Eddie and Pedro OUT!!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Latest report is that Eddie Irvine AND PDLR have been dropped from Jaguar's lineup for next year and that they will be replaced by Mark Webber and Williams test driver Antonio Pizzonia! I could have imagined them dropping one or the other, but both? Wow, a shocker to me!

Great news for Webber though, as Jaguar has shown some promise lately and maybe will even be half competitive next year, especially with the new rules. And Pizzonia, to come into F1 with such a big team that isnt at the top must be the best thing that ever happened to him!

[ozrevhead 0]

as you pobaly aware - im sooooooooo rapt that mark will be given a chance in Jag. he deserves it IMHO - it had taken him so long to get to F1 & now hes got a chance to show the rest of the F1 world what he is capable of

GO MARK WEBBER

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I agree, I certainly hope that Mark can do great in his F1 career, god knows we need to hear some Aussie accent in the press conferences!!

[nichosnz 0]

Both, that is a suprise to me too. I thought (hoped is probably more accurate) Webber would go to Jag, but I thought he would be opposite Irv. Does that mean a hook up between the two Eddies, although EJ sounds in his press statements more and more likely to keep Sato, but who knows?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It's so weird, because Irvine said this doesnt affect his career plans at all, and he has also said he will be in F1 next year. All I can think of is Jordan, and maybe Minardi? I couldnt imagine him at Toyota, as they already have their experienced man with Panis.

[nichosnz 0]

Oh that is interesting.

[Sato 0]

Yes yes yes

i am so happy just saw the news on the site and it is almost midnight, but damn i am so happy , sorry if that was annonying. but i must say i was hoping mark would get a ride with a higher team this year, and eddie is getting on abit (no offence to him), he is still a good driver and i hope he goes to a team still as he said.

[daz 0]

I'm surpised thay they've dropped both of them. I'm glad the Mark got the drive but I figured they would probably have kept Irvine for his experience. Having to inexperienced drivers in the team is a big risk to take in my opinion. Especially with Jaguars track record so far & taking into account that its Eddie that seemed to be steering them on the right course of late. It will now be interesting to see where he ends up (If anywhere?). My bet is on him driving for Jordan next year . Pizzonia has impressed with his testing for Williams so I'm also interested to see how he performs next year.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think, if this doesnt affect Eddie's career plans, and he says he will be in F1, then it has to be Jordan. He said he was very pleased to be making the move, and that was all the way back at Monza. So he has known for quite a while. Things apparently hadnt been going well between Pedro and Jaguar, but I dont think he will find a ride for next year unless Arrows make magic happen and reappear on the grid for 2003.

[nichosnz 0]

I must agree PdlR will probably be out of a race seat for 2003. Think about what Irv said that it doesn't affect his career plans at all, and he has also said he will be in F1 next year. In F1, he didn't say racing in F1, and he stated several times this year that he would be happy to be a test driver next year!

[Rohan 0]

ahahahhahahahahhahaaaaa i laugh at Irvine's face!!!!! ahahahhahahaha I fell bad for PDLR..... but Irvine deserved it.......... at the begining of the year.......he was naming JPM for raash driving so i am really happy if Irvine get fired........ and hope he doest get a drive anytime soon....

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Good point nichosnz, he hasn't exactly said that he will be racing 2003... Only time will tell, eh?

Rohan, but was Montoya not driving quite rashly at the start of the season?

[nichosnz 0]

Montoya was quite bad at the start of the season, so Irv was just pointing it out! Maybe to try and distract from how bad Jag were doing?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

The R3 was a horrid car at the start of the season, they were scrapping with the Minardi's for grid position, compared to Spa and Monza performances...

[Sato 0]

i liked irvine...he was the only one who wuld say he was happy to see schumi have sumfin bad happen to his chances etc.....and he also the only one who admitted he hated schumi. he is kinda like a hero for me

[nichosnz 0]

A common enemy....

[Rohan 0]

yea i guess...Irvine was too ahamed to talk about the R3 and his perfomance....on track so he started blaming other drivers....i am so glad he got the BOOT!!

[daz 0]

Yip - Eddie has always called a spade a spade!! One of the reasons I actually like him is cause of his blatant honesty (and sometimes outrageous comments). To me he has always added a bit of colour to the sport and thats why I hope to see him in the Jordan next year.. And being fair to him - Montoya did totally suck at the beginning of the year.

[nichosnz 0]

He got Coulthard going quite a few times too, which sometimes became quite interesting.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It got very interesting with Coulthard, also with Barrichello after Imola Irvine at Jordan would be interesting, the party boss with the party driver

[rodders47 2]

I maybe wrong but I doubt Eddie J will hire Eddie I.. Irvine HAS been a good driver but I feel he is more into the PLAYBOY stage of his career then really devoted to motor racing..

As for Mark Weber, he deserves it, even though a new comer to F1 he has a wise head on his shoulders sort of an understudy Shumi in my opinion and is capable of nursing home a sick car and we all know that to finish FIRST , first you have to finish.. I think Mark will ADD to Jaguar, cant say much about his partner as I know very little of him.

Go Mark

[ozrevhead 0]

As for Mark Weber, he deserves it, even though a new comer to F1 he has a wise head on his shoulders sort of an understudy Shumi in my opinion and is capable of nursing home a sick car and we all know that to finish FIRST , first you have to finish.. I think Mark will ADD to Jaguar, cant say much about his partner as I know very little of him.

Go Mark

dunno about the 'understudy shumi' tag but here's hoping

& you are right about Webber having a wise head - he said its gonna be tough and he is aiming for consitancy first then the victories will come

[nichosnz 0]

I can't see that Webber will be anything but good for Jaguar.

Rod I second your comment about the unknown Pizz, I do know however that he testest for Williams and was held in high regard, although I also know he raced in F3000 this year and sucked.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Pizzonia was often fastest in testing for Williams, but was a sad amount off the pace in F3000. But based on F1 tests he is a good choice, he can be bloody fast at least in testing. But only the racing will tell.

[nichosnz 0]

Only the racing will tell. Very true Jens, that is ALL that counts really, not other series or testing, it is the racing.