Ralf proposes a performance related pay contract...

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From Autosport.com:

Ralf agrees to extra cash for points

But deal has yet to be signed in on-going Williams 2005 driver line-up saga

Ralf will have an extra motivation to win races if he stays with Williams

Ralf Schumacher's manager Willi Weber has revealed that his charge will be on a performance-related contract, which would give extra cash for podiums and race wins, if he re-signs with Williams-BMW for 2005 and beyond.

Weber said that stalled contract talks with Williams about an extension – his current deal expires at the end of the season – was not about Ralf's salary demands. He says that Schumacher is willing to take a pay cut to stay with Williams.

"[The] fact is that we lose some money from what we earn this year," Weber told news agency Reuters. "It's not lost, but the fixed payment will be reduced. The bonus point is that if Ralf is doing well, gets on the podium or wins races, then the money increases and will be the same as what we have now. It is not the case that we talk about money. It is sorted out."

"Williams are the main choice"

Willi Weber

It is understood that Weber has set a deadline of a week after the Bahrain Grand Prix for this deal to be agreed. He also insisted that he has not spoken with rival teams Renault and Toyota about the possibility of Schumacher joining them.

"I have not spoken with Toyota and Renault about Ralf because, again, we want to stay in the team," he said. "Williams are the main choice and we are discussing with Frank Williams. We had a small meeting [on Saturday] and I can say it was very good, so it looks always better. I want to stay with the team, Ralf also, and I think that's the story."

[Sato 0]

ralf is a joke....he's basically a DC...im not sure if he is worse or not though. He really should be in a lower team or testing or out of f1 altogether. i ssay williams get webber and button or myabe dixon and one of the others.

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ralf is a joke....he's basically a DC...

Ralf is far worse than DC. DC is a good, reliable, intelligent driver who gets a bad reputation because he is beaten by his teammates. His teammates have all been amazing drivers – Hill, Hakkinen and Raikkonen and being beaten by these drivers is no disgrace.

[nojvnof1 0]

I guess that ends my dream of JV going to Williams next year. Maybe JV has secretly signed to replace JPM. :wink: Looks like its just Toyota and Renault left. However I read on grandprix.com that Ralf is set to sign for Toyota, don't know who to believe!!!!!

shaun

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I think Frank Williams can wait it out because his disposition is already made up NOT to pay Ralf . He did not pay JPM ,so he left.

I do not expect Frank to change anytime soon, and is more than happy to throw some in house drivers in for a spin just to show he is ignoring Willie Weber & Ralf.

Should Ralf join another Team ...so be it .

I think he should take the money and run before he gets painted into a corner, although there maybe now a greater in-Team preception of him even being 'that capable of a driver' and the longer Frank waits the more likely JPM will get further up the WDC ladder compared to Ralf and dimenish Ralf's alledged value ...to anyone.

JPM could really be in a no lose situation in the pressure thinking department and more likely to relax during this time and even benefit during qualifing & race performances to jump even further ahead.

Advantage J.P.M. ! 8) Huge Pressure Ralf ! :shock:

Next few races should be good .

[kiko 0]

ralf is a joke....he's basically a DC...im not sure if he is worse or not though. He really should be in a lower team or testing or out of f1 altogether. i ssay williams get webber and button or myabe dixon and one of the others.

Yep! I

[Sato 0]

Yes and i don't see him complaining about his team mate kos he can't keep up with him...so yeah he is much worse when i think about it.

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Then perhaps you should try thinking a bit more before you next post. DC is far better than Ralf – I can’t believe you said otherwise. Now Ralf’s desperate to resign with Williams he’s wiling to take pay cuts – just shows that Frank didn’t initially want to renew his contract and so much for those threats to join Renault or Toyota…

[Sato 0]

i never said he was better then dc i said he was another dc if not worse....i failed to relise a few facts that made him even worse.,,,im sorry i made a mistake..won't happen again :wink:

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Make sure that it doesn

[Sato 0]

will do sir

[C.A.L. 0]

The real question is DC or Ralf any better than Panis ?

