"New" Drivers Fail To Deliver

GP Racer · 26 Sep 2004, 14:27 (Ref:1107341)

In the 2 weeks leading up to the Chinese GP, much was made out of driver changes for Renault, Jordan, and Williams, but all three failed to deliver results that helped there teams cause.

JV - 11th place. He certainly didn't make Flavios decision to sack Trulli look like a good one. Trulli easily could have done as well as this placing. Flavio must be dissapointed in this performance, especially with JV's inability to at least get past Webber.

Glock - 15th place. Nothing to get excited about here either. Glocks ability to block, was the only thing that made you take notice of this drive.

Ralf - DNF. Ralf was running a good race, no doubt, but then came the contact with DC, and the very strange pitstop to fix the flat. Why did Ralf get out of the car, and end his race?

Were these changes much ado about nothing, and will we see more desperate changes for the last 2 GP's?

**Dani Filth** · 26 Sep 2004, 14:30 (Ref:1107342)

it looked like ralf's car had some damage ..

ralf fan · 26 Sep 2004, 14:34 (Ref:1107345)

JV- it was more hype than anything... anyone who expected him to score points after a years of absense was just being delusional... i expected him to struggle in China but he will get a bit better in Japan..

Glock- you cant really rate his performance in the Jordon... outpaced by Heidfeld but you can expect that...

RS- was up for a strong finish until DC hit him... although the team have said that nothing was wrong with his car when he came in.... did a Bahrain again... shouldve stayed out for a lap... silly ending to a strong race... disappointing i admit...

ASCII Man · 26 Sep 2004, 14:44 (Ref:1107351)

Anyone who sacks a driver mid-season, hires a new one AND expects immediate results is a retard in my book.

Paarma · 26 Sep 2004, 14:51 (Ref:1107356)

I think Glock drove a solid race today. I was hoping he could have ourperformed Heidlfeld, but I guess it was not fully realistic.

GP Racer · 26 Sep 2004, 14:54 (Ref:1107358)

I'm quite sure Flavio expected "immediate" results from JV, as Renault chases second in the constuctors championship, or why bother? Besides, JV is only there for the last 3 races, and for the exact reason to help Renault in there chase.

ASCII Man · 26 Sep 2004, 14:59 (Ref:1107360)

Then Flavio is a retard.

Knowlesy · 26 Sep 2004, 15:01 (Ref:1107361)

Very eloquently put!

Paarma · 26 Sep 2004, 15:05 (Ref:1107365)

Perhaps Flavio hired JV, and then sabotaged his car to make Alonso look better

. I think Trull had to be replaced given the situaton he had with team. Briatore simply took a driver who he thought was the best option and I'm sure he expects him to score some points this season.

Kicking-back · 26 Sep 2004, 15:08 (Ref:1107368)

The use of the word "retard" is surely not acceptable in polite conversation.

Villeneuve and Glock did as well as could reasonably be expected in the circumstances.

Ralfred showed some good pace until being hit - nothing to worry about in his case.

**garcon** · 26 Sep 2004, 15:10 (Ref:1107370)

I'm with ASCII on the retard thing... though it is perhaps a little impolite...

We shouldn't judge JV on this race. Better to judge him on his performance over three races at the end of the season. He kept reasonable pace, didn't seem to tire towards the end (a potential factor after a year out), but I expect would have wanted a better finish than 11th.

I thought Ralf had an excellent first weekend back. His rear suspension was clearly damaged after contact with DC, so although his retirement looked a little chaotic, that was no fault of his.

ralf fan · 26 Sep 2004, 15:21 (Ref:1107381)

agree..... anyone who expected JV to outshine Alonso... was just thinking with their heart and not their head...

Ralf- good race... outpaced JPM all weekend... sad ending though...
he came in with a puncture... the mechanics werent ready for him so the time was wasted... after close examination the team found out that there was nothing wrong with the car had and RS could have continued had the team been ready... by time they found this out however too much time had passed and not point of continuing...

300kph · 26 Sep 2004, 15:32 (Ref:1107394)

I think Flavio's strateggy was to get JV and trade-in for Fisi but it did not materialize...

Kirk · 26 Sep 2004, 18:10 (Ref:1107530)

Quote:

Originally posted by 300kph
I think Flavio's strateggy was to get JV and trade-in for Fisi but it did not materialize...

... and it still may be. This is F1, it seems that nothings impossible.

Rich R · 26 Sep 2004, 18:33 (Ref:1107545)

maybe renault should try trading flav in for someone else.

