As reported on www.tsn.ca........... Irvine: Michael doesn't have the 'balls' Eddie Irvine TSN.ca Staff 1/4/2006 12:23:33 PM Eddie Irvine says Michael Schumacher faces stiff opposition from Formula One's young guns and that Jenson Button will never be more than a second-rate driver unless he beats new teammate Rubens Barrichello next season. The former Ferrari driver tells Motorsport News that Schumacher will be no match for the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso in the quest to regain the world championship in 2006. "Michael's up against guys who are half his age and have twice the balls," said Irvine. "Michael never had big balls. He wasn't like Senna, he takes calculated risks. He's not a great poker player. His problem is he knows the other two guys have got an ace because they are in their 20s so I think that's going to be his weakness from now on." "Michael is still a 9.1 out of 10 and the other guys are a nine. But age doesn't matter. You don't lose it. I was better in my last year than I was at any stage. Irvine believes next season should be one of the best in Formula One history. "We've got the best three drivers that have been in F1 for at least 10 to 15 years," says the outspoken Irishman. "People talk about Mansell, Piquet and Prost but I don't think the Piquets and Mansells are in that league. These guys are right there in the Senna league." "We haven't had this level of ability in a long time. Michael had monopolized the whole thing but now he's got two guys that are probably as quick as him." As for Button, Irvine says the highly touted Englishman will either show the much talked about talent he has or confirm he's not in the same league as the best in the sport. "Rubens is the perfect measure for him. Can Jenson step up to the mark or be relegated to being a number two for the rest of his career?" "Never has a world champion been blown off by all his team-mates," Irvine said. "Jenson has been beaten by all of them apart from Takuma Sato and Jacques Villeneuve. I have to keep looking at that - it is evidence you can't ignore." "I just worry about his pace because (Jarno) Trulli killed him and (Giancarlo) Fisichella killed him and there was nothing between him and Jacques really - and Jacques was totally unfavoured in that team (BAR)." Still, Irvine believes there is a role for Button to play even if he doesn't win the championship. "I'd employ Jenson as a number two driver. His strengths are he doesn't make mistakes, rarely goes off the track and brings it home all the time." Button has yet to win a Grand Prix race in 100 career starts. No future world champion has gone that lone without winning a race. I would like to know at what point in time did the media feel it is important for us common people to need to know what is on Eddie Irvine's mind. The guy is downplaying Nelson Piquet (3-time WC) and Nigel Mansell (1-time WC), and claiming the newest batch of hot shoes are all in Senna's league, which is way above Piquet and Mansell. What a freaking schmuck! When Alonso or Kimi have won their 3rd WC, he can then open his mouth. Until then, he should keep his mouth shut!
Well I always liked Eddie and he is entertaining. He does have a point about 2006 being another very good year for F1 with three hot title contenders. His comments on Piquet etc are just the usual hot air he is blowing to get some attention. I rather take that than the PC polished news conferences all the current F1 driver give.
He wants Button's job... I'd say let him have it and have Jenson start a boy band with Kevin Federline and Nick Lachey. Rubino will be out of there faster than he ability to relinquish his lead to the #1 driver... which usually took milliseconds. Personally, I think its good to see Irv has gotten over his post driving, "retirement" life party and is sober enough to stand up, brush aside the latest model he's banging, fall out of bed and find a TV camera and say such wonderful predictions. We miss James Hunt, and Eddie does a good job to remind us of such wonderful characters. RocketBoy
irv always gives comments like as if he's a massive F1 legend. it's always crap most of the times. it'll be totally diff if had been a champ at least once. at least, maybe ppl will listen.
You can't blame him for being sour grapes. A 4th tire from his mechanics at Nuerburgring would have given him and the Scuderia the title just nicely. In the entire history of F1 no other driver who hasn't gotten the title has lost it by as little as Eddie did. That's how close he came.
