Mark Weber's Team Mate

[rodders47 2]

Ok who do you think will occupy the second seat at Williams.

My HOPE is D.C

But I feel Maybe Heindfeld will get the seat

[Sato 0]

I hope its hiedfeld. DC isn't that great, and is getting on, i think hiedfeld would be better to go with.

[Shadow 0]

DC, i hope. He deserves at least one more chance

[Shadow 0]

Hey, Mika is out of the picture at Williams

From Planet-F1

DTM deal ends Mika/ Williams rumours

Saturday November 06 2004

Stories about Mika Hakkinen driving for Williams next year have proven to be nothing but fairytales as the Finn has signed to race in Germany's DTM touring car Championship.

The former McLaren driver, who won the F1 World title in 1998 and 1999, has been out of motorsport since retiring from Formula One at the end of the 2001 season.

Hakkinen, though, recently showed interest in returning to racing and was given a trail in Mercedes' DTM car. A successful test, during which he proved he still has the knack, earned him a race seat for next season.

Hakkinen, who took part in a one-off DTM drive with Mercedes in 2001, said: "After the end of my Formula One career in 2001 I soon realised that I'm not ready to retire for good."

"It was just the right moment that Mercedes offered me to test a DTM car. I saw immediately that I still enjoy racing very much and during the test three weeks ago, my lap times were at the same level as those of the touring car specialists."

"I know of course that I first have to get used to a DTM car to be able to fight with the front-runners."

"I look forward to an interesting season with exciting battles - against my former Formula One colleagues as well as the young DTM drivers - and to see again my fans."

Hakkinen joins former F1 drivers such as Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jean Alesi, Bernd Schneider and Emanuele Pirro in the DTM, which has emerged as Europe's premier touring car Championship.

The announcement ends any lingering thoughts of a Formula One return for Hakkinen. The 36-year-old had been linked with a move to Williams for 2005.

[AutoRacer5 0]

Pumpdoc will remember that the US F1 commentators were led to believe that Heidfeld would get the seat, but i hope DC could get it, if not him, then Wurz, even buying him from McLaren.

[nichosnz 0]

I hope DC also.

[nojvnof1 0]

According to pitpass.com, there's gonna be a 4 way shootout at the start of the November tests between DC, Pizzonia, Davidson and probably Heidfeld. Lucky JV wasn't in this, he'd cream them In all honestly, I hope Pizzonia gets the drive, just to p**s Mark "I love Schumi" Webber off. He's come out nagging about not wanting him, but what the heck has he done to decide who his teammate is?? OK M$ does this, but he ain't no Schumacher!!

[Sato 0]

Was MArk nagging about not wanting the pizza boy? if so good work for mark he is doing the opposite of a MS, MS would love a guy like him kos he is easy to show up and make urself look good.

I hope davidson or Heidfeld get it.

[rodders47 2]

to my way of thinking D.C. would bring enormous stability to the team. A VERY well Trained and very good driver coupled with a new chum with his head screwed on that yearns to LEARN, and to me that could be helped along by DC as M.W's sort of MENTOR

Both appear to have very easy and stable temperaments and both eager to WIN !!

What more could a team owner want ???

[Shadow 0]

Stable temperaments...., I think you got that right. But there again the 'shoot-out' or so it is called is more like giving the drivers a chance to prove themselves. I sure hope it is a different version from what DR was trampling about last year.

[Chris Strange 0]

Come on! Let's get rid of DC, he was beaten 9 years in a row by his team mate, that says it all. Same goes for Heidfeld, he hasn't proved anything in 5 years . I hope Pizzonia gets the drive and give a good kick in the a## of Mark"Bigmouth" Webber. If not Pizzonia then I'll rather go with Davidson.

