Da Matta on Chopping Block?

[Amar7605]

From Cart-Racing.com:

As 2002 CART Champion, Cristiano da Matta made the jump to Formula One after securing the CART Championship with Newman/Haas Racing, but since then, the popular Brazilian has failed to make any real impact on the series with the Toyota F1 team.

Today in Barcelona, da Matta finished in a lowly 13th position, last of all of the runners, and so far this year, the Brazilian has failed even to score a top eight finish and a secure a valuable championship point.

The writing is on the wall for da Matta as his contract with the F1 outfit expires at the end of the season and few believe that he will be retained the by German-based team.

The TF104 chassis is undoubtedly not on-par with those of da Matta’s leading rivals, but with a best race result of sixth to his credit from last year, it is highly likely that the Brazilian will be dropped from the team next season.

It is therefore debatable whether he will remain in F1, return to Champ Cars or head off with Toyota again, this time in the IRL come 2005.

******

Well, what do you all think? Just curious

[Omega99]

Actually, I was just wondering about him while watching the race today.

If he came back, NHR would probably snap him up, and we'd see great battles between him and PT. I say bring him back, though I really think he has the potential to be a solid F1 driver.

[mitchie]

I feel its unlikely that Cristiano will be in F1 next year. Toyota seem hell bent on changing their line-up, with some not-so-common sense stuff doing the rounds at the moment.

I dont think Cristiano has any money, which would rule out Minardi & Jordan, perhaps Sauber, depending on Fisi or Massa moving anywhere.

I cant see why he would want to stay with Toyota (and go IRL'ing without the prospect of getting back to F1. I'd welcome him back to CCWS, would make a welscome addition, and would be a title contender.

[Ac.]

I would imagine that NHR has left the door open, and have kept in close contact with Cristiano since he made the move to F1. I hope we see him back in Champ Car next year.

[camcartfan]

Cristiano will be in F1 for many years to come.

[BootsOntheSide]

Toyota have said that "there is no space in our squad" for Scott Dixon, which suggests that they have 2 drivers signed up already. Ralf Schumacher may well be one, but I suspect the other is Cristiano, as their other driver Olivier Panis is coming to the end of his career.

If he does lose his drive, Jaguar is a possibility, or perhaps Jordan or Minardi if they get Toyota engines as rumoured. Otherwise, NHR is a possible destination, although Seb and Bruno are doing pretty well.

[Alex K]

C'mon guys. Shorty will never drive for Jordan or Minardi, if he''l lose his place he'll come back to US, to IRL or CCWS, possibly IRL, where Toyota is.

[OVERSTEER]

I think his performance is to do with the car, not so much the driver, it'll be funny to see Ralf Schuey struggle next year if he driving "the car in front"!

[Flavinha]

There are a lot of rumours that Cristiano will come back to Champ Car here in Brazil.

[camcartfan]

Same thing when he started Champ Cars. He started with Arciero? and wasn't all that good. Once he moved to NHR he shined.

[Amar7605]

We all know that Christiano is a talent. Toyota is just struggling this year. I mean, he led for some time at the British GP last year. So, why should they sacrifice a great driver when it is the car that is the problem?

[Kicking-back]

He's a good driver, not a great one.

[Amar7605]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
He's a good driver, not a great one.

How do you figure?

[Kicking-back]

Watching him race in British F3 in 1995, F3000 in 1996, Indy Lights and CART 1997-2002 and F1 2003-4.

[shiny side up!]

How do you figure?

I don't know too many people that rate Panis as a "Great" driver, and da Matta hasn't exactly beat up on him at Toyota... apples to apples says da Matta isn't "Great", either... although there is no denying he is good!

[Liz]

I'd say he'll remain at Toyota and Panis will move to sports cars next year. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyota get back into LMP racing and Da Matta behind the wheel of a prototype!

[f1manoz]

I'd like to see CdM back in ChampCar next year as his F1 experience isn't shaping up to what he'd hoped. The TF104 ain't good enough, and it seems Toyota want a clear-out once again.

[N I Tram]

I don't think he'll be dropped, but you can't always tell what's going through their minds. Like everyone in F1 they seem to want instant results, but not be willing to look for the real reasons why they would struggle. He hasn't scored points yet, but neither has Panis. The team has never looked like scoring points, with only low-fuel runs putting them falsely up the grid to give any hope.

[cartpix]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
If he does lose his drive, Jaguar is a possibility, or perhaps Jordan or Minardi if they get Toyota engines as rumoured. Otherwise, NHR is a possible destination, although Seb and Bruno are doing pretty well.

FWIW, I talked to da Matta, before the 2002 California 500. I said going to Toyota would be great for him. That it would get his foot in the door of F1. He said, if he went F1(he still hadn't announced, at that time), he was going with Toyota, staying with Toyota, & wouldn't go to any other team.

Jeff

[Jordi]

In all honesty, neither Olivier nor Cristiano should be fired, since it's the car that it's subpar. Toyota have a good engine but the chassis still has not matched it. This is where Mike Gascoyne comes in. Will OP and Cris benefit from his new 2005 design?

[JohnSSC]

Toyota has a new iteration chassis coming in after Monaco I believe. Before we pan CDM, let's see what he can do with a lighter, lower chassis.

[Snrub]

The biggest factor has been that he hasn't smoked Panis. New cars or faster cars will not determine if he's better than Panis. I really think CDM is a bit of a slower learner. Just like in CART, he seems to be getting progressively faster in F1. By season's end he may be smoking Panis and have a F1 ride for 2005.

Toyota pulled this "fire the driver" garbage in its first year. Salo did a compendable job but his firing made me nervous of CDM joining up with them. A team that is working on getting faster needs experienced, calm drivers who will help them achieve their goals.

If he leaves F1, I don't see why CDM would go anywhere but CART. Is he going to feel all warm and fuzzy towards Toyota if they fire him?

[RapidTron]

salo was fired because he was a sourpuss. damatta should consider himself lucky that he has gotten more time to learn than other more highly touted drivers.