Jv Testing Cut Short

[bajo39 0]

Villeneuve explains change of test schedule

Racing series F1

Date 2005-04-07

By Nikki Reynolds - Motorsport.com

Jacques Villenuve was scheduled to spend two days testing with Sauber at Barcelona this week but there was a change of plan when his teammate Felipe Massa took over on the second day. In an effort to head off further speculation about his supposedly uncertain position in the team, Villenueve made a statement on his official website to explain why the change was made.

"The Team had initially planned a three-day test this week, with myself driving for the first two days (Wednesday and Thursday), and my team-mate Felipe Massa due to test for one day on Friday. We found out that it has been predicted there will be bad weather and a lot of rain on Friday, so the team has changed the running schedule so that I drove yesterday and Felipe today."

"In this way, we both get time in decent weather in the car. We can then see what happens with the weather on Friday and if it is possible to get any useful testing completed."

"I was due to complete over 120 laps yesterday but I suffered a brake failure, which cut short my running. It was a very unusual problem for an F1 car with the brakes; the pedal went totally loose down to the floor. This is really dangerous and I guess I was lucky.

"Our original test plan was to gather some in-depth data from a plan we worked out with the Team. Once we had this information, we were going to concentrate on getting quicker lap times. It's a shame I can't do this because not only would we have been quicker on the tyres and fuel alone, but the different track conditions today are making lap times a second quicker."

"So, as we have not been able to do the amount of testing we needed to in order to gather the information we wanted since Australia, we are now going to Imola with a lack of car set-up information again."

"Therefore, Felipe's times in relation to mine will, I'm sure, cause people to speculate once again about my performance but I reconfirm my commitment to Sauber and you will also find that both Peter Sauber and Willy Rampf are supporting me."

"These rumours, which are getting out of control, are just unsettling for the team. At this time we are trying our hardest to get back on the pace and improve our performances, which haven't been what we had hoped in the first three races of the season."

I'm afraid JV is not going to improve very quickly with the amount of running he gets to do. Sauber doesn't do a lot of testing to begin with but it seems everytime JV is scheduled there is bad weather or a problem. Given the limited running that drivers can do this season, and the especially limited running JV has done, it's hard to see him getting back onto form anytime soon. I don't think he will have caught Massa at Iomla but hope he's at least close.

[Monty 0]

It is either DC knocking off the race, or the weather playing havoc.

Poor guy he is Jinxed.... Hope he does well in Imola. Does anyone how he did in Imola when he was with BAR/ Williams....

[dippy42 0]

It is either DC knocking off the race, or the weather playing havoc.

Poor guy he is Jinxed.... Hope he does well in Imola. Does anyone how he did in Imola when he was with BAR/ Williams....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dont' get your hopes up if previous records are to go by... He failed to finish in 1996,1997,1999,2001,2003! and came 4th in 1998, 5th in 2000 and 7th in 2002 so he's slowly moving backwards as well.

On the plus side the new Sauber does seem pretty reliable, but then again he does seem to be jinxed at the moment!

It would be a shame to see him leave F1 in this manner, for a former world champion this must be tough. I had great respect for the guy when he went to BAR to try to get the new team running and then to leave in the manner he did in 2003...then the 2004 car he helped to create was quick...nightmare!

[KoolMonkey 0]

Personally I'm sick to death of the BS "reporting" going on concerning JV.

With comments in the so called reporting of JV like "Jacques Villeneuve's relationship with Sauber is obviously getting rather strained..." and titles to articles "Sauber/Villeneuve relationship deteriorating further" etc., the media have it in for this guy bad. Leave him alone and stop p**sing off the people who support him, and are wishing him good will and better fortunes. I'm so sick of this.

[Buttonfan 0]

i hope he does good, but i know that he is not, he will most likely be out of a job soon

[Taku 0]

it's hard to know what to blieve when it comes to jacques villeneuve. remember last year when everyone believed he would be testing a wiliams? the rumour mill with jv works both ways, and personally i find it hard to keep track of what is going on! now formulablog is saying that jv wants assurances he will get track set-up time or he won't make it to imola! deary me..

[nojvnof1 0]

In all honesty, I'm preparing myself for JV to get the axe. Of course I'll be angry, but i'll be happy in that at least all this BS and uncertainty will be over. As for him being part of the rumour mill, it shows how much value he is to F1, the media were constantly making up stuff reporting his return and once he does return they go back to being their JV-bashing selves. The fact JV says the team is behind him doesn't make a difference to me, I've seen to many times where a team has stood by someone only to fire them later on. I hope this isn't the end, but I've seen it all now, so nothing surprises me.

[Senna 0]

Well at least he

[KoolMonkey 0]

Yeah I got to say after hearing his testing was cut short etc., my worry factor went up a few notches. To put it into perspective, the current Sauber car may be so bad, they felt they had no alternative. So by putting Massa in it, they can get rid of the JV not being up to speed part and get a current view of where their car is at. Everything I've ever heard of Peter Sauber has been that he's a straightforward guy. I hope it stays that way. If they do not take up the option to let JV race for the second year, then at least let him finish this year out. It doesn't look good for that either, but he was making marked improvements, so let's not read too much into this murderlization by the press upon him.