Ain't that the truth! Piquet, meh. As for Senna, I was a member of the "anybody but Senna" club. Dirtiest driver ever to sit in a race car. I'm not denying his talent. He was exceptional in his car control. But ethically he was the Dale Earnhart of F1. Guess what kids: dying in a race car doesn't make a sinner into a saint. As or Irvine, he's always had a mouth on him. And it is useful to recall some of his earlier pronouncements. Back when he was driving he declared himself to be the second-best driver in F1, after Schumacher. So once upon a time he considered Schumacher to be the best,and for anyone who knows racing drivers, for any top driver to admit that a rival is better is pretty significant. You've never heard Kimi or Juan pablo, or even Rubens, admit that anyone else was better. Also fun to rem that Irvine, in his first F1 race, unlapped himself from the leader, Senna, and got punched for his trouble. As recounted by teammate Berger: "Senna took boxing lessons in the off-season, and was just looking for someone to punch."
You're good, but you gotta read the fine print of my statement: "who hasn't gotten the title" Prost got the title in four other years. You can tell I thought long and hard about this one.
The dirtiest driver to ever sit in an F1 car was one Mr Michael Schumacher. He took out Hill in 94 to win the title(he hit the wall, broke his suspension and made sure he was right in Hill's way on track taking them both out), tried to blatently take out JV in 96 and got his tail kicked in the press for it. Removed HHF from the track in Canada, I believe it was. The list goes on and on. MS is just as "dirty" as Senna was if not worse. Eddie Irvine has always had an attitude with Senna since he got punched in the chops by him so i tend to disregard anything he says about him, lol
To me at least, he always seems to be trying to say that other's are as good or better than Senna was. Just reading that quote, I mean ok FA and Kimi are stellar but neither one of them are a Senna like talent. Yet anyway. I dunno maybe it's just me.
Luis, Irvine has been all over the place on Senna. First he said he couldn't believe how poor handling the FW16 was and how Senna kept on track. Later when he was MS's teammate he commented on how Schumacher kept his foot in it around the corners rather than feathering the throttle like Senna (he did this during the turbo era do keep the downforce in the corners and lag to a minimum). But overall he has been complimentary towards A.S. However, comparing FA and KR to either Senna or MS is stupid. Perhaps in time but not yet.
Tony It shows how little he knew as a driver. MS kept his foot in it because he was braking with the other. He's always has had a go-kart type of style and it works for him. Senna used to jab at the throttle instead of feeding it in to yaw the car for the next corner. That worked for him as well. Two different driving styles totally lost on Irv.
Ha ha .. I reacted too speedily but you got to also give props to Stirling Moss in 1958 - lost to Hawthorn by 1 point and only because he testified on behalf of Hawthorn that he did not reverse on the circuit
Irvive.... Irvine... I KNOW that I have heard that name before... Oh yeah! Wasn't that the guy that screwed up nailing the driver's championship when he had the fastest F1 car under his buttocks and his team mate MS had broken his leg?
And at the same time, kept his former Toyota Japan team mate, Tom Kristensen (who was regularly faster than Irvine and Villeneuve in the same cars) off of the Ferrari team. Kudos. BHW
I got to chat with Eddie once and give him a little jab while doing it. During qualifying for the '95 Canadian GP his scraped his Jordan against the wall in turn 4, braking the right rear wheel. He got out and a couple of photographers showed up getting right in his face so he climbed up onto the scaffolding/stand I was on (I was the radio communicator for this session) to avoid them. He asked me if I'd been told who had the pole, I replied I didn't know, and when was he going to get one? He took it pretty good saying "I need a car, don't I?".
Prost lost to Lauda by 1/2 point in '84. Or do you mean for someone who never won a title? Either way... This story's headline should have said "Eddie Irvine Speaks. (Yawn)."
Who gives a flip what Eddie thinks. Eddie is all hot air. He just like to get peoples feathers all ruffled. He is a has been, and acts like the spoiled rich punk he is. Micheal is the greatest driver of all time. Like him or not he IS the greatest. How can a guy on CRAP tires, with a CRAP car, STILL finish 3RD in the championship points, AHEAD of both the second cars (Mercedes & Renualt) in the top teams, with BETTER tires, with another driver who claims he is better (Juan Pablo), HOW? Because Shumie IS the THE greatest. As stated, Eddie couldn't even do it when he had THE best car (Ferrari)! Then he opens his mouth to say Michael isn't good. HA! Eddie be quiet and drink your whiskey.
well, in a way, ur right. but that happens all the time. remember the ferraris nightmare at the malaysian Gp in 2001?
