Why did Sir Frank pass on DC's services

OSTKURVE · 8 Jan 2005, 10:19 (Ref:1195769)

I find it strange that Sir Frank Williams opted to pass on the services of a seasoned veteran like David Coulthard.

Although Coulthard has never been able to capture the world driving title he has a rather impressive record.

With Coulthard being in need of a seat for the 2005 season & in the driver's market I thought for sure Willams would have retained his services since Mika Hakinnen(the only other logical choice for a team such as Williams) announced that we has going to the DTM series after the council's ruling in Milan forcing Button to stay @ BAR.

If I were a team principal I would retain the services of a pilot such as Coulthard before employing Heidfeld,Webber,or Pizzonia.

In my humble opinoin Heidfeld is nothing to write home about. His performance @ Jordan was below par,& I quite astonished that he was able to land a seat @ a team like Williams.

Kicking-back · 8 Jan 2005, 13:41 (Ref:1195856)

If you think Heidfeld's performance at Jordan was below par, you weren't looking closely enough.

I've seen a detailed analysis of what he did at the Japanese Grand Prix, with reference to several other drivers, and he was stellar that day.

Logrence · 8 Jan 2005, 13:48 (Ref:1195859)

Below par in a Jordan is something quite different to below par in a McLaren.

Heidfeld may yet turn out to be a speedy driver, but when you're battling with a German engine manufacturer that wants to leave you, perhaps it's best to get a German along to appease them.

Glen · 8 Jan 2005, 14:14 (Ref:1195875)

Coulthard has a record of underachieving, given the top-rank team he has been with for the last umpteen years - whereas Heidfeld OVER-achieved with the frankly terrible Jordan in 2004.

Why choose Webber over DC? Er - not sure it's even worth replying to that... put it this way: one of them beats his team-mates, one doesn't.

Kicking-back · 8 Jan 2005, 14:23 (Ref:1195878)

Glen - on your final point:

One of them has been team mate to a world champion, a double world champion, and a driver heavily tipped to be world champion in future.

The other's been team-mate to a few journeymen.

ASCII Man · 8 Jan 2005, 15:05 (Ref:1195901)

I wouldn't call Frentzen a journeyman...

Kicking-back · 8 Jan 2005, 15:14 (Ref:1195907)

ASCII Man - I was referring to Glen's comparison of Coulthard and Webber, not Heidfeld.

Mr V · 8 Jan 2005, 17:39 (Ref:1195983)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Glen - on your final point:

One of them has been team mate to a world champion, a double world champion, and a driver heavily tipped to be world champion in future.

The other's been team-mate to a few journeymen.

Sir Frank knows more about F1 than any of us, so i'm sure he knows what he's doing when he hired Webber over DC

Kicking-back · 8 Jan 2005, 17:45 (Ref:1195985)

I agree hiring Webber was the right decision, I'm just saying it's a bit more complex than "he's beaten his teammates"

Kirk · 8 Jan 2005, 18:56 (Ref:1196021)

Yes it is KB.
I also thought FW would go with DC on a 1 year deal, with the thought of Button joining up in '06. Assuming quick Nick gets the drive this year, he could very well prove himself once and for all and make the decision to bring in Button a difficult one.

Raven · 8 Jan 2005, 19:26 (Ref:1196030)

I reckon Heidfeld is a lot better than some seem to think.

Let's not forget that at Sauber in 2001, he outqualified Kimi more often than not and ended the season with more points on the board. Yes Kimi was a rookie but remember it was only Heidfeld's 2nd season. Never let machinery be the judge of talent.

Snrub · 8 Jan 2005, 19:41 (Ref:1196034)

What does DC bring to the table? He's periodically able to win when his car is a second a lap faster than everyone elses? I think it makes complete sense to take Heidfeld, Webber and Pizzonia over DC.

Logrence · 8 Jan 2005, 20:51 (Ref:1196068)

I still say Webber's name is based entirely on that 5th place at Melbourne - he hasn't done anything more impressive since...even Irvine got podiums in the dogs Jag gave him.

DC is a very good racer - very consistent. It's the fact that he's rubbish over one lap that lets him down.

Hakkinen, Hill, Raikkonen - some of the best names to grace the F1 stage...how would anyone measure up?

REALIST · 8 Jan 2005, 21:09 (Ref:1196081)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logrence

Hakkinen, Hill, Raikkonen - some of the best names to grace the F1 stage...how would anyone measure up?

Good job he was never partnered with Schumacher, Senna or Prost then, he would have looked really bad!!!!!!!!!! And how can you rate Hill with Hakkinen or Raikkonen?

