Villeneuve confirmed as BMW driver for 2006

BANZAI_RUNNER

yep thats right , that waste of space Jaques Villeneuve has been confirmed as a driver for the BMW team next year, just proves where BMW's head is ....oh well

Running Bing

word is he was not first choice but his contract was hard to break.

Ay Cee

Yeah it was probably cheaper to keep him.

Corben Dallas

JV has long since given up racing to win/put in a good preformance he just turns up and collects a fat cheque.

Why did Sauber give him a two yr contract????? he must have amazing management to get these deals, he got $50 million from his years at BAR.

It was cheaper if they took him this yr, they would have had to pay up his remaining contract in full to replace him with another driver(plus pay that driver). BMW should have said that contract was with Sauber and not with them, either take a pay cut Jacques or fight us in court.

Hopefully Nick Heidfeld will dominate him in the first few races next year and BMW fire his ass before Monaco.
JV doesnt try anymore and his seat should have gone to Ant Davidson or Dan Weldon.(or Richard Lyons?)

the cat

Jv is a Legend. Nuff said.

Culchie

I thought he was going to be a 'great' ... but I think he just settled for Champagne and Strawberries.

ando

Corben Dallas wrote:

JV has long since given up racing to win/put in a good preformance he just turns up and collects a fat cheque.

hah, I don’t believe that for a second. Just because he isn’t at the front doesn’t make him a 'waste of space' ffs. Some ppl's memories are shorter than a fish. F1 needs drivers like JV that speak with their balls, not drivers like Trulli or Fissy that are bound by their commercial obligations 'the team is making a lot of progress, I love my team, we are all lovy dovy'. And you can really see when JV is trying, its great watching him on track when he's on it

hottstuff

jacques hasnt had the performances in the last few years of his career but TBH he showed amazing potential when he drove for williams but certain factors , like hill/schumacher , things went downhill for him
id say you need big balls to drive an F1 car on the edge , thinking of your father who lost his life in the same way:(

Ay Cee

I love JV because he says what he says. But I honestly believe if he wasn't in that Williams he would never have had the WC.

muckwarrior

For me Jaques Villeneuve has been on a downward slope since his entry to F1. His first race in Oz 96 was argueably his finest ever, and since then he's been gradually deteriorating, getting worse every season. The only time JV ever won anything was when he had the best car on the grid. Even then he barely managed to beat schumacher in an inferior ferrari.

Another problem that I think Villeneuve has is the lack of ability to develop a car, a mark of a truly fine driver. After Hill left and Jaques became no. 1 at williams the standard of the car started to fall. Further proof of this was when JV joined BAR. Here he had the opportunity to mould a team around himself, just like schumacher done at ferrari, except JV wasn't able to pull it off. Of course a lot of the responsibility must fall to the team as well, but notice how far BAR have come since he left!

In summary I think Villeneuve's talent is no match for his ego, and he's an average driver at best.

Vic Mackey

Villeneuve is a quick driver, and due to his f1 experience, he has good technical skills to help his team adapt the cars settings best for each circuit. I remember in 2002, when Jordan were a compeditive team, jaques was the BAR driver who most worried me.

Also, like Irvine, hes not into corporate policy bull***t. he says what he thinks, and we need drivers like him in the paddock or itl all get very boring!
irv and ej are already gone!

SouperComputer

Another problem that I think Villeneuve has is the lack of ability to develop a car, a mark of a truly fine driver. After Hill left and Jaques became no. 1 at williams the standard of the car started to fall.

This wouldnt be around the same time Adrian Newey departed to McLaren by any chance?

muckwarrior

SouperComputer wrote:

This wouldnt be around the same time Adrian Newey departed to McLaren by any chance?

Was waiting for someone to spot that. Yes, admitedly I'm sure that was also a very large factor.

Edwardius

SouperComputer wrote:

This wouldnt be around the same time Adrian Newey departed to McLaren by any chance?

and the fact that they ran the rebranded year old renault engines? I don't think williams' downfall is due to JV for some reason...

SouperComputer

Well McLaren and Williams swopped designers and places on the grid at the same time, could be coincidence though.