Jacques Villeneuve

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From Planetf1.com:

'Jacques has Bernie to thank for his 1996 debut'

28/03/04

Patrick Head has revealed that Williams signed Jacques Villeneuve in 1996 after some cajoling from Bernie Ecclestone.

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The F1 supremo was keen on Jacques, the son of late Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve, entering F1 as he had all the criteria Ecclestone believed the sport needed. Jacques was not only a charismatic driver but also a famous one having won the US-based Champ Car series. Added to that he, of course, carried the famous Villeneuve name.

Ecclestone's cajoling, together with Jacques' talent and results from Champ Car, earned the French/Canadian a test drive, which in turn led to him making his F1 debut with Williams in 1996. The following year he won the Drivers' Championship title for Williams.

"Obviously the decision to go with Jacques was fundamentally ours but Bernie was certainly very strongly encouraging us to run Villeneuve and to take him the following year," Williams' technical director Head told Reuters.

"I don't think he feathered our nest in any way to make it possible but he was certainly very keen on that happening. Bernie hasn't said anything to us about Scott Dixon. But we're interested to have a look anyway."

[Perhaps Bernie could have another word about Villeneuve joining Williams in 2005? I hope so...]

[nojvnof1 0]

Nothing new there. Bernie played a big role in getting JV that Williams drive. So Bernie, from all JV fans, Thank You. Bernie is a big fan of JV and was trying to help him get a seat for this year. Hopefully things are looking better for next year. JV and Dixon at Williams next year is what I wanna see.

shaun

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I would too only I think its going to be Dixon and Ralf at Williams next year.

[nojvnof1 0]

Think you're wrong regarding Ralf. He's basically set for Toyota.

shaun

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There is a story on ITV-F1.com that says Ralf is close to signing a

[nojvnof1 0]

There is a story on ITV-F1.com that says Ralf is close to signing a

[eddoyle 0]

JV and Williams together is what F1 needs.  A driver with many points to prove and knows how to win paired with a team who want to win and know how to win.  

JV's f1 days are over. Fineto.

the days when teams took drivers based on reputation, knowing they were difficult characters swiming against the time are over. As certain as Irivine will never be back, JV will never be back. Hes too bolshy opinionated in a destructive way, and most importantly in his last season he was trounced by Button. Despite this his penchant for large personal sponsorships may see him having quite a lot of legal work to attend to over the next few years.

Im looking forward to the new faces, as the Shumies, JV's, Irvines fade away its time to focus on the new crop of talent and see if theres anyone out there who can mix it with Alonso, Massa and Button in the coming 5 years.

[C.A.L. 0]

There is a story on ITV-F1.com that says Ralf is close to signing a

[C.A.L. 0]

JV and Williams together is what F1 needs.  A driver with many points to prove and knows how to win paired with a team who want to win and know how to win.  

JV's f1 days are over. Fineto.

the days when teams took drivers based on reputation, knowing they were difficult characters swiming against the time are over. As certain as Irivine will never be back, JV will never be back. Hes too bolshy opinionated in a destructive way, and most importantly in his last season he was trounced by Button. Despite this his penchant for large personal sponsorships may see him having quite a lot of legal work to attend to over the next few years.

Im looking forward to the new faces, as the Shumies, JV's, Irvines fade away its time to focus on the new crop of talent and see if theres anyone out there who can mix it with Alonso, Massa and Button in the coming 5 years.

The decision to get drivers on one's Team is based on several things only the Bosses seem to figure out or accept.

Button did not trounce Villeneuve at all ... in fact should you take the reliability results and just switch them around you would have big advantage J.V.. and thats without taking the drivers skills away just the potential results.

Button has alot to learn still...how to defend his position or how to pass, Button is still a driver , not a racer! . I have never seen so many breakdowns on one car compared to the second one being the opposite end of the scale as on the BAR..FF's last year.

After this year is over you can compare the results and it is not going to look like the same team at all.

Kimi is beginning to see that type of light at McLaren (too bad too )

[Taku 0]

i noticed jacques turms 33 today. do you still think he has the drive to come back at that age. schuey's what, 36?

if ralf's off to toyota like everyone says, that's 2 chances at williams.

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i noticed jacques turms 33 today.  do you still think he has the drive to come back at that age.  schuey's what, 36?

Age should not really be a factor, only pace. Luigi Fagioli won a race at the age of 52 years, 12 months, 21 days. Juan Manuel Fangio won at the age of 46 years, 2 months, 10 days. In more recent times, Nigel Mansell won at the age of 41 years, 4 months, 6 days, Alain Prost at the age of 38 years, 5 months, 30 days and Damon Hill at the age of 37 years, 12 months, 12 days. Further more the oldest driver to start a GP was Louis Chiron at the age of 58 years, 10 months, 14 days. As long as the speed is still there a driver should keep going. Oh and Schumacher is 35 (he was born on the 3 January 1969)

[Taku 0]

all we need then is for someone (see williams) to set-up a test for him to see if he's still go the speed. what a stir that would create!

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all we need then is for someone (see williams) to set-up a test for him to see if he's still go the speed.  what a stir that would create!

I think you’re referring to Jacques Villeneuve. If that’s the case I would like to see him have a test for Williams too. I’d make sure that both the regular drivers were present along with Marc Gene, and I’d conduct the test over three days. I’m sure he’s still got the speed and I’m surprised he hasn’t tested for an F1 team yet, after all Dixon has…

[nojvnof1 0]

all we need then is for someone (see williams) to set-up a test for him to see if he's still go the speed.  what a stir that would create!

damn straight!! Imagine the look on everyone's face if he does get a test with the team. I'd love to see the look on DR's face as he creams his boys along with the current Williams guys. Ah crap, I've woken up now. :wink: Nah seriously, I agree with what Alistair says, a one day test would not be enough. If JV does return, it'll help F1 tv figures in Canada, which are at their lowest ever. Don't think Bernie hasn't noticed, he needs Nth America, big time, and JV can help deliver the fans to Bernie, as he did previously. There were more people in Canada watching when he was doing nothing in the BAR than now he's out, c'mon Bernie and Sir Frank, BRING JACQUES BACK!!!!!

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If JV does return, it'll help F1 tv figures in Canada, which are at their lowest ever. Don't think Bernie hasn't noticed, he needs Nth America, big time, and JV can help deliver the fans to Bernie, as he did previously. There were more people in Canada watching when he was doing nothing in the BAR than now he's out, c'mon Bernie and Sir Frank, BRING JACQUES BACK!!!!!

From a source:

Jacques Villeneuve's absence has had a 'disastrous' effect on F1 in Canada.

'La Presse' newspaper reports that TV viewing figures have never been so low.

A million viewers used to tune-in to watch the Quebecois race his Williams and BAR-Honda cars but the most recent grand prix in Bahrain attracted only 150,000

[Taku 0]

all we need then is for someone (see williams) to set-up a test for him to see if he's still go the speed.  what a stir that would create!

I think you

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North America is a big market for F1, one that Bernie has been trying to strengthen recently and this doesn’t bode well…

[Taku 0]

even tho it's only 850,000, when you think that it's an 85% drop it's gotta ring alarm bells in any market.

jens presents a good case for toyota taking on jv instead of ralf, and obviously his argument applies equally for williams too.

http://www.totalf1.com/weekly-wrap/?columnid=69