Toyota to trash Ralfie?

BMW, as far as I know, has not even started discussions with Nick about next year. Given his performance year-to-date I would expected them to have extended his contract by now. Perhaps they have an eye towards Vettel taking over the seat?

Right now, Heidfeld is a top 5 driver, I would think any team with a seat open would want to sign him.

 

correct, but i think, Vettel will go to STR, should there be any changes in the lineup.

IMO, it's only proper if BMW offer Nick the extension.

 

aside from $$$ issue, i don't see any reason Nick switching teams.

 

correct, but i think Nick's experienced enough now not too go after $$$. a big $$$ pay check doesn't gurantee a fast car. ask Ralf

 

Just as a side note, I cannot wait to see Vettel get a permanent drive. That kid looks like he could really be something special. Whether he ends up going to STR, BMW, or Toyota, I think we are finally going to be able to see what he's made of next year or the year after.

As for Ralfie, he needs to be gone, and sad to say I think Trulli needs to go too. Neither driver seems to be doing anything to help the team advance their standings. It seems apparent neither can help develop the car either. Toyota needs to find two young drivers and build the team around them.

Mark

 

I agree with most of this post, but I think it helps if they have one experienced driver to develop the car. I can't see two young drivers (Vettel for instance) being able to develop the car, quick? Yes, develop? No.

I hope they can rid of Ralf and get a new guy as well.

 

If Ralf gets trashed, he will surely be racing for one of the two Red Bull teams, as he's a close friend to Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull owner. No question that he won't get anything near his current salary.

I hope that Heidfeld won't be replacing him. It wouldn't do him any good, a team whose management is in Germany, whose cars are designed and built in England and that receives orders from Japan just CAN'T be successful...

 

+1 Bingo...

You hit it on the head. Can't be successful and is obviously not. The crux of the their problem has been their whole decision making and manufacturing methodology/business model. Their drivers aren't as bad their 5 points combined this year. Toyota can't run the F1 program the same way they build Camry's although management has been doing just that. Ditching the driver(s) is being in denial.

 

well, first off, i'm quite sure that when Beemer offer Nick a new contract, it'll be surely a good deal, taking into account he's the best now, behind FA, LH, Kimi, and Massa.

and secondly, the problem with Toyota, it's not with the drivers, i think. it's the whole management team. the really went into a nosedive since they've sacked Gascoyne.

and here's a link i hope will work regarding ur question of Mario and Nick. cheers!



[img=http://imajr.com/th/uki.bmp_88677.jpg]

 

You guys are going to think that I'm nuts.....

But a friend of mine in the paddock said that BMW is in talks with Ralf's camp to bring him over to BMW Sauber next year.

Apparently BMW still holds Ralf in high regard from his success in the BMW.Williams.

I told my buddy that he's lost it, but he insisted that the Schumacher name has real value, even if it's the wrong Schumacher.

Gosh, that seems like a long time ago when Ralf was winning races at Williams.

Take it for what it's worth, but I suspect that if true, that would mean that Heidfeld is on his way to Renault.

 

Toyota should fix the car then fix the drivers!

 

I don't think you're nuts...I think BMW is.

 

+1 how many races did he win for Williams? About 4 or so....

 

6 in his time there. More than Montoya who won 4.

 

Yeah and how many years has Ralf been in F1? Six wins in over a decade, great stats you got there.

 

well, IMO, Ralf is just doesn't have the push in him. he seems to win whenever he has the mood only. could be because of MS

 

Brian, the issue with Ralf is, if the car is perfect and he is in the mood, he can be incredibly quick, but most of the time he seems pretty average, with that Salary he should be quick all of the time. Since his time at Toyota, he seems to have lost a bit of the fire.

 

Ralf really only had one great year, 99 i think it was, and has been living off that and his last name for years. He had potential but never fullfilled it. BMW would have to be insane to sign him unless he was just a test driver. Even then it's a bad idea, they have some very good drivers there already. To trash one of them for Half a Schumacher would be a huge mistake.

 

Anyone consider naming a child Schumi Schumacher, because using Ralf as an example it the kid could turn the key in the ignition he would get a 10 figure salary.

 

my point precisely, Tony.

 

What's your point???

That's an apples to apples comparison. Both at Williams for the same period of time.

When you add the McLaren wins to the total, Montoya won 1 more race in his career than Ralf has to date.

Just stating facts. No need to attack.

 

Sold. Why would BMW even consider Ralf? And save yourself the effort of typing "Because he's German". Does anyone in Germany even give a snort about him? Even Michael began to slip as the country's most popular athlete--I can't imagine Ralf registering too highly.