Game Over For Jv?

[Chris Strange 0]

Game over, again, for JV - 01 November 2005

For the second time in three years, 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve could be about to find himself without an F1 home.

Although the French Canadian last year signed a 2005 and 2006 contract to drive for Sauber, the Swiss team has been bought and taken over by BMW.

While that does not affect the status of Peter Sauber's legal agreement, the Munich based carmaker did not choose the 34-year-old, and therefore might not want him at Hinwil.

To sidestep its contractual obligation, then, BMW could simply pay Jacques his modest $3m retainer to do little more than gardening next year.

It is believed that Alex Wurz (McLaren tester) and Heikki Kovalainen (Renault RDD driver) are further up BMW's wish list to be Nick Heidfeld's BMW teammate in 2006.

Villeneuve told 'f1total.com' that there has been no dialogue between himself and likely 2006 BMW principal Mario Theissen. 'I find that surprising,' he told the German language internet website.

Jacques added: 'I always adhere to my contracts, so I would be surprised if (BMW) did not see it the same way.'

Villeneuve added that he had not been advised when he might be required for pre-2006 winter testing, which is set to kick off in late November.

Sorry for JV fans but personally I hope Wurz gets the drive. Don't know if homeofsport.com is a reliable source though.

[Sato 0]

Im hoping JV gets to keep his drive for 06. Infact i'd love to see that Reno 'rumour' come true, even though its one of the most unlikely things ever.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

itv-f1.com seems to think JV & Heidfeld are drivers, with Wheldon as tester. Putting wurz in as driver is absolutely stupid. He was crap at benetton 1998-2000; so he's probably even worse now

[funkejay 0]

Sorry for JV fans but personally I hope Wurz gets the drive. Don't know if homeofsport.com is a reliable source though.

This isn't news, and the story does not say what the headline suggests. JV has said all along that he hasn't spoken to Theissen, so this adds nothing to the status quo. Not that it is particularly promising, but it doesn't confirm anything either..........

[MannTecV10 0]

Mercades test driver signing as BMW race driver? nah If Wurz was going anywhere, it would be for one of the Red Bull squads, and those are both full.

[KimizChamp 0]

JV's had a tough time recently. But he's a great driver, would be sad not to see him part of F1.

[Senna 0]

JV's had a tough time recently. But he's a great driver, would be sad not to see him part of F1.

He was never great. He was good. Now he is bad.

[KimizChamp 0]

Not entirely his fault though

[Senna 0]

Not entirely his fault though

True but his career is far less spectacular than many claim it is.

[Chris Strange 0]

He was never great. He was good. Now he is bad.

Yeah I wonder why he bothered to come back????? I'm repeating myself but the fact is JV is still not confirmed at BMW. Maybe someone can explain me why??

[pumpdoc 2]

True but his career is far less spectacular than many claim it is.

True one or two years of achievement and the rest as fair to midling at best is not much.

[KimizChamp 0]

not a Senna

not a Hakkinen

not a Prost

but a World Champ nonetheless

[pumpdoc 2]

not a Senna

not a Hakkinen

not a Prost

but a World Champ nonetheless

True but he hasn't done squat since.

[Max Mosley 2]

True but his career is far less spectacular than many claim it is.

Indeed Senna. If he says around next year I suspect his record will just get worse.

[Senna 0]

Indeed Senna. If he says around next year I suspect his record will just get worse.

Indeed. His record again Hill, Panis, Jenson, Fernando and Massa is not exactly impressive. He was also effectively sacked in 2003 and might well suffer the same fate in 2005.

True but he hasn't done squat since.

He seems to be getting progressively worse!

[nojvnof1 0]

True but his career is far less spectacular than many claim it is.

or it could be that some wish to play down some of those achivements.

not a Hakkinen

where was Hakkinen before he got far superior machinery in '98 and '99? DC even beat him in '97 and he had his first two wins gifted to him, the first by JV! Hakkinen was good, but he wasn't anything special.

Yeah I wonder why he bothered to come back?????

he's a racer, he missed racing.

True one or two years of achievement and the rest as fair to midling at best is not much.

Four years of achivement. Two in the States (not that alot of ppl here will give him his due credit for that though) and two big years in F1. He had his best year in 2000, in a BAR. He'd have won the title in the McLaren or Ferrari, that's how good I think he drove that year. He was even voted driver of the year in Italy that year. Besides, it's not like his teammates in his dire years did THAT much better than him, it's not as if he were in competitive machinery.

