Jenson Button to succeed Michael Schumacher at Ferrari?

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From ITV-F1.com:

FERRARI EYE JENSON

Last Updated: Tuesday, 27 April , 2004, 09:53

Ross Brawn has admitted that Jenson Button could be the man to replace Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.

The BAR driver impressed all at the San Marino GP when he took his first pole position and finished the race in a career-best second place.

It was the third time this year that Button has appeared on the podium after he claimed third place at both the Malaysian and Bahrain GPs.

His performances this year have certainly made on mark on Ferrari’s technical chief Brawn who has described the Briton as “hot property” and a strong contender for Schumacher’s vacant seat when the world champion decides to call it a day.

Brawn told The Times: “For him [Jenson] to get pole position from Michael was fantastic.

“I am very impressed with him. Michael Schumacher isn’t going to be around for ever and we are always keeping an eye out for new talent.

“When we do consider a replacement for Michael, you can guarantee Jenson’s name will be on the list.”

Schumacher’s contract runs out at the end of 2006, by which point the German will be 38-years old. Although Schumacher claims he could continue beyond that point, it is believed he will indeed decide to hang up his helmet then.

Button though is enjoying his time with BAR and as number one driver is beginning to mould the team in his direction in a similar way to Schumacher at Ferrari.

He may well be reluctant to leave the Britisih team. Team boss David Richards is certain that Button will see out his contract with the team, which takes him to the end of 2006.

Richards said: We have the option on Jenson at the end of this year and we intend to keep him.

“He has brought a huge amount to this team and we will not let him go because he will win races with us.

“It is inevitable that there is interest in him because he is performing brilliantly.”

[nojvnof1 0]

I don't think Jense will want to risk everything and leave BAR. He's wanted at BAR and is thriving within the team. The car is getting better and better as is his driving skills. It also helps when your dad is the boss' best friend! :wink:

[Taku 0]

yeah mate, don't see that happening. but as brawn said, it's inevitable for people to start speculating about the best drivers at ferrari, cos they are the best team out there. it's only rational.

[AutoRacer5 0]

If I were Luca di Montezelmo, I would want

1. Mark Webbar

2. Farnando Alonso or

3. Kimi Raikkonen.

If Barichello left, add

4. Ralf Schumacher

Imagine Ferrari if both Schumachers were driving for them.

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Ferrari should choose either Kimi Raikkonen or Fernando Alonso. They would not want Ralf Schumacher, as you suggest, because he is not that good…

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I doubt Williams still want him…

[nojvnof1 0]

Purely for nostalgia reasons, I'd like to see Jacques in a Ferrari. It would be justice for the son to continue what the father tragically left undone. Would be great for the sport as a whole, but I doubt it will happen.

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Purely for nostalgia reasons, I'd like to see Jacques in a Ferrari.

Why does that not surprise me!

[nojvnof1 0]

In all seriousness, I think it would be great for the Villeneuve name to be linked with Ferrari again. It would be interesting to hear from any Ferrari fans, particularly in Italy what they think about this considering Gilles' immense popularity in Italy, plus Jacques himself was voted in a poll as best driver of 2000 in Italy.

What do you think Alistair? Would it be good for the Villeneuve name to be linked with Ferrari again. I know it won't happen, but it would be good.

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It would be great, especially if Michael Schumacher was still there. However, as you say, this will more than likely never happen. Schumacher probably still fears the man who beat him in 1997

[AutoRacer5 0]

Still, Jacques has only one WDC, Michael has 6 WDC. Just imagine Them racing each other.

[nojvnof1 0]

Still, Jacques has only one WDC, Michael has 6 WDC. Just imagine Them racing each other.

JV was only in a championship contending car for two years '96 and '97. And he won one of them, not a bad strike rate. M$ has had a competitive car for a long time. Would be a fantastic battle, but M$ still harbours memories of Jerez '97 as he stopped the team from beginning discussions with Jacques at the end of last year. That's what Bernie said!!

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Still, Jacques has only one WDC, Michael has 6 WDC. Just imagine Them racing each other.