Now to hear it from JV he said weather was a reason why Massa was brought in. And guess what, it rained lol. His frustration and possible anger at again not getting time in the car is justified I think. But were anyone claiming BAR and Honda were going to sack Button after his atrocious outburst in Sepang? Surely that was the most unprofessional one can get towards their team. Not a soul in the press called for his sacking and saying he had problems with the team.

So for JV the testing wasn't great. A brake problem cut his day in half and then instead of 2 days he got just 1/2 of a day. Bummer. But JV is a fighter. My only hope at this point is that Sauber are not swayed by the bogus "reporting" that is going on concerning JV. They had faith in him enough to hire him. Time to stick to that and back him up.

[chromogrinch 0]

...  My only hope at this point is that Sauber are not swayed by the bogus "reporting" that is going on concerning JV.  They had faith in him enough to hire him.  Time to stick to that and back him up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They are much more in the "know" than we are. I don't think they spend all of their time searching F1 blogs to know who said what. It is a big business and if jv doesn't work for them well ...

I feel for jv but s**t happenz... a lot.

[C.A.L. 0]

Well at least he

[Senna 0]

I Do believe that Sauber is a professional racing team and I believe they want to excel but I have to say JV has had limited testing time and this is not going to help him silence his critics

[Max Mosley 2]

Sauber are draggin their feet and tied up themselves from performing any better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Perhaps you are right about their mistakes but they are standing by your man while many are not so they deserve credit for that. As to whether they should focus on giving JV extra time or Massa there are arguments both ways and I think they could justify either choice (eg if JV isn't upto speed perhaps they get more out of their limited testing by letting Massa test new things and after all the main problem is with the car not JV). Also I didn't know that JV/Massa were running different tires in Bahrain - I can't help wondering whether that contributed to the relative improvement we saw from JV (I know he will have improved as well though)? RB chose the softer Bridgestones in Malaysia I believe and he didn't suffer either until he picked up that debris so maybe both tire companies have over-reacted to the new regulations and made very hard compounds?

[Buttonfan 0]

they are doing better than bar and they have more points

[C.A.L. 0]

Perhaps you are right about their mistakes but they are standing by your man while many are not so they deserve credit for that.  As to whether they should focus on giving JV extra time or Massa there are arguments both ways and I think they could justify either choice (eg if JV isn't upto speed perhaps they get more out of their limited testing by letting Massa test new things and after all the main problem is with the car not JV).  Also I didn't know that JV/Massa were running different tires in Bahrain - I can't help wondering whether that contributed to the relative improvement we saw from JV (I know he will have improved as well though)?  RB chose the softer Bridgestones in Malaysia I believe and he didn't suffer either until he picked up that debris so maybe both tire companies have over-reacted to the new regulations and made very hard compounds?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes ,Sauber has limited funding presently and there for a lot less testing ...no third driver (test driver) ....sort of leaving J.V. as the last of things to get around to.

I really would like to see them test more now for both drivers.

Tires ...yes this was reported at Grandprix site , it still surprises me still, also Massa himself gave an after race report with info relating to that also stating he claimed it cost him some lap time ....I wonder about that..

This Imola race Sauber looks less likely to give a good result (I would like to be surprised) ...but hey look at BARF1 in testing ! ...700+ laps of some fast lap times ...this I call effort to resolve a issue, wow !

[Buttonfan 0]

This looks like bar's race to do good and sauber's race to do bad

YEAH BABY, 300 posts

[bajo39 0]

This looks like bar's race to do good and sauber's race to do bad

YEAH BABY, 300 posts

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sigh.

[KoolMonkey 0]

Ah crap. You guys see the news stories going around about how Sauber himself has said the relationship with JV is "strained"? BAR did an incredible amount of testing over the past few days. Sauber did very little. Why they didn't hammer out the laps is beyond me but sadly I think no matter what JV does now, he's a marked man. Switching drivers may have the only benefit of relieving tension at Sauber. They aren't going to get a driver who is faster than Massa just yet as he's super comfortable in the car. What's odd is that Sauber are also saying they are not where they want to be with regards to the performance of the car. Now which is it? JV or the car? Clearly their car is not good right now. JV is not comfortable and his bad luck of getting no testing I'm sure got him irrate. Hopefully it will be ok. Man I'm hoping so big time.

[Monty 0]

YEAH BABY, 300 posts

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

cool

[nojvnof1 0]

when JV was out of F1 last year, the media were hyping up and overhyping his return. I'll bet they were missing their favourite scapegoat, so they pushed for his return, just so they can throw more rubbish on him when he returns, and resume business as normal. Sorry, but I'm feeling very very cynical and bitter today, just like the past 6 years......

[ksajoe 0]

My heart bleeds for JV but it's really begining to look hopeless! Some of us are really hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the evidence on the ground is damning! It is looking increasingly unlikely that JV will finish the season at Sauber - things could still turn around, but it's Sauber that need to get him grip (not JV to find it!) and they seem not to be getting anything much out of their windtunnel.

[nojvnof1 0]

JV's got Imola at least. If his performance is bad there, he's out, that's the way I see it.