Villeneuve to Jordan?

[juany 0]

Just read an article at GP2003.com that Villeneuve is in line for one of the Jordan seats?

It would seem strange if it is true considering that Jacques himself said he would only consider a seat with a 'top' team and Jordan hasnt been a 'top' team since 1999.

The article also elluded to Pollock making a bid to buy Jordan...

What do you guys think?? :?:

[nichosnz 0]

That would suprise me, but then it would not be the first driver line-up to do so.

That Pollock rumour surfaced the day he was fired from BAR (almost), and Pollock himself has replied on several occasions that buying a team interests him, Jordan is not out of the question, but it would make more sence to but a team he already has some shares in (eg BAR).

[Sato 0]

hope both these romours are 100% false.....villi ain't exactly my favourite driver..and Eddie Jordan is a good guy don't want him to go.

[juany 0]

I dont really wanna see Villy at Jordan either, but without him, F1 is left with only one driver on the grid who has won a world drivers crown. (or should that be 6 crowns :!: )

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

GP2003.com throws out a lot of stuff, and this isn't one of the things to be believed If all people on earth are put into line then sure, we are all in line for the seat. Villeneuve may be 30th in line, while I may be around the 1,000,000,000 mark.

The truth is that the first four in that line are truly in line for the seat: Verstappen, McNish, Heidfeld, and Firman.

I wouldn't even want to see Jacques in a Jordan, whithering away. It is such a shame that things have gone like this for him, just as they are for Colin McRae in the WRC, but I think we haven't seen the last of Jacques. I'm quite sure Frank Williams won't think of his 2005 line-up without taking a serious look at his former World Champion.

[Kirk 0]

But some would argue (perhaps even JV himself) that his presence in F1 this year would help his chances of procurring a good seat for 2005. His BAR days have left a bitter taste, but a 1 year sabbatical may not be in his best interests. Obviously Jordan is not the ideal choice but it at least keeps him in the loop. CP seems to think so but may have trouble convincing a stubborn JV.

[juany 0]

If all people on earth are put into line then sure, we are all in line for the seat. Villeneuve may be 30th in line, while I may be around the 1,000,000,000 mark.

heh, classic. I wonder who the other 25 before villeneuve are then!

[Kirk 0]

If all people on earth are put into line then sure, we are all in line for the seat. Villeneuve may be 30th in line, while I may be around the 1,000,000,000 mark.

heh, classic. I wonder who the other 25 before villeneuve are then!

Disregard. Its just a brainless statement thats not worth even a rebuttal.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hahahah I wouldn't know.

But maybe it would be good to keep in the right circles for Jacques, but he knows as well as most others do that '05 has a lot of possible options even at the top. Should that new test driver rule be forgotten, then Villeneuve would be after a test seat. But right now, I think he has two options:

a.) vye for a seat at Jordan, risking that if he doesn't do some magic in the yellow cars then it could be over.

b.) keep his options open, and try for a test drive of one of the top cars during the season.

I still, in a way, think that he could get a Mclaren test sometime in the future. If you let your imagination run wild, then try and imagine Montoya and Villeneuve at Mclaren in '05! There is a driver line-up! Kimi goes to Ferrari while David lands a Toyota seat :shock: :wink:

[marina 0]

I do not believe that this could be true,Villineauve said that he is only interested in going to a top team, I dont know how he can expect a top team to want him after his disastrous season on 2003. He should retire from F1 and go to another motorsport. They paid him a very big salary so he thought he was the best. Bernie offered him to various teams and Ferrari as well for free and noone wanted him.

[juany 0]

I have to agree. Villeneuve wants a top team. Top teams dont want him.

Unless he is willing to compromise he needs to look to another sport.

[nichosnz 0]

He is kidding himself, a top team? Jordan are the only team left with seats for this year, and as for next year the only avaliable seat in the top four teams (realistically) is with Williams. And they will not take him after 6 bad seasons followed by a year off.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Nonetheless, I'd still like to see him in F1. I definitely hope he finds a test seat somewhere!

[nichosnz 0]

He could take a testing role at Minardi and then join the race team in 2005 partnering DC.

[nojvnof1 0]

Hey all,

If JV is out of F1 in '04 then I find it hard to see him back in '05. Now that news is surfacing that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich could buy the team, Jordan could be a good place for JV. They may have a terrible season in '04 but when the $$$ come in in time for '05 season then it could be the start of something great. EJ could afford the best engines, designers etc and would thus be able to deliver a great car. It would be the perfect chance for JV to show what he could have done with BARf had he not had all the internal bickering, backstabbing and David Richards running the team. It's not commonly known, but it was JV who intitiated the move from Bridgestone to Michelin for BARf and it looks like they will be a force in '04.

Yes, JV has underachieved in his time with BARf, but he has also performed miracles with the team. The whole 2000 season was a miracle, he drove the balls off that car and rightly was in huge demand after that season. He's shown on occasions since then that given the right car and environment he can keep up with the best of them. JV is a proven winner and its not his fault Pollock convinced BAT to pay him what he ended up earning. How many of you would turn down that amount of $$$?? Not many I'd think.

Jordan could be just the tonic for JV to regain his fire. Although JV said he wants to join a top team, he did say that he would join a small team should they be united and committed to the cause. EJ has regained his focus after a couple of bad years and would benefit from having JV in the car. His technical knowledge is excellent and he has appeal to sponsors because of his Championship and his tag as F1's non conformist or rebel. After all the crap he went through at BARf, he may not want to return to F1, but if he does, then you never know what may happen.

On the topic of JV being offered to teams, noone wanted him as they had no spots left. Peter Sauber came out and said he would have tried to sign JV if he knew he was going to be available, but had already signed Fisi, whilst regarding Ferrari, they didnt take him because M$ doesn't want him as a teammate, he'd rather have a 'yes' man who he knows will move over for him and not challenge him. That's why they said no.

shaun.

[juany 0]

this Villeneuve/Jordan story is certainly gaining momentum, wonder what truth there is to it?

nojvnof1, i had to laugh at your usage of BARf, first time I saw it I thought it was a typo, then you kept using it and I saw the gag.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Only problem is now that the Abravomich deal has been deemed a full rumour, though it may pop up again in the future. But indeed, it is gaining momentum in some way, because Bernie is now rumoured to be helping Jacques to a Jordan seat. It always helps to have Bernie as part of your management team!

We'll honestly just have to wait and see!

[juany 0]

I am sure Bernie E doesnt like the prospect of having only 1 driver on the grid who has won a drivers championship title :oops:

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It's not only that, he also must know how much F1 needs a guy like Villeneuve who has a thing called a personality! And the name value of Villeneuve is huge in F1, it's like a legacy...

[nichosnz 0]

Ooh yes Bernie is most definatly aware, even if the team bosses aren't. And age is not really against him, he is not yet 33 and Mansell was champ at 40, other drivers recently have retired at 37/38.

[Thor 0]

Jens I would rather say

"and imagine Montoya and Villeneuve at Ferrari in '05! There is a driver line-up! "

I think Kimi will stay at least next eight years at McLaren

[nichosnz 0]

And Michael Schumacher an unpaid test driver for Minardi, propelling development of the car up to acheiving 7th in the constructors championship for 2008.

[juany 0]

and lets not forget Eddie Jordan who wrangled the control of F1 away from Bernie Ecclestone in 2010 and banned non privateer teams!