JV was only in a championship contending car for two years '96 and '97. And he won one of them, not a bad strike rate. M$ has had a competitive car for a long time. Would be a fantastic battle, but M$ still harbours memories of Jerez '97 as he stopped the team from beginning discussions with Jacques at the end of last year. That's what Bernie said!!

Very true, just a few points to add:

Michael Schumacher was in the best car in 1994, 1995, late1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The myth that he is usually in the second best car is wholly unfounded. Excluding his debut, he has never been in a car, which is not one of the best two on the grid. Villeneuve on the other hand was only in the best car in 1996 and 1997, and of course 1996 was his debut season. In which he managed to qualify on pole in his debut race and so nearly won it. In 1996 he wasn’t that far away from winning the title himself and managed to take Hill down to the wire in Suzuka.

Schumacher insists on team orders and his teammates are virtual slaves with their sole purpose being to aid Michael’s championship challenge from race 1. Villeneuve has never insisted on team orders and has equal priority with his teammates, thus he is in direct competition with them – one can just imagine Michael Schumacher looking bewildered by the concept of inter-team rivalry! Further more, I’d like to see Michael’s motivation level after having an incredible two seasons of F1, accomplishing so much so quickly, and then being forced to drive below par cars for about 5 or so years…

Some people dislike Villeneuve simply because he speaks his mind, something I find wholly refreshing in this PR moulded politically correct world. These people should judge Villeneuve by his talent in a F1 car and not through his personality traits…

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But in 98 he had the tire failure in Suzuka and in 99 he broke his leg.

And in 97 with an inferior car managed to lead the title to the last race.

Plus, I have seen replays from Michael's onboard, and it doesn't look as if he turned into Jacques. It seems to me that Jacques should have gone further to the inside, as from the inboard, in my opinion, it looks as if Jacques pushed Michael off the track.

Besides, JV didn't know when to grab at the right opportunitys like Michael did, and still does.

[nojvnof1 0]

But in 98 he had the tire failure in Suzuka and in 99 he broke his leg.

And in 97 with an inferior car managed to lead the title to the last race.  

Plus, I have seen replays from Michael's onboard, and it doesn't look as if he turned into Jacques. It seems to me that Jacques should have gone further to the inside, as from the inboard, in my opinion, it looks as if Jacques pushed Michael off the track.

Besides, JV didn't know when to grab at the right opportunitys like Michael did, and still does.

"cough" BULLSH!T "coughs", M$ himself even admitted to driving into Jacques. I don't know which replay you watched but the one I saw was JV practically on the grass and M$ having a small swerve, then he probably checked the mirrors then took a big lunge and Jacques. JV didn't push him off the track. Aren't you over it yet, geez. JV knew M$ cracks under pressure, its been proven. JV knew he had a chance as for whatever M$ reasons were, he was slowing, he knew M$ would most likely drive into him, he said that himself, so he was risking everything by having a lunge. JV pulled off the move knowing he wouldn't make the corner, but he bluffed M$ big time. It was M$ fault pure and simple. Had M$ just let JV continue, he would have been in the gravel and JV would have looked like a dunce, but he didn't and JV won, and proved his class and supreme mental capacity. JV took the opportunity with both hands.

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But in 98 he had the tire failure in Suzuka and in 99 he broke his leg.

And in 97 with an inferior car managed to lead the title to the last race.  

Plus, I have seen replays from Michael's onboard, and it doesn't look as if he turned into Jacques. It seems to me that Jacques should have gone further to the inside, as from the inboard, in my opinion, it looks as if Jacques pushed Michael off the track.

Besides, JV didn't know when to grab at the right opportunitys like Michael did, and still does.

It doesn’t matter what problems he had – he still had the best car.

As Shaun said, MS intended to collide with JV at Jerez, and Villeneuve was actually on the grass to avoid him! If you look at the onboard camera, MS was clearly looking in his mirrors long before the corner and, once he saw JV, he didn’t pull out of the corner – thus he intended to hit him.

