http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40894 "Ralf Schumacher has announced on his official website that he is leaving Toyota at the end of the season after three years at the team. The 32-year-old German drivers future in Formula 1 beyond this season has been up in the air for some time, with Toyota confirming recently that it would not make a decision on its second driver for 2008 alongside Jarno Trulli until the end of the year. However Schumacher says he has come to the decision to leave the team in search of a new challenge. I have myself decided that after three years at Toyota to go in search of a new challenge, he was quoted as saying on his website. He adds that he will hold conversations about his next destination in the coming weeks and will announce his future plans following the end of the current season. No official announcement has yet been made from Toyota itself. More to follow shortly " What a shocker! Do you think he'll even stay in F1?
Ralf's sacking was expected. I don't think he'll find another F1 seat. The back markers need pay drivers. I think that'd be beyond his pride to sink that low. I'm more wondering who'll fill the 2nd seat. Alonso perhaps?
Ralf has been a disappointment for as long as I can remember. He has been wasting one of the precious few opportunities in F1. Alonso at Toyota would be very interesting.
Flavio stated he welcomes Alonso back from McLaren - so I think that it will definitely be Alonso and Heikki at Renault for next year with Piquet as test driver and Fisi out of a ride there. Perhaps Fisi will find a new home at Toyota. Have a great day. Carol
I agree that Alonso would be more comfortable at a team Mr. Briatore was running; but if money enters the picture Toyota might make him an offer he can't refuse. Fisi on the other hand hasn't seemed to build any value in himself over the past few years. I was surprised when he was renewed for '07 at Renault and can't imagine a team with the resources and opportunity Toyota has would "waste" their seat with an underperformer like Fisi. Nothing personal; I just have not been impressed with him.
i think ralf should get to drive on a race-per-race contract basis. he might be another Michael and turn Spyker into world champs
No surprise, Raplh is past his due date and I sincerely hope he doesn't land a drive. He's made himself wealthy and now it's time to make room, F1 needs fresh blood. I don't see Alonso in a Toyota. He would rather sit out the year, than join an outfit with so many structural problems. Besides Alonso's home is Renault. How about putting Timo Glock in Toyota? Granted, Glock didn't impressed much in '04 when he raced for Jordan but he just won the GP2 championship.
Thanks, same to you! Heikki drove his best race just in the nick of time. Alonso at Renault will be good for the sport. I just feel bad for Piquet. Maybe they can lend him out to another team? I hear there is a vacancy at Toyota.
At last! I can't think of another driver who has contributed so little, but been paid so much. He is not the worst ever F1 driver, but he has to be the worst value.
I would like to see that, I think Fisi is one of the real gentlemen in the sport and deserving of more success adn respect. However I doubt Toyota will go for him.
http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/071002142132.shtml Ralf is saying that Toyota would rather have a two time world champion in his seat. I truly believe that Toyota is the only team willing to fork out the money necessary to buy out Alonso's contract from RD.
I'd be surprised if any "buying out" of Alonso's contract will be necessary, I suspect a termination by mutual agreement is on the cards. I'd also be surprised if Alonso sits out next season. Everything in F1 moves so quickly and not driving a car for a year would make him less attractive to a top team in 09/10. If he can't get into a top team for next season I think he'd be better spending it at a lesser team showing how much he can wring out of an 'ordinary' car.
I know we're just speculating here but if you remember Bernie's quote about FA sitting out the 08 season. I suspect that RD will not let Alonso out of his contact without some major $$$$. It's either he sits out the 08 season or MM getting compensated for some of the money they lost because of Alonso's big mouth. I guess we'll find out soon.
As I mentioned on another thread if Alonso is still under contract with McLaren next year they will have to let him race, they can't force him to sit out the season. There are two sides to a contract - McLaren agree to pay Alonso £10m a year (or whatever it is) in exchange for which he drives their car in F1 races. McLaren cannot unilaterally change that contact and pay him £10m a year to change tyres in the pits, sweep the garage floor, or cut the grass in his garden.
Interesting. I guess it would depend on the wording of the contract, but could they push him off into their B-team (Prodrive)?
You're right, everything depends on the precise wording of the contract and, of course, none of us knows what it actually says. I'd guess, though, that Alonso's 'people' would have made sure there was nothing in the contract that might ultimately prove to be detrimental to their man.
