RICHARDS WRITES OFF VILLENEUVE

[Senna 0]

from itv-f1.com:

RICHARDS WRITES OFF VILLENEUVE

Last Updated: Tuesday, 28, September, 2004, 15:46

BAR boss David Richards believes Jacques Villeneuve is past it.

Villeneuve made a disappointing comeback at the Chinese Grand Prix, struggling to get up to speed and finishing a distant 11th.

Richards, who worked with Villeneuve for two seasons at BAR, was not surprised.

He said:

[AutoRacer5 0]

Why wouldn't he write off Vileneuve? I mean, give the guy a break. As for his driver choice should Button go to Williams, I would try to give Mika a call.

[nojvnof1 0]

Calling Mika would go against DR's youth policy now wouldn't it. As for his pathetic and childish remarks, he should worry about his own backyard and how his number one driver is so desperate to leave rather than continuing a war of words noone really cares about and one in which the other side (JV) has already said he's past it all and put it behind him.

[kiko01 0]

DR is absolutelly stupid :x He should focus on his own team. I want Renault to get the 2 nd in the championship more than ever.

[canadianjoe 0]

You would think someone runing a multi-million dollar company, could find better things to do with his time.other than whine about someone who is no longer his concern. One race dosn't make a comeback. (remember Niki Lauda)I think with time JV will move the Sauber team up the points table, to a level they have not been before.

[AutoRacer5 0]

Mika has twice the championships and more consistancy.

[Max Mosley 2]

Yeah given the chance of employing Mika or JV at their bests I would go for Mika too: he was amazing at times. However I have more doubts about Mika's readiness and motivation now.

I wouldn't be too harsh on DR either. He didn't treat JV well but then thats F1. JV didn't treat him too well by drawing such a large salary or Button when he wondered whether he'd "respect" him. (not that any of that is any excuse for DR's behaviour though!) Besides BAR aren't doing that badly (cf anyone except Ferrari) in his charge.

[ecapdeville 0]

DR is so shure that BAR will win the 2nd place that speaks freely without think a lot about hes talking...

I wish JV and Renault could shut his mouth at the end of the season, but, what the hell, this things put interest in a season that was bury, bury, bury.

greetings from mexico city

[DazR 0]

Dave Richards is entitled to his opinion. But he is going to criticize him JV next year is driving for Sauber not BAR, the other option for him is Mika who was just la very lucky driver. In 98 he only won the title because he had the fastest car (in the first race it was 1.5 seconds faster than the nearest except DC) He was unable to make that count though by not getting away from Schumacher in the points the season went to the last race. If DC had not knocked Schumacher of the track when he was being lapped by him at Spa, then Schumacher would have won the title.

In 99 Schumacher would have easily won the title again had he not had his crash at Silverstone. even after that Eddie Irvine took it to Mika and it went to the last race, and think EI was as many people say the Number 2 driver he could not race from the beginning of the season until MS went out. Also I have read posts by people who support Mika saying EI was a rubbish driver. Well Mika must have been worse, because EI had he been racing from the beginning of the year would have beaten Mika

[rodders47 2]

well to sum it all up..

I would Hate to be a "Share Holder" in a company with D R as CEO he appears that he has NO IDEA of staff management or for that matter the management of his Brain to his Mouth !!!

[nojvnof1 0]

Mika has twice the championships and more consistancy.

true true, but everyone says JV made a mess of his championship, which he did at times, yet noone mentions Mika in '99. With M$ out and in the best car he didn't win it until the last race and made too many stupid mistakes, challenged by Irvine, now that was a mess of a title, he should have won that one with 3 races left. Where was Mika before '98 anyways??? It's not like he was doing anything before that, and he was also gifted his first two wins, so he's not all that!! Also, JV had the best car in 97, but so did Mika, and he didn't win it until the last race of the season either.

[AutoRacer5 0]

One of the main reasons Mika won in 98 was the tire situation, don't forget.

[C.A.L. 0]

Richards "Writes Off Villeneuve" ? ...this guy probably "Writes BAD Bonus Cheques" Too ! :shock:

[AutoRacer5 0]

Besides, Richards Writes off Villeneuve is probably the most predictable news headline other than "Tornado strikes Cemetary. Hundreds Dead"

[YHR 0]

That DR is just a class guy. JV comes back to F1 with no hard feelings and DR just keeps twisting the knife.

I never understood this guy, when he came in and blamed everything on JV. What would be his motivation for saying something so unkind after JV has been so honorable. JV has had all the attention the last two weeks, and he never said one bad thing about DR or BAR. The press finally get around to asking this manager a question and all he come come up with is this. Unbelievable.

Nothing like motivating the competition.

Good luck DR, you may be a good team manager, but as a human being you don't rate very high in my books. As an advertiser I wouldn't want any of my products associated with a person like you

[Shadow 0]

Poor fellow, is afraid that Villeneuve will proably spoil BAR's party, given some time. Probably he thinks he can unsettle JV by comments like this. But this is a mellowed JV we are talking about.

[YHR 0]

It is rather pitiful. He had a chance to just leave it along, but just couldn't do it. The more he opens his mouth the more of his true measure is revealed. No wonder Button wants out. Button fans should stand behind their man. There is a real reason he wants out of BAR, and I think it is becoming very clear why.

It will be intersting in the next year who else pulls the pin at BAR. Willis maybe? Pollock and Willis over at a Red Bull Jag with an American angle along with Cosworth.

[nojvnof1 0]

It says alot for JV now, that he hasn't retaliated and entered into a war of words, which he would have done 12 months earlier. JV will either prove DR right or wrong in the next 2 years and a bit through his driving.