die and at the end of the day everybody learns every single day." - The Ever-Cheerfull Ron Dennis on Lewis Hamilton.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 03:36 (Ref:556753)
|
#18 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,073
|
Just thinking about JV and JPM on the same team! It'd be like the old days again with Mansell, wouldn't it? I'd pay to watch testing for lacings sake!
|
||
|
|
__________________
"He's still a young guy and I always think, slightly morbidly, the last thing you learn is how to die and at the end of the day everybody learns every single day." - The Ever-Cheerfull Ron Dennis on Lewis Hamilton.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 03:46 (Ref:556755)
|
#19 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 706
|
Well, I'd hope that it wouldn't deteriorate to the depths of the Mansell v Piquet debacle, but it would be entertaining.
Mika could still do the business, even with a bit of extra ballast on board! |
||
|
|
__________________
"If a man could be crossed with a cat, it would improve the man but deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 04:00 (Ref:556761)
|
#20 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,073
|
But would the fire still be there for Mikachu? I wondered at times when he was WDC if he really "wanted" to be the one.
|
||
|
|
__________________
"He's still a young guy and I always think, slightly morbidly, the last thing you learn is how to die and at the end of the day everybody learns every single day." - The Ever-Cheerfull Ron Dennis on Lewis Hamilton.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 06:41 (Ref:556827)
|
#21 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,340
|
God I hope hope hope hope hope they kick Ralfie out after this season. That seat has long been wasted on a guy with MEDIOCRE talents on his best days!...It would be great to see JV back in there but he'll have to destroy Button to prove he's worthy again...fingers crossed!
|
||
|
|
__________________
Doesn't it seem sad that drivers like Fisichella, Coultard, Barrichello, and Ralf all have secure seats in F1, despite having had race winning cars for many more seasons than Jacques, yet failing to chalk up as many wins as he (let alone a WDC) that it is Jacques who doesn't have a drive in F1??? Sad indeed.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 06:48 (Ref:556835)
|
#22 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,071
|
Ralf has been VERY mediocre to date, and it's not as if Albert Park and Sepang are circuits he usually struggles at...he really has to improve. Infact, if I was Frank, I'd give him until Silverstone. After that, do anything possible to get him replaced by Fisi...
|
||
|
|
__________________
Don't let manufacturers ruin F1. RIP Tyrrell, Arrows, Prost, Minardi, Jordan.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 06:59 (Ref:556849)
|
#23 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,340
|
Yeah if JV doesn't impress this year I would be happy to see Fisi at Williams...he deserves a shot at the top...but I'd rather see him in a Ferrari!
|
||
|
|
__________________
Doesn't it seem sad that drivers like Fisichella, Coultard, Barrichello, and Ralf all have secure seats in F1, despite having had race winning cars for many more seasons than Jacques, yet failing to chalk up as many wins as he (let alone a WDC) that it is Jacques who doesn't have a drive in F1??? Sad indeed.
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 08:54 (Ref:556949)
|
#24 | ||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,707
|
Williams have a history of chucking out good drivers, Hill especially. RS hasn't shown what he can do this year, but then the car might not suit his style.
|
||
|
|
__________________
"If there's anything more important than my ego around, I want it caught and shot now" Douglas Adams. 1952-2001
|
|
3 Apr 2003, 09:19 (Ref:556973)
|
#25 | |||
|
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,168
|
Quote:
Didn't JPM get a similar(ish) letter over the winter from Patrick Head or Frank W? He was told that he needed to loose a few pounds, get fitter and perform to their expectations. At the time it was said to be a good kick in the arse for him. These lads at Williams seem to be good at writing letters! |
|||
|
|
__________________
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
|
 |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Letter to FIA | Lost Formula 1 | Formula One | 37 | 10 May 2004 15:07 |
| Frank Williams doubts Ralf quote!! | billaboy | Formula One | 55 | 20 Jun 2003 10:30 |
| Ralf in trouble with Sir Frank? | ljakse | Formula One | 25 | 10 Apr 2003 15:13 |
| between a ralf and bonehead: the frank williams story | botsquad | Formula One | 14 | 1 Apr 2002 07:50 |
Linear Mode
