Where oh where will he be?

grumpy1 · 6 Jun 2004, 23:06 (Ref:995643)

Given the interest in M.Webber where do you think he will be?
I do know his management have spoken to 3 teams other than where he is.I have included most teams in the pole so please give your honest opinion of where you think he may end up.

The Grumpy1

P.S. yes 3 teams is correct Toyota Williams and I'm not saying.

freud · 6 Jun 2004, 23:25 (Ref:995647)

He's the most perfect driver for williams BMW at this moment and imho Williams 'will' get him one way or another.

jj2728 · 6 Jun 2004, 23:37 (Ref:995659)

oh what the hell....why not?.....ferrari.......after all it is silly season.....

jetsetter · 7 Jun 2004, 02:02 (Ref:995720)

Williams.

Inigo Montoya · 7 Jun 2004, 02:11 (Ref:995723)

Jaguar

Wrex · 7 Jun 2004, 02:37 (Ref:995737)

Quote:

Originally posted by Inigo Montoya
Jaguar

You wish

A disturbing possibility though.

Inigo Montoya · 7 Jun 2004, 02:42 (Ref:995739)

No, I hope he goes to Williams, with Fisi, but, as you say, we have to consider the real possibility he'll be stuck at Jag. I think there was a thread I started on this after he first signed with Jag. I thought it was a bad idea, signing with such an uproven team.

Wrex · 7 Jun 2004, 03:00 (Ref:995750)

I dont think it was a poor choice.

a) For all we know that was the best team on offer at the time

b) I have never been a fan of new drivers going into top teams

c) I think his results in the Jag have helped him standout

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 03:06 (Ref:995756)

Funny how no-one has asked who the third team is?
Jags chance of keeping him are zero.The only issue is who is prepared to pay out his contract if Jag finish 6th or better.My spy indicates that the speed the Jag showed in testing is from a Mark2 R5 that differs from the original in a bid to accomplish the following 3 main goals.
1.To put the car up front thus keeping HSBC happy(more exposure).
2.Ensure the team finishes 6th or better to demand payment for Webber(approx 3 million US).
3.Keep Ford interested enough to keep throwing money at it.

The Grumpy1

ozrevhead · 7 Jun 2004, 03:13 (Ref:995757)

well who is the third team grumpy1

I think he will either go to Williams or stay at Jag. Being an Aussie with Italian decent, I would go absoltely mental if he joins Ferrari!

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 03:25 (Ref:995762)

If you put the peices of the puzzle together you will know the answer.I have left clues since the 4th of this month in a couple of threads.The final clue is he will loose a personal sponser if he signs this deal.

The Grumpy1

Gt_R · 7 Jun 2004, 03:44 (Ref:995768)

Ferrari.

Ha, i know it sounds silly.

But Ferrari knows Michael is ending his F1 career soon, and that a long term replacement is required.

But somebody told them when they were young "If it aint broke, don't fix it"...hence, they'd probably go for somebody who can replicate what MS had successfully done. And Mark does work in a manner very similar to Michael.

But it takes two hands to clap.

So why would Mark choose Ferrari?

Firstly, he's (as he claimed) very close to Jaguar and team personnel. And at this time, none of the other teams interested in him is fairing much better than Jaguar (see Williams and Toyota). Both Williams and Toyota have huge potential to be WDC/WCC contenders in the future...but next year? If Ferrari comes knocking...Webber knows he got himself a very very good seat, and following MS's departure, would be in prime position for WDC.

Obstacles? Nobody knows for sure when Michael may leave. Hence, with Jaguar's reluctance to let Mark leave, in the case that Webber DOES sign for Ferrari and MS still stays next season, Webber could be loaned out to another team (ie back to Jag) for one season before debutting for Ferrari in 06. Or simply, MS sealed this year, and decides to call it quits early. Or even in the unlikely senario, Mark is taken under Ferrari for a year of learning Ferrari's internals as a developement driver, to help in giving feedback and developement ideas for the 06 car which he would later race.

Of course..pure speculation on a possible senario.. Problem is...there are thousands of possible senarios

Led ZeppF1 · 7 Jun 2004, 03:47 (Ref:995770)

He will be in FW27 car.

