Davidson not allowed a Williams test?

I think BAR is worried that losing both Davidson and Button to the same team would hurt them. After all Davidson is their lead development and test driver. Think of the huge amount of info BMW could get from Davidson on BAR's operations and engineering and setup info.

I also think that BAR want Davidson around for 06 when Button is sure to leave. Davidson is a huge talent in some people's eyes and BAR/Honda is one of the few teams that would not require Davidson to bring substantial money to the table (which everyone knows he has none of !).

I think once the halfway point of the season is reached, assuming BAR is not in the title race (which might not be the case) Button will be out of the loop (or out of the know) to keep BMW from getting info on the 06 BAR car.

All that being said, Davidson needs a ride soon or he will end up on the permanent "test/development" driver list, destined for a life spent running around in countless circles with no one to race. I can think of worse things to do, but in the end everyone wants at least one chance to race in F1 (not counting his two Minardi races as filling this chance).

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

Heidfeld/Webber........that *can* be an insanely fast combo.

 

Mr. Payne,

Not sure but I think Nick H roots were with Mercedes Touring Cars and had some sort of limited contract with them for a few years, ( which is one of the reasons he was mad at Kimi going to McLaren from Sauber and not he. ) I would agree that it would be a mad combo as Webber seems to be on the ball Nick now has something to prove after being passed up and a few dismal years. I doubt that Mercedes tie still lingers, but I doubt even more BMW will want someone with that background.

RocketBoy

 

Before that could happen, Quick Nick has to beat Jungleboy in testing. Keeping my fingers crossed, but not holding my breath.

The Davidson thing was IMHO pure revenge to Williams for trying to snatch Button. Honda got upset about that, took control of BAR, fired Richards and decided to block Anthony.

 

Ummm, BMW wants Heidfeld because he is German. He is fast, proven over several years.

 

Heidfield won't win anything...unless they start doing one lap races.

He's missed his chances on many occasions.

Davidson is HOT property I reckon.....

Webber is another Damon Hill, quick enough but just too "Nice". No killer instinct when it counts, unless you include punting his team mate off!! Harsh but true!!

 

I like Nick a lot, but have to say I agree with ALL your points. I think Webber is overrated and Davidson will blow the doors off. Oh wait, F1 doesn't have doors. Anyway.

 

Webber has already decimated Davidson in races.

 

Only through reliability problems at Minardi.

Webber is very good, particularly at set up, maybe better than Davidson, but give them the same car with the same reliability and Davidson will be faster.

 

Hmm, so being .5 seconds slower than someone in 2002 qualifying is actually being faster? Interesting.

 

2002 is nearly 3 years ago. Webber has crested, Davidson is rising......

Look, Webber is great (Despite being out qualified by Klien once or twice too often), but I think Davo is special at the moment. he's on fire.

 

I see nothing that makes him so special.

Performing well in practice sessions in a car we don't know is equal to his teammates cars means very little. He raced twice in F1 previous. Did nothing to catch anyone's attention. Got absolutely taken to the meat market as Sato's teammate in Brit F3. Hmmm, he's definitely special.

 

Of course I don't know for sure, but it would be a crazy meaningless thing to run a non equal car for Davo in those practice sessions, where he performed amazingly.

Also, in testing, Davo has shared cars with Button and/or Sato...and blown them away.

Something has clicked in him THIS season, and it's working. It may just be lack of pressure, and he may crumble when under the pump, but if you're shopping for drivers you'd be mad to let him slip without at least testing him.

I'd happily be proved wrong, but I think Webber will struggle with the pressure to win at Williams. Jaguar had nothing to lose.

 

Phil,

I agree with your asessment of Weber. I too think he's overated. Yes he's got blinding speed at times but I think he's another RS in terms of pure racing ability. RS and MW are can be at times very fast but when they go up against some one like Montoya or MS in a wheel to wheel battle they are lost.

Webber will either shine next year and proveus wrong or he will have a so so season and that will be the end of it.

In terms of Heidfield, I don't entirely agree with your opinion. He's never had good equipment and was rushed into F1 too hastily. He should not have taken the drive with Prost (huge disaster) and it didn't help being at Sauber when their car sucked (he did outqualify Kimi half the time). Going to Jordan was a decision by Nick to not "drop" out of F1 and therefore become a testing candidate or be done with F1 but again the car was pathetic.

I think he has blazing speed and very good technical feedback. I also remember my father saying he had good race craft when he dominated both German F3 and International F3000 (he own both titles). He also had some great battles in F3000 in his first year (98) with Montoya, beating him on a regular basis, but losing the title by a few points to his rival.

I think both Webber and Heidfield need to have sensational seasons next year (assuming Nick even has a drive). In Nick's case a bad season ends his career. In Webber's case he just becomes the new DC.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

Jon- good comments, nice to hear opinions based on actual results and not all this Potential hype I typically read about on this board.

I think next year the guys to beat are still the ferrari and mclaren drivers. Hard to see JB repeat this year's fine performance given how he deflated his own balloon.

We've been hearing so much about webber for so many years, now that he's on a decent team next year he's run out of excuses not to produce.

 

We had this discussion a while ago where I went through all the stats of this year's season. Davidson was constantly ahead of Button who was constantly ahead of Sato. Davidson was regularly one of the fastest drivers if not the fastest on Friday mornings.

Of course those numbers don't mean anything, but still I think the guy is fast. I guess once he sits in a real race car under equal conditions we'll see. Same goes for Webber.