F1 news..I think it's official.... - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

JEM · 11-17-2003, 14:56

well i've been told this morning by a mate that JPM will be driving for Mclaren next season. Apparentky he saw it on a news bulletin this morning.

Can anybody confirm this? And if true, could this be the opening for webber into Williams?

The Mighty XE · 11-17-2003, 15:00

Formula1.com is saying that he is joining McLaren in 2005 and will be driving for Williams next year

Quote:

McLaren have finally ended the speculation surrounding Juan Pablo Montoya�s future by announcing that the Colombian driver will join the team for the 2005 Formula One season.

Montoya, who finished third in this year�s drivers� championship, entered the sport in 2001 with Williams. He will complete the 2004 season with the team before making the switch to his new employers.

"I am thrilled to be joining Team McLaren Mercedes," said Montoya. "The team is consistently a strong World Championship contender and has a fantastic heritage. It's a great opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to the first time I will be able to drive one of their cars. To join them is an amazing challenge and experience which I plan to fully enjoy.�

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said of the news: �The opportunity to sign a talent like Juan Pablo was too good to miss, and there is already a considerable amount of anticipation within our team about 2005.

�Juan Pablo has achieved a considerable amount of success in his career and we are certain that he will add to this with Team McLaren Mercedes. We are certainly looking forward to seeing what he can do in one of our cars and I believe that it's a prospect that can't fail to excite Formula One fans around the world.�

McLaren will confirm their full 2005 driver line-up at a later date, but the team's 2004 Championship challenge will be lead by David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen.

Perana XR8 · 11-17-2003, 15:11

Good luck to JPM. I would have to think that Kimi will be the other driver for Mclaren in 2005. David's been there a long time and needs a change of team.

FordHawk · 11-17-2003, 15:25

Does that leave room for a possible Mark Webber move? It would seem a chance.

TS50 · 11-17-2003, 15:38

well JPM still has a year at Williams
you got to wonder if Williams will favour Ralf more next year, they would certainly prefer a world champion (if either of them can win it) to remain at their team the following year

JR · 11-17-2003, 16:17

So JPM to McLaren, Webber to Williams and Coulthard to Jaguar????

Makes a nice little theory. Let's hope MW gets the break he so richly deserves with Frank Williams.

My only though is that he may show up Ralf Shumacher in equal equipment, so BMW may not be too keen to have their #1 looking second rate with a team mate that knows something about racing to finish and not just racing to the first corner.

Ambrose_1 · 11-17-2003, 18:35

I actually doubt this very much, what are your sources?

XR6VCT · 11-17-2003, 19:19

The news of Juan Pablo Montoya going to McLaren in 2005 is definitely 100% official. All the major F1 sites are running this story and there is an official press release on the McLaren F1 site about it http://www.mclaren.com/mediaroom/pre...1117110045.htm

However what is interesting is the timing of this news. It�s a very odd time to announce it.

My prediction is that this move will open up the door for Mark Webber to go to Williams. My understanding is that while MW has a long-term contract with Jaguar he does have an exit clause after next season.

There had been rumours of JPM going to McLaren since the middle of this season, after it appears there was some love lost between JPM and Williams (In particular at the French GP). It is speculated that JPM and McLaren wanted this move to happen for next season, but Frank Williams would not release JPM from his contract (or in other words, he wanted to much money from McLaren to do so).

The rumours then died down for a while however later on in the season (around the U.S Grand Prix � from memory) the rumours surfaced again, this time involving JPM to McLaren, MW to Williams and DC to Jaguar (all for the 2004 season). It sounded like JPM and McLaren were very keen for this to happen, but, Jaguar didn�t want to release MW, nor did DC want to leave McLaren to go to Jaguar (especially considering he has a contract for McLaren in 2004).

Now it appears as if JPM and McLaren have finally given up on trying to make this happen for 2004. But, (and finally back to my original comment) why announce it now? Something doesn�t quite add up. It is certainly going to make it tough for JPM next season. No doubt, Williams�s will favour favour Ralf Schumacher over him � it�s going to make for a very tough season for him.

Tripper · 11-17-2003, 20:32

Webber to the Dancing teeam is what will happen

Hulk Bunghole · 11-17-2003, 21:09

It's a very strange situation announcing something nearly a year and a half before their first race. But F1 is tangled with all sorts of bizarre contracts these days. So nothing is suprising really. But I wouldn't be suprised to see ralf get the boot then as well, and his contract is up then as well, and he costs a lot, and doesn't really do his pay justice. I can see Webber there for sure. Frank and Patrick haven't made it a secret that they like the way Webber goes about his racing, and their favorite driver they have worked with was Alan Jones. So they seem to like the no bullshit guys that don't expect rose petals thrown in front of them when they walk. Plus Webber will be cheap, it's just a payout to Jag that will need to be settled first.