Some people say that Villeneuve made hard work of winning his title in 1997, well in my opinion they are quite wrong. Villeneuve out qualified Frentzen, his Williams teammate who was second, in Australia 1997 by 1.8 sec only to be taken out at the first corner. In Monaco, Williams put both their cars on slicks on a wet track! Unsurprisingly, neither car finished. In Suzuka, were Jacques was again on pole, we knew before the race that the world championship was not going to be settled because Jacques Villeneuve - even if he won - was not going to be declared World Champion due to the fact that he was racing under appeal for ignoring a yellow flag during qualifying. At the end of the GP, Villeneuve led Michael Schumacher by 1 point, as he had earned 2 in that race. However, the FIA Court of Appeal rejected Villeneuve’s appeal and he lost his two points.

Jacques retired from the following GPs in total: Australian GP, San Marino GP, Monaco GP, Canadian GP & German GP.

Oh, and he won 7 races that year too...

[nojvnof1 0]

JV made a meal of it apparently because he tried Head's setups in the middle of the season and they didn't work. When Jacques reverted to his, he was winning, so it's not all JV's fault. As Alistair said, he was punted off in Australia, had gearbox problems whilst leading in Imola, I think the Monaco debacle is a bit of both ways as JV could have gone to slicks, so thats 50-50, whilst Canada and Germany were his fault, he made the errors. So I think he lost a potential 20 points in Melbourne and Imola through no fault of his own, and lost about 10 in Canada and 2 or 3 in Germany through his own fault. JV has rarely done very well in Monaco so I doubt he would have scored. At the end of the day, Jacques won, and Michael didn't, without the M$' admission of the incident at Jerez, the fact he stood on the fence and looked to see if JV would return (checking to see if his dirty tactic worked) proved his guilt, and gave me one of the best laughs i've had in F1.

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Ok, fine and don't forget, I said it LOOKED LIKE FROM MY OWN OPINION. dam, u drive everything out of proportion. n e way, he lost too much ground in the beginning of 98 to get a good charge on the title later on, as well as spa.

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McLaren dominance in 1998 is largely a myth created by the Ferrari faithful. Whilst it was clear to see that McLaren dominated the first two races in Australia and Brazil, Michael Schumacher won the third round at Argentina, after Ferrari successfully managed to ban McLaren’s revolutionary new braking system (like it managed to ban Michelin tyres in 2003)...Schumacher then went on to win in Canada, France, Britain, Hungary and Italy. Spa was an important race, and the incident was clearly Schumacher’s fault – DC was slowing down off the racing line and Schumacher was travelling excessively fast in the slippery conditions and hit DC, his reaction afterwards was also excessive.

Spa 1998:

[hollywood2003 0]

I think everyone is being a little short sighted with JB, sure he has started very strongly this yr, but it is only the fourth race!!!

He has been around for 5 yrs and done nothing before this. He was in a williams and a bennetton (both great cars at the time) and was pretty pathetic.

Why is he hitting his straps so late??

Compare him to webber who has had one yr in a tank and last yr in an ill handling jag and he has an average of more pioints per GP than the favourite at present.

I hope Jense does stick it up MS, but isnt it a bit early to be predicting his heir to the throne??

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Is that a hint of Australian bias I sense…?

[AutoRacer5 0]

wrong incident

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wrong incident

If you mean the photo is not of the DC/Michael Schumacher incident, I know, its just there for decoration.

[AutoRacer5 0]

I see said the blind man... 8)

[amjay 0]

I think everyone is being a little short sighted with JB, sure he has started very strongly this yr, but it is only the fourth race!!!

He has been around for 5 yrs and done nothing before this. He was in a williams and a bennetton (both great cars at the time) and was pretty pathetic.

Why is he hitting his straps so late??

Compare him to webber who has had one yr in a tank and last yr in an ill handling jag and he has an average of more pioints per GP than the favourite at present.

I hope Jense does stick it up MS, but isnt it a bit early to be predicting his heir to the throne??

i think i might agree with u tht its only been 4 races and thts too soon t predict how jenson is gonna fare for the rest of the season and throughout his career but i think jenson first opened ppl's eyes on him when he joined williams and i think he did rather well at williams but had to leave i think coz JPM came about... benetton probably yeah he was a bit pathetic but tht was just his second season and in a different car and all... at bar at first he wasn tht impressive at the beginning and now he's just superb.... but on he being the heir to the throne i dun think so ...i think kimi or alonso is better of than him...