But… I Thought JV Was “Injured?”
“Following discussions last week, Jacques Villeneuve and the BMW Sauber F1 team agreed to terminate their current contract with immediate effect five races ahead of schedule,” the BMW Sauber F1 statement said.
But weren’t the discussions last week dealing with an “injury” sustained in the German GP? Silly me! “I will now have more time to concentrate on future projects,” Villeneuve said. It’s back into the recording studio I guess, unless someone is fool enough to put him in a NASCAR ride. Parish the thought!
In related BMW news, the company has dropped its ad slogan the Ulimate Driving Machine, wonder if it’s connected to the departure of JV?
Meanwhile as one goes, another arrives: As rumored, Australian Mark Webber will partner Briton David Coulthard at Red Bull next season where he replaces Austrian Christian Klien. Webber is managed by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and had been linked to the champions as a possible successor to Spaniard Fernando Alonso when the champion joins McLaren at the end of the year.
The next domino to fall in all probability will be Renault singing test driver Heikki Kovalainen to replace current World Champion Fernando Alonzo.
Cross posted @ Asian Motorsports.
Formula One, Mark Webber, Jacques Villeneuve, F1, FIA, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
Yeah, I was a little sus on the injury thing too, but gave him the benefit of the doubt. Whatever.
I for one won’t be missing him, after shooting himself in both feet with BAR in 99 he had plenty of chances to bail out & rebuild his career. At one time there, early 2000/1 there was a shot at McLaren Mercedes.
Somehow I think he, & without any doubt his manager Craig Pollock, were somewhat clueless in dealing with F1. I mean seriously, “oh..um…I don’t actually do promotional work, I don’t want to do any sponsor work”. For the love of God! It’s a commercial sport, what were they thinking. The fact that he got away with that kind of crap when BAT owned the team is a mystery to me, let’s face it BAT were only in F1 for promotion of their brand.
I guess the real question is, how good was he really as a driver? With a superior Williams Renault under him he took it to Schumacher in a Ferrari that was a little shaky in 97.I think we may have over rated him, he was good, very good in fact, but not “great” like his old man.
With a total of 11 wins, the terms “great” and JV should never be used in the same sentence.
I truly hope he picks up a NASCAR ride, at any level, for the pure joy of continuing to lampoon and deflate his own self proclaimed importance.