He says that a team approached him and had a ride for him. http://www.planet-f1.com/News/Story_Page/0,15909,3210_3213_1853075,00.html
He does have a point, he can certainly race Nascar until 45 y/o but what an idiot he is by saying publicly that he laughed so much at someone inviting him to return to F1. Talk about burning bridges....
His judgment is absolutely spot on. Why would he even consider an STR ride? For what reason? The most he could hope for with that team is being at the top of the "best of the rest" on the grid. Leave that seat for Scott (not up to) Speed.
He did the right thing, why bother with Toro Rosso? i'm sure if a top team called he would think about it more seriously. Obviously Berger wants to dump Speed and/or Liuzzi something awful, lol
Rumor was that Williams approached him to return to the team shortly after he made his NASCAR announcement.
Seems strange that they would want him back after the way he treated them and what he called everyone on the team. I believe the term was "wanker", at the French GP.
I am pretty sure he offer to run for free to McLaren-Merc. if they let him continue in 2007. McLaren Rejected the offer.
Yes but that was back at the 2003 French GP and the hothead called Ron Dennis on the Monday and asked if he had a seat available, Ron told him not 04 but 05. Frank and Patrick liked Juan, he didn't get along as well with Sam Michael. Say what you want about Juan, but besides Kimi and Alonso, he is the next most talented driver. I'd rather have him than: 1) Fisichella 2) Heidfeld 3) Trulli 4) Ralf S. 5) M. Webber 6) David C. Just to name a few.
How about JPM actually proving that he can be in F1 if he wanted to by driving in a 2nd or 3rd tier team. JPM started in William-BMW, not exactly a crappy team and he went on to McLaren-MB, not a crappy team either. Unlike MS, MH, FA or KR, they all started with a not so competitive team and proved that they can drive. IMO, JPM proven nothing in F1. He may be great in other series, but as far as F1 is concerned, he was just a footnote, at least for now.
+1 Had he chosen to stay in F1 and found himself a competitive ride, I am sure he would have won a WDC before he was through.
It looked that way in 03 before the Michelin debacle. I personally think JPM lost it at Monza that year after the Hungary race. Although he was on Pole, MS's skill really shined at that race.
Yes, yes. And 2007 is really DC's year to be WC. With all due respect, if's and but's don't really count. I had great hopes for him when he first made the transition from CART to F1. I always thought that he has the skills to go toe-to-toe against anyone in F1, as soon as he learns to calms down and learns when to push and when to stay back during the race. In so many ways, Alonso is everything that JPM could have been. But JPM just plain gave up, because he can not get a competitive ride in F1? What about he has no heart to find out that he really couldn't cut it in F1. Say what you will but what Schumacher did in the Jordan at Spa was shearly amazing and brave. He took a leap of faith and gave himself the chance to be one of the greatest driver of all times. IMO, with JPM, having no heart is just as bad as having no skills.
My impression is that Montoya has been hard on equipment. A young team could use him to make sure that their car is sound. After all if he doesn't break it, it's probably a pretty good car. I am not a Montoya fan. He is a whiner. PNH
Kimi's car broke down more often than JPM's did in 05. Kimi is way harder on equipement than JPM ever was.
Williams BMW hasn't been a title contender since 03 with JPM. Before that it was in what 97? They have been on the decline for many years and are now in a state of emergency. McLaren was in the hunt in 05 but JPM had problems in his first year, and didn't correct them in 06. He obviously wasn't into F1. Stuff happens. People should remember just how fast he was on any given day. I agree with Tony, i'd rather have out there instead of all those guys he mentioned. He'd probably beat Massa handily as well. he doesn't want it anymore, period.
Few race car drivers will turn down a shoot at F1, unless they already knew they are simply not good enough. JPM was not good enough, regardless if it was due to a lack of heart or lack of skills. Either way, he couldn't cut it in F1 and he proven that by walking away, period. The saddest thing is that he is talking and acting as if he had won a WC title when his F1 career was fair at best.
Couldn't cut it in F1?!? He was a race winner, for christ's sake. 7 times over. What percentage of F1 drivers can say that? 3/4 of the current grid can't win a GP. JPM is one of the top drivers in the world and one of the top 3 in F1, period, full stop.
7 race wins in 6 years makes him one of the top drivers in the world? Year in and year out, what percentages of drivers on the grid are race winners? Especially right after mega star's retirement? After Senna's death, who else on the grid other than Hill & Schumacher were regular podium visitors that are not in their twilight years? Mansell came back only briefly to help William secure the WCC in 1994 so he doesn't count, Alesi (1 win) and Berger are hardly the Hall of Fame drivers. That leaves Alboreto as the last other race winner on the grid, so that makes 5/25 = 1/5 of the drivers on the grid that are race winner by stat. That's the nature of modern day F1, you will have the young guns, your established top drivers and then the veterans. By your definition, I guess Eddie Irvin was a better driver than JPM as he actually finished 2nd in the standing one year and also was a race winner. RB and DC should be in the Hall of Fame and if that is the case, then Michael Schumacher IS the greatest driver EVER, even better than Senna *Waiting for the Senna fans to exploid anytime now.....*. Look, as I stated before, JPM had talent. He is very capable but for whatever reason, he lost it. Blame it on Ron Dennis, McLaren or whoever, call it the "Michael Andretti syndrom" even, JPM lost the motivation and couldn't handle the pressure that came with being in F1 and quit, you can't deny that. F1 is the same as in any sports, if you have no passion for it, you don't belong there. If he quit before his time and with promises unfilled then yes, he couldn't cut it, regardless if it was due to the lack of ability or mental toughness.
