2006 F1 Season

[ECR033]

I'm must admit I'm a bit surprised that Williams have gone first and announced they've replaced Webber when he hasn't publically advised that he is changing teams...

The good news is that given they have annouced their driver line up, I think all the other cards will shortly fall into place - in my opinion, it's almost a forgone conclusion that Webber will be going to Renault next season which would be fantastic.

There hasn't been much noise about Kimi going to Renault lately, so my guess is that he'll either partner Alonso at Maclaren or join Massa at Ferrari (I have a suspicion that Schumi will retire especially if he's in a championship winning position by the time we get to Monza next month).

Since Williams have made their annoucement, I think it will only be a matter of days till we find out where Webber is going - in all liklihood, at this weekends GP in Hungary. Let hope he finally gets the opportunity he deserves to show what he do with a drive in a top team.

[gtr660hp]

So where to for Webber now.........

Red Bull???? Renault??? or Centrelink

If he doesnt secure a good drive for next year its career over-Williams was a waste of 2 vital years for a guy Webber's age

Edited August 2, 2006 by gtr660hp

[Beer Baron]

i am excited but a little nervous. I hope that webber can get in a big mac, but if not a renault would do.

I tell you what would piss me off the most. if williams are quick AND reliable next year without webber. that would really burn my cannoli.

C'mon Webber, put the pressure on flava flav to get you a good deal.

[Roy]

Yeh interesting times.

Webber went to Williams as he said it was a dream come true to drive for the team...SO lets hope he can pull one out of the bag before seasons end. Williams have typically been strong at seasons end

[Beer Baron]

well at the moment he is only finishing 1 out of 3 races so he doesn't have many shots left!

[ctjet]

to take a stab at the top three team line ups, i think it'll be:

RENAULT

Fisi

Kovalainen

MCLAREN

Alonso

Kimi

FERRARI

Schumi

Massa

Webber who knows, there's already so many drivers in long term contracts with top and mdfield teams that his options are looking slim. He cant go to Toyota, Honda, Williams either... Its getting to a point where i want the season to end just so i know who's going where

[Roy]

Schumi could very well retire is he gets this season under hsi belt. Massa is doing a great job but no longer term solution, so Ferrari will gladly get someone is sooner rather then later. So there could possibly be two seats at Ferrari, definitely one seat.

There is a seat at McLaren and Renault, and at BMW. I think Webber is probably the 2nd pic for all these seats, it just depends what Kimi and MS do. I think its unlikley he will miss out on a seat, but its a possibility and a real concern. If th ecunning Flaio wasnt his manager i would be even more worried. And the fact that Falvio is his manager tells me Webber si not very strong for a Mac seat. Has Dennis ever used a Flavio driver??? They hate each other

[ctjet]

Webber is 150% not going to Mclaren. Ron and Flav are not pals and i'd imagine Dennis would go out of his way NOT to hire Mark. He might aswell put Hamilton in.

I kind of want to see what Kimi could do at Ferrari next year, it'd be the first time Schmi didnt have a yes man as his No.2 and he would acctually have to do his own donkey work and testing for once

[Beer Baron]

If webber can't secure either renault, mac, or ferrari then the posibility of a championship, or even a race win are looking slim for the future.

THANKS FOR NOTHING FRANK WILLIAMS!

Frank, webber gave you the best years of his career for a pitance and you repaid him with sh1thouse management choices are a car that would be best described as inconsistent.

Time to go home and burn all my williams merchandise and start wearing my Minardi gear. i'm pretty sure mark finished more often in the minardi than he did this year at williams.

[Roy]

LOL...purge mate. Dont hold anything back. Let us knwo what you really think.

End of 2004, Flav "Ok kid, Williams or Renault...i could use you at Reault. Fisi is ahack and he will suit that dog of a car Frank has built"

Webs "Nah Flav, as a kid i woudl dream of driving a Williams..so there is my decision"

Webs could have had the most dominant car under him in 2005, and a mega competitive car in 2006. Then again the Nazis could have won WWII

[ECR033]

I agree that Webber will not end up at Maclaren.

Aside from the fact that Flav and Ron aren't the best of buds, Webber also had a major falling out with Mercedes after that spectacular accident that he had while driving a Mercedes sports car so it would very much surprise me if he ever drove a Mercedes powered car ever again.

Webber's also mentioned previously in an interview a few weeks back that he had already done a deal for 07, so that leads me to think that since he didn't sign with Frank then perhaps a deal has already been struck with Briatore and Renault and that Flav's comments last week regarding Webber staying at Williams were just a smoke screen.