[Senna 0]

Davidson would be an interesting prospect, and has shown great potential, but he is a slight risk as he is inexperienced. DC is probably a slower driver but a very experienced one who would be better at setting up the car, a good benchmark for Webber and he is also a risk-free option. Pizza Boy did fairly well this year but I don

[KoolMonkey 0]

After initally wanting DC to get the seat, I'm in favor of Davidson actually. DC is stupid. He knew he was going to be let go over a year ago and yet he still wasn't able to find a seat. To me that means he's either arrogant and would not lower himself to drive for a lesser team or he was in denial the entire time. He had plenty of time to find a replacement seat. JV had no time when BAR let him go to find a replacement. So I say go Davidson. And DC, maybe a year sitting on your a## might make you appreciate more what you had.

[rodders47 2]

good comments guys and yep DC has been somewhat "overtaken"by his other team mates, and well I guess if I had D.C's sort of money invested in hotels etc etc , why would I drive for a lesser team ?

I just feel David would not only be good for the team but also Mark, but hey Davidson would be a "new shot of Blood " to any team

Strange that Williams anounced a 4 driver shoot out for the seat but only mentioned 3 drivers names? who is the 4 th driver ?

[ecapdeville 0]

good comments guys and yep DC has been somewhat "overtaken"by his other team mates, and well I guess if I had D.C's sort of money invested in hotels  etc etc , why would I drive for a lesser team ? 

I just feel David would not only be good for the team but also Mark, but hey Davidson would be a "new shot of Blood " to any team

Strange that Williams anounced a 4 driver shoot out for the seat but only mentioned 3 drivers names?  who is the 4 th driver ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Could be Bourdais isnt it?

[KoolMonkey 0]

No not Bourdais. I has to be DC. I think DC will be there as a litmus test for the other guys. If he really did have a chance, Frank would have signed him already.

[Senna 0]

Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that Bourdais would be interested in the Williams drive,

[rodders47 2]

Geez come on guys, anyone, even I at 57 would love a chance at a Williams test drive F.....................k All chance of that though heheheheheheh

Now D.C. is offering his services FREE, like pay me if I score points ??? Sorry David I do not think that is the "way to go", you are much better then that !!!

[nojvnof1 0]

I'd prefer Bourdais to get the drive over any of the 4 contenders mentioned as the guy is talented and could follow in the footsteps of JV and JPM. I hear he had a contract signed with Arrows for '03 before they went bust, same as DC and AD had (according to popular belief) with Jag before they went bust. The fact DC is saying he wants to be paid for points shows how badly he wants to stay in F1, same as JV was doing before he did the deal with Sauber, but Sauber is paying him a base salary, about 5 mill a year or so I hear, but Im sure if Williams hire DC, he'll get a small base salary and bonuses. To be fair to DC, it must be said, of all the current drivers on the grid, he's had the most battles with M$ and come out on top in most of them.

[KoolMonkey 0]

DC is a loser. I used to like him, but his pathetic attempts and him saying he doesn't self promote are a joke. But if Red Bull do buy JAG, then I hope you get a seat there. We've seen the best there is of DC. The fact that Williams won't even sign him for free says volumes. He is talented but he's not a top tier driver. Average, mediocre and would you please shut the motherf'ing up you self promoting whiner.

[Shadow 0]

You can't judge DC by what you saw this year. That Mclaren got off the ground in only the last couple of races and DC was already half way out of the team then.

[rodders47 2]

well if nothing else Sir Frank is sure keeping us all guessing :-)

I doubt DC will get the seat. All I hope is that Mark Webber gets a VERY competitive Team Mate that will MAKE him try just that bit harder. MW is a champ waiting for the time , in my opinion

[nojvnof1 0]

Going by what Sir Frank has said in a recent interview, the drive is Pizzonia's to lose. He's the hot favourite as they prefer someone who knows the car and with experience. Instead of a shootout, I say make them race over a GP distance, the winner getting the drive!!

[Shadow 0]

I don't agree with that. It is extremely difficult to switch from a car you are used to in say a single race. Every car in that grid is vastly different in its drivabiity. I doubt even a whole day's worth of testing will be a true measure of their talents.