Kicking-back · 8 Jan 2005, 21:09 (Ref:1196083)

Hill is a world champion and winner of 22 Grands Prix - you can't really knock him for that.

Snrub · 8 Jan 2005, 21:16 (Ref:1196087)

Webber might not have grabbed a podium, but he's put him Jag in a good position in a number of occations.

**GTRMagic** · 8 Jan 2005, 22:08 (Ref:1196117)

And... MW knew his car was a heap of warm merde on many occassions... yet kept that factoid to himself, and chose NOT to slam the team in the press... unlike his predecessors...

DC would do a journeyman like job... which is probably as good as Pizzaboy and HideAndSeek will be able to achieve this season... except the 2 probably cost less than DC on his own...

Caligula B · 8 Jan 2005, 22:16 (Ref:1196121)

Dear Raven,
You are quite right in what you say that Heidfeld was faster than Raikkonen in 2001 but after 14 races it was 7-7 in qualifying, after the anouncement that Kimi was joining Mclaren for 2002 it all changed & Kimi was possibly left out by the team. Heidfeld beat him 3-0 in the 3 subsequent qualifying sessions. I still believe Nick was the faster but you must admit that the young Finnish lad has learnt a lot since then. Heidfeld is no journeyman in my opinion but 3 years at Mclaren would teach you a lot more than 2 years in a poor Sauber & 1 year in a poor Jordan. Nick may well be the sensible choice but until he grows some balls & starts getting nasty he is still not the finished article by a long way.
[I]Caligula B

foreversideways · 8 Jan 2005, 22:31 (Ref:1196129)

Williams will have a team of unproven drivers.Let battle commence.

Kicking-back · 8 Jan 2005, 22:47 (Ref:1196135)

McLaren have Raikkonen and Montoya.

Williams have Mark Webber and either Pizzonia or Heidfeld.

Ron Dennis must be laughing!

Raven · 8 Jan 2005, 23:22 (Ref:1196151)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caligula B

Dear Raven,
You are quite right in what you say that Heidfeld was faster than Raikkonen in 2001 but after 14 races it was 7-7 in qualifying, after the anouncement that Kimi was joining Mclaren for 2002 it all changed & Kimi was possibly left out by the team. Heidfeld beat him 3-0 in the 3 subsequent qualifying sessions. I still believe Nick was the faster but you must admit that the young Finnish lad has learnt a lot since then. Heidfeld is no journeyman in my opinion but 3 years at Mclaren would teach you a lot more than 2 years in a poor Sauber & 1 year in a poor Jordan. Nick may well be the sensible choice but until he grows some balls & starts getting nasty he is still not the finished article by a long way.
[I]Caligula B

Agreed. I said at the time that Kimi looked the better ultimate prospect, and today any team owner would take Kimi over Nick in a heartbeat, providing they could afford him of course.

I just used that as an example to say Heidfeld is no slouch. Where better to 'grow some balls and get nasty' than at Williams? I think he deserves the chance, especially over DC who looks to be on the decline as a driver.

**GTRMagic** · 8 Jan 2005, 23:30 (Ref:1196160)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

McLaren have Raikkonen and Montoya.

Williams have Mark Webber and either Pizzonia or Heidfeld.

Ron Dennis must be laughing!

If the McLaren design team does as good a job for 2005 as it has done in the last couple of seasons, I know who will be laughing... and it wont be Mr Dennis & co!

marcus · 8 Jan 2005, 23:40 (Ref:1196172)

the main reason In my opinion that Frank didnt choose DC is because its all about the future , seriously DC doesnt have many years in F1 left , this will be his 11th year in the series and thats a stellar career to start with.

Im still out to lunch on heidfeld , I too think he isnt all people make him out to be but hopefully if he gets the race seat he will prove me wrong (wouldnt be the first time thats happened either

)

but Webber was a strong choice and they could have done with DC's experience but the youth and speed of Pizzonia and hiedfeld is a much better choice for the future of williams grand prix engineering i think

Silk Cut Jaguar · 8 Jan 2005, 23:59 (Ref:1196187)

DC's F1 career is on borrowed time, he probably only has a season or two left at the most.

Webber on the other hand is Williams' long term project, much like they considered Montoya to be until they fell out or how McLaren look to Kimi.

Wrex · 9 Jan 2005, 00:50 (Ref:1196216)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

McLaren have Raikkonen and Montoya.

Williams have Mark Webber and either Pizzonia or Heidfeld.

Ron Dennis must be laughing!

He's not saying it out loud though, far too much egg on his face in the past.

If Williams privail, I dare say it will be Frank laughing (all the way to the bank too).

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