Why Williams Let Jpm And Ralf Go

[Monty 0]

Patrick Head has revealed that Williams simply could not afford to keep Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher in 2005.

Williams go into the new season with a driver line-up of Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld after Montoya and Schumacher jumped ship to McLaren and Toyota respectively.

Director of engineering Head said: "In truth, we could not continue to afford Ralf and Juan. That's just as plain as it is.

"We entered a new deal with BMW, which starts this year. It was a very, very much less beneficial deal financially and it put us in a position where we could not afford those two drivers."

A BMW spokesman confirmed that Williams do get less money under their new agreement, but added that there were performance clauses to top it up.

Head said he was pretty happy with the team

[Monty 0]

A question of "sour grapes" perhaps?

[Senna 0]

If Williams couldn

[Monty 0]

That;s a whole lot of Bull, when Williams say that they don't have the money to pay their drivers. I remember reading somewhere about Williams and Mclaren having similar amount of budget to spend every year.

So in terms them not being able to afford JPM and Ralf, doesn't really make business sense.

[Jenson_Rules 0]

excuses excuses excuses

[ecapdeville 0]

That;s a whole lot of Bull, when Williams say that they don't have the money to pay their drivers. I remember reading somewhere about Williams and Mclaren having similar amount of budget to spend every year.

So in terms them not being able to afford JPM and Ralf, doesn't really make business sense.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Someplace says that BMW is giving less money this season to the team so they are short in budget, but what will happen next year when BMW gives engine to Sauber too?...less money then?

[ksajoe 0]

Someplace says that BMW is giving less money this season to the team so they are short in budget, but what will happen next year when BMW gives engine to Sauber too?...less money then?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sauber will surfer in that relationship as they are the smaller and newer team. They might find their move will cost them whatever strides they have taken all this years!

[5P33D3V1L 0]

Well sounds like that Williams are becoming like Ford in the WRC spend money on the car less on the Drivers.

[xenna 0]

Well sounds like that Williams are becoming like Ford in the WRC spend money on the car less on the Drivers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But Ralf was going for a pay cut until Frank didn't turn up to sign the agreement and that was why he felt that he didn't like being treated like that and he signed for Toyota?

[Jenson_Rules 0]

what a shame! and what a "great" los for williams

[nojvnof1 0]

Williams have never been generous in terms of drivers wages, just ask Nigel and Damon but it amazed not only the F1 fan, but alot of ex Williams drivers that Ralf was being paid so much, although it is thought BMW were paying a fair bit of his wage.

[xenna 0]

Williams have never been generous in terms of drivers wages, just ask Nigel and Damon  but it amazed not only the F1 fan, but alot of ex Williams drivers that Ralf was being paid so much, although it is thought BMW were paying a fair bit of his wage.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

His surname was an attraction for sponsors.It brings in the essential finances needed to run such a huge organisation..Remember that F1 is 1st a business and then a sport

By the way, I admire Ralf's tenacity @the team.

[nojvnof1 0]

Ralf showing tenacity??? When he was on it, mostly when the car was very very easy to drive and he got away to an early lead he was very good, but when he had to battle, he'd show his true colours. His surname is the reason he's been in F1 for as long as he has.