RT · 26 Sep 2004, 18:35 (Ref:1107546)

Good race for Ralf.

He clearly outpaced Juan Montoya and was in a solid position until he had to retire. In a way I'm glad his race was cut short because there was no point in risking extra stress to damaged vertebrae (there's nothing magical about 12 weeks of recovery and physicians do miss problems. I personally didn't think he'd do that well right away.

Moreover...It was a good way to show Toyota they made the right decision.

Go Ralf !!

ralf fan · 26 Sep 2004, 18:35 (Ref:1107548)

well Flav is leaving so they may have traded him...

Nah... i think fisi will be in a Renault... he has been nothing short of brilliant this year and the drive will be fully deserved...

RT · 26 Sep 2004, 18:39 (Ref:1107550)

Quote:

Originally posted by ralf fan
Nah... i think fisi will be in a Renault... he has been nothing short of brilliant this year and the drive will be fully deserved...

Good point. IMHO Fisi will give Fernando fits all season long next year unless FA ups the level of his driving.

Wrex · 27 Sep 2004, 01:48 (Ref:1107852)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kicking-back
The use of the word "retard" is surely not acceptable in polite conversation.

Absolutely! This is very offensive and wont be tolerated.

Quote:

Originally posted by GP Racer
JV - 11th place. He certainly didn't make Flavios decision to sack Trulli look like a good one. Trulli easily could have done as well as this placing. Flavio must be dissapointed in this performance, especially with JV's inability to at least get past Webber.

I've been critical of JV in other threads, but my critism is more at those suggesting it was a good drive, when it was'nt.

That said, it still does'nt mean a poor decision has been made. If JV is back to form in the next 2 races (and for some reason, I still expect him to be) it will prove the right decision. Trulli need to go (for whatever reason), and JV needs to get points. There is nothing to suggest Trulli would have got points either.

As for Ralf, I was quiet impressed with his pace. Especially over Montoya's. However if he really did bail on a good car, then thats is poor to say the least.

I'll wait for some facts though.

Kicking-back · 27 Sep 2004, 10:34 (Ref:1108122)

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich R
maybe renault should try trading flav in for someone else.

He's leaving at the end of 2005.

BootsOntheSide · 27 Sep 2004, 19:37 (Ref:1108733)

Jacques did a reasonable job unde rthe circumstances. he was only ever half a second off Fernando's pace, and it was only the fact that the midfield was very close, coupled with Fernando making better use of the launch control due to being used to cold tyres on teh first lap, that created a major gap between them.

Ralf was impressive as well. It's a shame he didn't finish, btu there've been plenty of races at Williams where he's been outpaced by JPM but survived for an undeserved good result, so I guess the boot's on the other foot.

Barely noticed Glock - he was adequate but unspectacular.

Glen · 27 Sep 2004, 21:20 (Ref:1108860)

Quote:

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Jacques did a reasonable job unde rthe circumstances. he was only ever half a second off Fernando's pace, and it was only the fact that the midfield was very close, coupled with Fernando making better use of the launch control due to being used to cold tyres on teh first lap, that created a major gap between them.

His team said he was a second per lap adrift. By his own admission he wasn't ready to go flat out from the off and was taken aback at the fast pace of the race. He was overtaken by a Jaguar and did not manage to claim the place back despite a far superior car and a track that offered ample overtaking opportunities. His main opponent started from the back of the grid but still scored points. His team-mate ran with the leaders and finished a solid fourth.

In his defence the car is very new and, critically, so are the tyres. The lack of Michelin experience meant that the first lap took him by surprise.

But he had the whole of the rest of the race to make at least one pass to save face - there was a Jaguar sitting in front of him for the entire distance.

JV himself would never sum up that race as a reasonable performance.

Snrub · 27 Sep 2004, 21:45 (Ref:1108884)

I'm not saying JV did well, but in all fairness he got stuck behind Webber so he looked worse than he was probably capable of. While I think he could have done more to get by what would the team be saying if he had crashed it? He had a good battle with JPM. Before slagging JV, keep in mind how well MS did with the slower cars and what happened to him when passing a Jag.

Glen · 28 Sep 2004, 09:40 (Ref:1109148)

Before making that excuse keep in mind how Sato got on from the back of the grid.

ASCII Man · 28 Sep 2004, 09:50 (Ref:1109154)

You compare someone who has been racing and testing in that car all season long with someone who just had 2 days of testing, of which one day was used solely to get a comfortable position in the car, and 2 days of practice?

Forget it, i don't want to draw myself into these shenanigans again...

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