Are they any better than D.Matta ? These questions are probably key into whether or not these guys get offers or rides from Toyota should they have lesser chance from higher up teams.

D.C. is a very stable in race driver , qualifing not as promient. Good P.R.

Ralf better qualifing performance ,but in race performance can be suspect.

P.R. ??

Panis is better than D.Matta and gives good technical feedback for testing.his qualifing has been generally decent for the equipment he has driven and his race performance is stable . Far cheaper to employ than D.C. & Ralf.

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Panis is a good driver, although I don’t think he’s quite the same driver since his accident in 1997. Nevertheless, he is very experienced and has retained a lot of speed. However, I think he’s passed his peak now and Toyota would do better by signing DC. DC is quicker than Panis, more intelligent, has a large amount of experience and is a proven race winner. I can’t imagine why they are even considering Ralf…

[nojvnof1 0]

Panis is a good driver, although I don

[webber 0]

i must say rulf is a rather over rated driver and he is more a med feld driver

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Panis is a good driver, although I don’t think he’s quite the same driver since his accident in 1997.  Nevertheless, he is very experienced and has retained a lot of speed.  However, I think he’s passed his peak now and Toyota would do better by signing DC. DC is quicker than Panis, more intelligent, has a large amount of experience and is a proven race winner.  I can’t imagine why they are even considering Ralf…

two words, he's German. Don't believe the crap BMW are saying about Nationality not being important. It's a major factor. If they're so keen on getting a German, hire Heidfeld, Ralf had his chance, and blew it.

shaun

I meant I don’t know why Toyota is supposedly considering Ralf…not Williams.

[nojvnof1 0]

Panis is a good driver, although I don

[Sato 0]

what silly tools voted yes?

[Taku 0]

what silly tools voted yes?

LMAO!

[nichosnz 0]

I did, I would love to see how RS would react when he earnt nowhere even close to what he thought he would.

[Taku 0]

fair nuff :oops:

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Ralf when his performance drop his ballon deflates, when he crashes his Head inflates then he has to stop driving for a bit.

He gets rested ,then charged up again and takes to the performance rebound slowly as he watches his teammate out perform and outscore him (again).....next race he over-drives and crashes ...deflating his ballon once again.

Its a vicious circle and Williams should have got HIS picture limitations already by now....and get a different Driver ,maybe an actual Racer!

Ralf has been inconsistant in a very good car, change the driver please Frank or Williams will be downgraded even more unless Jacques gets in there

[nojvnof1 0]

Ralf when his performance drop his ballon deflates, when he crashes his Head inflates then he has to stop driving for a bit.

He gets rested ,then charged up again and takes to the performance rebound slowly as he watches his teammate out perform and outscore him (again).....next race he over-drives and crashes ...deflating his ballon once again. 

Its a vicious circle and Williams should have got HIS picture limitations already by now....and get a different Driver ,maybe an actual Racer!

Ralf has been inconsistant in a very good car, change the driver please Frank or Williams will be downgraded even more unless Jacques gets in there

took the words right out of my mouth. Oh come on, like I wasn't gonna agree with that. :wink:

shaun

[amjay 0]

i think ralf would do ok in a toyota... i dont believe that he is worse off than panis or da matta ... he is probably as good as they are (would never know untill he drives wat they drive) which is not good enough to be at williams... ya i think he would do ok in a toyota...

but if toyota are changing their line up for next year then they should consider DC rather than RS....

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but if toyota are changing their line up for next year then they should consider DC rather than RS.... 

Indeed they should. DC would be an excellent choice, along side JV, at Toyota next year. He is quick, experienced, intelligent and good at overtaking. Hiring DC and JV would attract attention to Toyota and they are a pairing that would surely deliver results if the car improves as much as many people think it will.