For what it's worth, my predictions are:

Renault: Webbo and Fisi

Ferrari: Raikkonen and Massa

Maclaren: Alonso and Paffet/Hamilton/Mika Hakkinnen j/k

EDIT: I'm sure Webber regrets the day he signed up for the Grove team - had things gone the other way, he might have had himself a few race victories or dare I say potentially World Championship by now.

[ctjet]

i swear to god if Mika came back, that'd make my decade...

[Beer Baron]

nah, cry baby mika is better off troubling the mid-field in DTM.... (which he is).

that reminds me, does anyone else here watch DTM? I love it. Heinz Harald Fentzen is in there and is doing a lot better than mika that's for sure.

[Roy]

Mika was a dog. DC was quicker then him, was winning GPs in teh same car before him...then politics and team orders took over and DC suffered. He was a dog!

Webbers dad was just on Sydney radio saying not to panic. Mark has a signed deal and its a great move for him............... = Renault (Though he didnt come out and say it) Official announcement in a few days/week

Looks like Count Hardcore can rest easy.

In 2005 when i went to my fist GP i couldnt find any Renault gearr. The way Alonso and Fisi have carried on of late i was glad i couldnt find any...wing nuts. Now Webber looks to be a new signning then i can go back to liking Renault...and start hating poor old McLaren. Now if only Renault would give Old Tom his old job back...

[TOY 33]

Lets all hope - Renualt please please please!

Got to comend him on his professionalism throughout the last 3 months. I personally think he has had a deal stitched up a couple of races ago, because I don't think I know a person that would be able to constrain their emotions like Webber has done recently (other that the Monaco steering wheel incident ).

I am with you ROY I used to be a big Williams fan as I grew up watching my hero Mansell drive the wheels off Franks cars (don't anyone bag Nigel or I will have to go ninja style on ya ) However I will have to reserve my judgement on williams until I know what Web is doing next yr.

If he goes to a top team = Respect for what Frank has done will remain

If he has no drive next yr = NINJA STYLE

*Sits back & waits for the Webber anouncement*

Edited August 3, 2006 by TOY 33

[Deluxe]

Yeh crazy news hey......BUT i do agree he will be heading to Renault next year..... I think Ferrari will be staying the same with Schui and Massa, I think Renault will be Fissi and Webber but not too sure who would get the No 1 car..... don't think it would really matter with a Renault underneath ya, BUT the only thing i think would be wierd would be Kimi and Alonso at McLaren, that would be to guns in the same team, how do they work the No1 and No2 cars situation there!

The only other option would be as said before would be next to DC at Red Bull, which as webber has stated he does like his old team(Jag) and got on really well with them!

C'mon Webber we wanna know, now it's out, you not gonna be pushing a Toyota at Williams anymore! Which is gonna be a Massive bonus for Williams because Toyota HAS some cash to develop, and with 2 teams now running Toyotas they WILL be a force to be reckoned with in the future!

Hmmmm looks like '07 is gonna be a year to watch!!!! Not that i don't stay up and watch anyways!

I think the Frank and webber situation was a joint agreement because sir Frank has always said he loves Mark and he did say earlyer this year he wants him back next year........ but i think Mark just had enough.

FINGERS CROSSED IT IT RENAULT!!!!

Edited August 3, 2006 by Deluxe

[Roy]

I think that performances typically dictate who the no.1 driver is. I dont think a team intentionally nominates no.1 and no.2 drivers. Its not like they hold one back as in an endurance race to see if the other car fails.

With all the new driver line ups it will be up to Webber etc to get in and do good so that a team cant favour the other driver with tactics for the Constructors title and WDC.

I dont hink their is really any formal No.1 and No.2 guys. At Ferrari you end up beign the lap dog because MS is alwyas ahead on points mid year when the championships in view. And no team, een Ferrari can afford another big name alongside MS, which is the only real reason i am ahving trouble swallowign the Kimi to Ferrari alongside MS

[Beer Baron]

imagine this.

masa and someone at ferrari (schu retired)

Alonso and fisi at renault

kimi and webber at maclaren

what a pairing they would be. i would love to see webber drive the nuts off a maclaren.

but troy has given this count some hope with mark's dad sounding confident (unless he is talking up a red bull deal in advance).

so I feel a little better now.

[Beer Baron]

oh, and speaking of webber throwing the wheel at monaco, did anyone see the Danica Patrick tantrum when her car ran out of fuel? that was gold.

[Roy]

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200608/s1704526.htm

Click on radio link

http://www.crash.net/home~cid~1.htm