VincentVega said:
"Fired twice"? Time for someone to check his facts, I think.
OK not fired exactly... (although whatever happened at Benetton was sus) but certainly not wanted in favour of other drivers in 2 teams whichever way you word it.
The point is though, had he blown people away exactly like Senna and Schumacher did on their arrivals in F1, then he'd have had his contract renewed and would not have been passed over in favour of other drivers.
VincentVega said:
They signed Ralf S. instead (to their eternal regret, I
suspect).
I don't see why they'd regret signing him, he matched the great Montoya pretty much during their time together, and it's well documented about his abilties to develop and set up a car. Both Sam Michael and Patrick Head are great admirers of his talents.
If Williams didn't have someone of that calibre with those skills, Montoya would have struggled. Big time.
VincentVega said:
If you've sacked a driver (for being too slow/too political/falling out with the team/etc) one year, why try and sign him up a few years later?
Never said he was too slow, nor that he fell out with his team. He just didn't do enough to impress to have his services retained, instead being passed over in favour of other drivers... does that sound like the next Schumacher?? thought not.
Why would they try to re-sign him? Well Williams were lacking a driver at the time, and if memory serves the market wasn't exactly chocker of 'top' drivers, which Button undoubtedly is.
But they only tried to sign him after Fisichella fell through (some allege it was Flav holding Williams to ransom with Webber) shame, because Fisichella is a better driver than Button, and a Webber/Fisi lineup would have been interesting.
That's not to say that Webber/Heidfeld won't be... I rate Quick Nick, he did after all more than hold his own against that other 'Next Schumacher' Raikkonen. I was beginning to think he was the new Fisi, wrong place wrong time.
VincentVega said:
Likewise, at Benetton, his deal was only for two years. He wasn't sacked and there has never been any indication that this happened. Both Trulli and Alonso are Flavio Brigatore-managed drivers. Flavor Flav also manages the Renault F1 team. You may think there's a conflict of interest there. I couldn't possibly comment.
They way in which he 'left' Benetton is sus though, was it because he didn't have an especially good season?? or was it because of Flav abusing his power?? who knows for sure.
But, if Button had been the next Schumacher though, Flavio Briatore wouldn't have let him go, it really is that simple.
VincentVega said:
Not having a contract renewed does not equate to being fired.
One could also say, "Not having a contract renewed does not necessarily equate to being fired."
Nope, but it usually means that you didn't do enough to warrant the contract being renewed, especially in F1 terms.
Anyway... it's all gravey isn't it...
Button the next Schumacher?? my arse... next David Coulthard?? 98% probability.
Anyhow... you come across as being knowledgable about F1, how long you been following the sport? fav team? driver? etc etc.
As you will have undoubtedly guessed, I'm a Ferrari fan first and foremost and then whoever happens to be driving for them. Been one since the early '80's. I can't quite peg it to either '83 or '84 though. Just missed out on the Villeneuve era, and all those funky innovations like the turbofan, full ground effects, CC twin chassis etc etc which kinda bums me out a bit.