Inigo Montoya · 7 Jun 2004, 04:16 (Ref:995783)

Quote:

Originally posted by Wrex
I dont think it was a poor choice.

a) For all we know that was the best team on offer at the time

b) I have never been a fan of new drivers going into top teams

c) I think his results in the Jag have helped him standout

Yes, but...

a) I agree - but to sign for so long, making it so difficult to buy out the contract?
b) Kimi and Alonso did pretty well signing with top teams after having started with stinkers, and Monty went straight to a top team and did pretty well (I am not counting the CART stuff).
c) He'd stand out even more if he had competative machinery

I hope I am wrong, but something tells me he's stuck at Jag for at least another season. He's no kid either - he's 27 - hitting the prime of his career. I'd hate for him to end up like Fisi

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 04:18 (Ref:995784)

GTR you left out one possibility.
MS and Webber together on equal terms.
As everyone knows there are a heaps of speculation that Michael gets a better car than Rubans therfore is faster.MS has issue with this and in his own words wants to race an equal(his opinion)in exactly the same car to prove to all he is the best without question.The only person he sees as able to fight with him is Webber and it would also leave Ferrari in good hands when he hangs up his boots.
My insider has informed me that if the deal goes through MS will not have anything to do with development of the new car until Mark is there.In his own words no advantage to me.He is rumoured to be going as far as taking Rubans crew and giving Webber his to show no advantage.

The Grumpy1

P.S.Also credit to GTR for putting together the clues or was it a lucky guess?

Inigo Montoya · 7 Jun 2004, 04:21 (Ref:995786)

So let me get this straight - the whole Ferrari factory and management is going to sit on their hands and not start development of their next project - simply because they are waiting for Mark to sign a contract? This seems...err... outrageous..

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 04:31 (Ref:995789)

No thats not what I said.I said Michael would stay away from anything to do with the new car.He will see it and drive it the same day Webber does.The rest of the Ferrari group will be well into development by the time this deal is done if at all.My spy tells me Michael is pushing for this as well as Ferrari and is prepared to part with some of his own cash to make it happen.It all rests with Falvio as he owns Webbers contract.

The Grumpy1

Inigo Montoya · 7 Jun 2004, 04:34 (Ref:995791)

I'm not sure who your spy is, but does he/she know that Rubens is under contract until 2006?

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 04:45 (Ref:995794)

Yes and so does Webber.Webber has a get out of Jag clause and Ferrari has a sorry Rubans clause(one would expect).Both are going to require a truck load of cash but what MS wants he generally gets.
Anyway its been proven before F1 contracts mean very little its the amount of money you have that does all the talking.Whether thats right or wrong is another question.

The Grumpy1

Meroo · 7 Jun 2004, 06:05 (Ref:995811)

So you reckon MW would get MS's Aussie race engineer as well? As much as I love this Ferrari scenario, will be amazed if it happens.

climb · 7 Jun 2004, 07:14 (Ref:995845)

Why was Renault excluded?
He's a Briatore's protegee after all.

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 07:24 (Ref:995855)

Ok I'll lay it out as put to me.
1.Jag If Jag can deliver a winning car he will stay put.Whether they finish 6th or better has no bearing on what Mark will do.It will come down to the package offered.The R5Mark2 seems to have the goods(He broke the lap record at Silverstone in it)
2.Toyota With Mike Gascoyne in charge and an endless budget it is not out of the question.Remember both Mike and Webber where at Renault together.
3.Williams Sir Frank has already expressed his desire for Mark to fill JPM's seat next year.The question is will he be prepared to pay the asking price.
4.Ferrari As I stated before MS wants to compete with the person he thinks is his equal.For this to work Rubans will be handed to Jag (Ferrari to pay most of his salery).Jag wont complain because they will get a front line driver at no cost to them.Rubans will be No.1 and will relish the challange.
All this has the paddock talking and as my spy said they haven't seen anything like this since MS won the championship with Beneton and the big 3 fell over themselves to get his signature.
One thing is for sure is this will come down to who will offer Mark the best package.Falvio is licking his lips at the thought of all this.

The Grumpy1

grumpy1 · 7 Jun 2004, 07:26 (Ref:995858)

climb Renault has two drivers they are happy with and they can't fit Mark in for 2 years.

The Grumpy1

**Adam43** · 7 Jun 2004, 08:24 (Ref:995888)

Surely Renault is more likely than some of those (albeit not very likely). Especially as Flav manages both! So I am fairly sure Mark's manager will have 'spoken' to that team.

Anyway, he'll set up his own team in a bid to emulate Brabham. Apparently he has the deposit after finding a diamond lying around, popping down the road to a handy casino and putting it all on number 14.

Mark Webber · 7 Jun 2004, 08:32 (Ref:995898)

Mark May well be a williams but I think Renault and more so Toyota will grab his services before frank .

Mark in a gascyone design Toyota sounds good to me

View Poll Results: Where oh where will he be?
Jaguar	5	8.47%
Williams	41	69.49%
Ferrari	4	6.78%
Toyota	8	13.56%
BAR	0	0%
McLaren	0	0%
Renault	1	1.69%
Voters: 59. You may not vote on this poll