Barcelona Run-up

[GaySchumi 0]

Anybody seen Michelin's strange tyres ? lOOk at the grooves on the one that's the second set from the bottom

http://www.f1racing.net/photo_large.php3?ID=14814

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yea, those are a real weird construction that we're seen first at Brazil, amazing stuff

The runup is looking real interesting indeed, I was about to start a new topic when I noticed this one. Looks like we'll be saying goodbye to Antonio Pizzonia and welcome back Alex Wurz!!!!

Won't mind seeing Pizza Boy go, finally get to see Wurz back on the racing scene and the Jaguar isn't a half bad car! Webber certainly has proved it, and Wurz is fast, which has been proved time and again at Mclaren... Can't wait for Austria!

[Thor 0]

Now lets see if he can beat Webber. if he can't he is toast,and not in F1 2004

[nichosnz 0]

But is Wurz really a racer or just a test driver. Apart from his 3 races filling in for Berger, he was at best dissappointing. He deserved to be dropped when he was, lucky in fact not to be dropped earlier. On the other hand I have often said testing is one of the best forms of F1 training, so maybe he has improved greatly. For now I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he has improved.

[Thor 0]

He is good tester,as a McLaren fan I hate to lose him,I

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Pedro de la Rosa can't be too bad considering that Mclaren actually signed him and I've heard good things of him from Martin Whitmarsh. That said, Wurz will be a significant loss and the only thing stopping him from going to Jag will be Ron Dennis. I can smell the tension going on. I have a big part of the new Wrap on this, out shortly..

Wurz wasn't bad as a racer, he really deserves another chance and I'm hoping that it will happen. He had a slump early in 2000, but he improved a lot once he got going!

[GaySchumi 0]

Yes, Poor Wurz wasn't bad, he just happened to get in the way of that supreme "New-dRIVER'S-Worst-Nightmare" - he had Fisi for a team-mate

He acquitted himself quite decently in 98, accounting for almost half the points garnered by Benetton, but the subsequent 2 years were all Fisi. Fisi simply took it to poor Wurz those two years, just like he's subsequently done to any other team-mate

All Said and Done, don't see why Ron would be against letting Wurz go, obviously Wurz wants to go, the last thing I'd want is a disgruntled Test Driver, especially since Pedro seems so eager to take up more duties, there hasn't been a week since Pedro joined the Mac team, that he hasn't publicly stated , at east once, how "Professional" the team is , and how great the car is

[nichosnz 0]

Not just subsequently, for Fisi, be blew away Ralf too, the year before.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, Wurz outperformed Fisi at the end of 2000... Just to semind everyone that while he may going he's not gone!!

[nichosnz 0]

Pizza boy is getting another chance in Spain, some at Jag say he is under the microscope, others also at Jag say his seat is safe. I thought things were surposed to have changed at Jag, they seem as uncommunicative as ever, lol.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Haha yea true I really wonder what the real situation concerning Pizzonia is, but an offer HAS been made to Alexander Wurz and he does have the chance... I hope he takes it, even though his father says he shouldn't

[nichosnz 0]

Gerhard Berger says that he should. But it is up to Jag first, Wurz and McLaren second. He should then worry about others opinions as it will just add confusion, which will mean he will fit right in at Jag.

[daz 0]

Hahaha - yip you are so right there nichosnz. Jag seem to absolutely thrive on confusion. Job security is definitely not something you get when working for Jag apparently. Have to admit that I would like to see how Wurz does in the Jag though (considering his more than respectable times he sets for Mclaren in testing. Would also be interesting to see how Webber would cope with a more capable 2nd driver in the team (i.e. if pushed could he get even more performance out of the Jag?)

[nichosnz 0]

Maybe, most sports persons perform better against better opponents.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It will be interesting with Wurz vs. Webber, tall vs. tall I was actually quite surprised that Wurz, without this deal, would have completed three seasons of testing, usually that is a death knell for careers, but Jaguar have made a good choice, especially when considering the fact that Wurz has a lot of knowledge from Mclaren!

Then again, if they'd waited a bit longer, Wurz would have had a try at the MP4-18, and THEN Jag could have gained even more Actually though, I don't think that then Dennis would have let Wurz go..