Villeneuve's F1 career over??

Kalina · 04-10-2003 7:23pm #1

Apparently JV has been dropped from BAR in favour of Takuma Sato for 2004. JV may not even get to race in Suzuka as Honda are very keen to see a Japanese driver in a BAR for their home race.
It's a shame to lose Villeneuve from F1 especially if you look back at his career and how he might have been winning races and even another championship if he could have been with a competitive team. Instead he spent his best years at BAR trying to build up the team and now he's getting the boot when things are maybe starting to improve. The sad thing is if he'd agreed a paycut and/or performance related pay he may have kept the drive for next year.
It's a pity to see him go because, like Irvine and Alesi, he's one of the more interesting drivers on the grid and he'll be missed.

chernobyl · 04-10-2003 7:43pm

Originally posted by Kalina
It's a shame to lose Villeneuve from F1

I dont think so. He made a very poor decision in 98 to join BAR and pretty much closed all other options with his inability to shut up and keep his much unwanted opinions to himself. No team would want Villenuve...except Williams.

zeris · 04-10-2003 7:51pm

JV moved for money. He could have stayed at Williams. There wasn't a public spat like when Mansell/Hill left. JV leaving Williams was very amicable. Even news stories this week say how Frank even now rates JV. I suppose part of the blame has to lay with Pollack as his manager.

Maybe he felt he could build a team up like Schumi, but there was too much political rubbish (like at Jaguar) and didn't have the support of people like Brawn and Byrne. It is a pity, I watched him CART and was excited to see him move across to F1. Just wish he wasn't as whiney.

Kalina · 06-10-2003 11:42am

I think JV moved to BAR partly for the money and partly cos he hoped he could turn BAR into a winning team. Something like Irvine tried to do with Jaguar. Unfortunately for both drivers the teams are improving but too late for their careers.

Da Man · 06-10-2003 9:29pm

JV himself concluded at the beginning of the season that he would need to blow Button away to justify his price tag, and he didn't so the end result is hardly surprising. His attitude generally and towards sponsors specifically isn't really going to help him get a drive with the lesser teams where I'm sure sponsor interaction is all.

johnpl · 09-10-2003 9:59am

JV has now decided not to bother racing in Suzuka. Apparently it was totally his decision and asked the team to be let out of his contract a race early (which is ideal for Sato who can now race on his home soil).
ITV-F1

[CrimsonGhost] · 11-10-2003 1:18pm

JV is a moany, whiney, whingey C*NT. Instead of getting his head down and working away he lashed out every chance he got, particularly at button. After the was he has lashed out at BAR in the past I can't see any other team too willing to take him on board.

Kalina · 13-10-2003 3:26pm

It must have been tough for him to see Sato handle the BAR so well at Suzuka and score those points. If only he had managed a few decent finishes like that he'd probably still have a seat for next season.

robo · 13-10-2003 3:29pm

It was mentioned, just in passing on yesterdays coverage of the Grand Prix that maybe JV could move to Jordan! I know that would be a decrease in wages, but hey it would be a drive for him if he wants to stay in F1!!! Just a rumour!!!

AngelofFire · 30-10-2003 3:29am

According to the itv website he has approached mcclaren over the possiblity of a testing role. is he that desperate to stay in f1??. Olivier panis tested for mcclaren after being dumped by prost and everything worked out for the better. he got back into gp racing the following year not for mcclaren but with a half decent outfit. Maybe jacques sees this as a possible back door into the mcclaren race team.

Kalina · 01-11-2003 12:31am

Yeah, maybe a test drive with one of the big teams such as McLaren might be a way for JV to get a good drive for 2005. But I'm not too hopeful. There are too many of the up-and-coming younger drivers (Alonso, Kimi, Massa now that he's back, Webber, Wilson, Montoya, Button, Schumacher Jnr) in the hunt for those seats. McLaren will definitley keep Kimi for 2005 and the rumours say Montoya will take the other seat. Can't see JV in a Ferrari or going back to Willimas. Maybe Renault??
Or maybe he'll start his own F1 team with Craig Pollock.. though I could see him going down the same road as poor old Alain Prost.

irishman_abroad · 01-11-2003 12:27pm

Why not go back to Williams??? Montoya will be leaving and JV left on good terms with FW & PH...

irishgeo · 02-11-2003 12:30am

I wish jordan could get him and a the mclaren engine deal.

ALLGOOD · 14-11-2003 3:19pm

personally im glad he's gone, i was getting real sick of looking at him. like damon hill after he won the title (in the best car) he went to an inferior team and hid at the back end of the field so he wouldn't have to compete with M Schumacher. Easier to say your car is crap and therefore cant compete. what a chicken.

Jacques Villeneuve ? Joke Pratneuve more like !

Good luck to him, he'll need it.

Kalina · 14-11-2003 5:33pm

Yeah, Damon wasted his last year in F1. He was competitive in '98 but a disgrace in '99.
I heard JVs been sniffing around the remaining seat in Jaguar. He'll need a couple of million to get it though, and I'd much rather see Wilson or Wurz drive for Jag.

RicardoSmith · 14-11-2003 5:39pm

Yeah hes been coasting in F1 for years now. Shame because he was good when he started in it. I'll be sorry that hes gone, but not sorry to see him gone. Hes was doing nothing for the sport.

chernobyl · 15-11-2003 3:09am

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
Shame because he was good when he started in it.

Im not so sure, i mean Williams had a vastly superior car in 96 and although it was his rookie season and gave Hill is only opposition, the car made Hill quick so what about JV?

97 was pretty much the same with Schumacher being the difference for Ferrari.

So yes i am questioning weather JV is as good as he appeared to be. I doubt he is.

RicardoSmith · 15-11-2003 11:01am

Originally posted by chernobyl
Im not so sure, i mean Williams had a vastly superior car in 96 and although it was his rookie season and gave Hill is only opposition, the car made Hill quick so what about JV?

97 was pretty much the same with Schumacher being the difference for Ferrari.

So yes i am questioning weather JV is as good as he appeared to be. I doubt he is.

He made some overtaking moves that took balls very like montoya. The fire is long gone now though.

woosaysdan · 28-11-2003 11:03am

he used be soo good but now he's crap all mouth and no action

projectmayhem · 28-11-2003 11:08am

JV's career ended years ago. he's a moany muppet who trys too hard to be cool off the track as opposed to being hot on the track. good riddance.. maybe now BAR can get a decent driver that doesn't cost $10million a year and push the honda engine to it's proper limits

Villeneuve's F1 career over??

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