Well, we all knew it was coming, should make for some interesting team orders with Ralf next year.

http://www.formula1.com/magazine/news/1027.html

-Charlie

So who will be the #1 driver for McLaren - Kimi or Juan?

Probably depends on who does better in 2004. Sad to see Juan go but I am guessing he's tired for Ralf's drama.

Any guess on who will replace Montoya?

Originally posted by Chappy
Any guess on who will replace Montoya?

Villeneuve or Webber.

-Charlie

McLaren will follow the same team-orders policy they've had in effect since the days of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost -- There are no orders, and that's how it should be. I think signing Montoya to partner Raikkonen is a brilliant move on Ron Dennis' part. This will easily be the most feared driver pairing in F1.

Having said that, I'm disappointed that Juan will be leaving Williams. The move was motivated by money and nothing more.

I don't mean only team orders. There is a lot more behind the scenes for the driver who is preferred more than the other.

Of course its all about money. Montoya was only getting paid a fraction of Ralfs salary, but delivering much better results. I am also really disappointed that he's leaving. I liked the combo, and Mclaren never striked my fancy.

This was entirely expected, but still bad news for BMW. Ralf isn't strong enough to carry the team alongside a novice driver.

"Sad to see Juan go but I am guessing he's tired for Ralf's drama."

Or McLaren is paying him far more :rolleyes:

Ralfy is trying to get an increase from 13 mil to 18 mil
Montoya is at 6 mil and reportedly getting 9.5 mil from mclaren.

The thing I'm not entirely sure about is if McLaren is going to provide as competitive of a chassis as Williams - and obviously BMW has the better engine. Ilmor's reliability and power hasn't been so great. Is the 2004 McLaren going to be all new, or just minor revisions? How about 2005?

An unfortunate turn of events, but they have been discussing this for months now on the F1 news networks. This early announcement was a pretty poor move on Juan's part since the Williams team will probably have a rather odd working relationship with him at the track…in their knowing that he will leave next year and that Ralf will stay until 2008. McLaren must be ecstatic about it since they have had such a drab team this past year...Montoya’s South American flair will be a great welcome. However, in the end, I hope that BMW can pick up Rubens Barrichello from Ferrari for 2005...which has come up as a definite possibility from more than one source...

There are rumors floating around that Williams might let JPM go even before 2005. It's just a rumor and Williams are denying it, but you never know in F1. Makes sense to me. Why would any team want to let their new developments/secrets be known to someone who will be leaving them for one of their biggest competitors.

Speaking of JPM's relationship with Williams-BMW, I read that it's been pretty sour since Magny-Cours when JPM bad-mouthed the team.

On a personal level, I can't wait to see JPM get out of Williams. I hate the conceited prick! Ralf was easily the faster driver in '03 and would have been higher up in the standing if not for his rotten luck.

Anyway, can't wait to see how JPM's fairs at McLaren. Ron Dennis is definitely not the kind of person that puts up with attitude from his drivers. Impressive pairing, though! My money is definitely on Kimi however. What Kimi did with the underperforming MP4-17D is nothing short of incredible. He's fast becoming my favorite driver, and I think I know who I am gonna root for. After MS, of course! :-)

on 10/3 i "speculated" this ;)

i "speculate" ;) that JV will snuggle with RS at Williams.

regards,
terry

Wow...you repeated the rumors that have been running around the internet all season...

With all the talk lately of Montoya being let go early do you think there could be a possibilty of JPM and Coultard swithing seats for the 2004 season. It seems like a viable option. Williams doesn;t want to give any secrets away and Coultard is still a great driver. it makes sense to me.

Originally posted by qwickm3
[B]With all the talk lately of Montoya being let go early do you think there could be a possibilty of JPM and Coultard swithing seats for the 2004 season. It seems like a viable option.


most likely JPM will go to Mclaren in 2004.


Williams doesn;t want to give any secrets away and Coultard is still a great driver. it makes sense to me.


how about dollar$ & $enSe? ;)

JPM will make alot more $$ at Mclaren.

rumors? ha! no "rumors" here mate! just the visions as they come to me in the night....and from deep inside F1 ;)


regards,
terry

The internet is full of people with sources "deep" in F1. The people who say they have those sources are never the folks that really do. Similar to the way a humble person will never be heard saying that he is humble. ;)

Please of great one, don't take your info away from us lowly folks. :)

Originally posted by M3Buff
Ralf was easily the faster driver in '03 and would have been higher up in the standing if not for his rotten luck.

ralf qualified on the front row 6 races and finished on the podium in only 3. his teammate qualified on the front row only 5 races but finished on the podium for 9 races! and bad luck? montoya managed to do that while retiring from 3 races, and ralf from just 2. what does this tell you? that ralf was busy getting passed while montoya was busy passing... bad luck isnt spinning after getting passed and losing places, bad luck is blasting to the front with an almost 7 second lead in the first few laps of a race and then your cars hydraulics going out (jap gp)... maybe ralf is the fastest driver, but he sure as hell doesnt produce when race day comes:complain :complain

My brain sources say Jensen Button. He seems like the logical one, since I am pretty sure he is still under contract with Williams.