Fact of the matter is that he only had two years in competitive machinery and got the job done, something which irks many to this day seeing as he came over from the States (which is looked down upon by many members of the F1 fraternity, no matter how much crap they say that they support US Racing) was given a plum ride in a top team and showed them all up, taking pole in his first race and not being the flop that Andretti was. He was given the best car, JV did the job with it, just like Hill the previous year, Mika in '98 and Michael from 2000-'02 and '04.

His record again Hill, Panis, Jenson, Fernando and Massa is not exactly impressive.

JV got BAR's first two podiums, Panis was lucky to get points. You make it sound as if Panis were always up there fighting for points and podiums and JV nothing. They were close in '02, but the car was an utter dog. JV ouqualified Panis and got more points. In their best race (Silverstone), JV finished P4 and Panis P5. JV did a better job.

It took Hill until the last race to win the title, Button was significantly helped in the margin he beat Jacques through JV's unreliability, Alonso beat Jacques through JV only having two testing days in the car and being out for 10 months; but by Interlagos JV was matching Alonso's times and even beat Alonso's best Silverstone time in testing. As for Massa, he just got beat, plain and simple.

[demonhorse 0]

not a Senna

not a Hakkinen

not a Prost

not a Schumacher

but a World Champ nonetheless

which is more than can be said for most drivers, including the overrated finn.

[Shadow 0]

you just managed to hit the nail on the head nojvnof1

And i would like to add the two podiums in 1998 with that williams and some of drives in 1999 splendid.That he'didnt get any points in 1999 is a real shame

[YHR 0]

Some guys just can't help but want to kick JV's a## out of F1. Not sure why. He certianly isn't the worst driver in F1, and he is a colorful world champion.

Again us JV fans have to suffer through some more bias bit of journalism that is slanted by the author to suggest and imply something that the words don't say.

All the JV bashers then hold it up as the holy grail of truth and kick the crap out of JV's past achievments.

I'm sure JV would sooner be the weakest world Champion then not one at all. Just to think he was the most succesful rookie in F1 history capturing pole in his first race. Went on to finish second in the points in his rookie year, and then won the world championship in his second year in the sport. He and his manager then went on to put all their energy to develop a new F1 team around them that is the Honda works team today. Not a bad accomplishment for such a w#nker

He has accomplished a lot more then most drivers in F1. For those that seem to find joy in diminishing his accomplishments, I say why bother. Haven't you got something better to do with your time.

The facts are the facts and his accomplishments are recorded in history where as petty comments are lost in nothingness.

[Senna 0]

where was Hakkinen before he got far superior machinery in '98 and '99? DC even beat him in '97 and he had his first two wins gifted to him, the first by JV! Hakkinen was good, but he wasn't anything special.

Hakkinen partnered Ayrton Senna at McLaren for three races in 1993 and actually outqualified the Brazilian ace at Portugal, although only by 0.048 sec! At Japan he was only half a tenth behind Senna in qualifying and at Australia he was 0.8 sec behind Senna in qualifying. He was of course comprehensively beaten in all three races, but Mika, who would of course go on to record 26 pole positions in his career, showed how quick he was. Mika is an excellent driver.

[Max Mosley 2]

Quite so Senna. He was a worthy WDC.

[Senna 0]

Quite so Senna. He was a worthy WDC.

Oh absolutely! He was far better than Damon Hill, who of course proved much quicker than Jacques Villeneuve

[Max Mosley 2]

Quite true Senna. Although we must remember we only saw Hill when he was almost over the (surely?) eponymous geographical feature...

[Senna 0]

Quite true Senna. Although we must remember we only saw Hill when he was almost over the (surely?) eponymous geographical feature...

Very true. In 2005, Michael Schumacher is the same age (36) as Damon Hill when the Brit won the title in 1996! Imagine how good Damon would have been if he had started earlier. He was already approaching his mid 30s when he entered F1 and left on the verge of 40! Clearly he was not at his physical or mental prime yet he was still capable of beating all his team-mates except the great Alain Prost and HHF, when Damon was well and truly past his sell-by date.

[kup 0]

not a Senna

not a Hakkinen

not a Prost

but a World Champ nonetheless

Heh, DC has 13 wins, JV has 11, RB has 9.

Imho, DC and RB are both better drivers than JV anyway.

(if we also see how many points they have)

And Moss with 16 wins is better driver than all three, no matter he is not WC.

Nigel Mansell, for examlpe is the another end of 1-time Champions:

NM has 31 wins, but this is more than any 3-time WC, but Senna.

JV is noway better (as a driver) than DC, RB, JPM, KR, FA, etc =)

just his (JV`s) achievements are very good in 96-97, but it was mostly Williams not JV ...