Donut King

Ralf Schumacher is to leave the Williams-BMW Formula One team and sign for Renault for next season, according to his manager.

Willi Weber told Tuesday's edition of Bild newspaper that he and the younger brother of six-time world champion Michael had agreed all the details with Renault supremo Flavio Briatore.

"We have agreed every point of the contract with Briatore," said Weber. "The signing of the contract is a mere formality."

Ralf, 28, has been unhappy at Williams for a while and even with the impending departure of Colombian team-mate Juan-Pablo Montoya at the end of the season for McLaren - and the expiry of his own contract - he is keen to leave.

Schumacher, winner of six races in 116 Grands Prix, had launched a broadside at the team's boss Frank Williams at the end of February over his ongoing contract negotiations.

"Even if me and my manager Willi Weber would find it hard to leave behind our friends at BMW, there's a chance it could happen. It would be sad but I can't allow myself to be treated like that by Williams," said Schumacher who finished fourth in the season opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

"I'm not frustrated. But I find it hard to understand certain things that have happened these past few months." Schumacher claimed that Williams accused him of only being interested in money. "Frank Williams says I'm nothing but a money-grabber. I can only laugh at that. He knows that I would accept to cut my current salary in half," added Schumacher, who finished fourth in the drivers championship last season.

- F1-live.com

This could well clear the path for webber to get a drive with williams now :)

Night_Lurker

Ok so webber at williams thats one seat, who will take the other?? A swp with one of the renault drivers? Bring one of the test drivers up??

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suttoinc

Does David Coulthard still want a drive next year? he did start at williams

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PigDog

There's also been talk of Jenson Button heading back there

Ambrose_1

David Coulthard probably wont get a Williams drive, Scotty Dixon in the other Williams seat beside Mark Webber i say! Scott Dixon got a test drive with Williams F1 team if you guys didnt know that, if he got a drive with them i think i would support Williams hardout

Thanks for the story Donut King

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FoMoCo4eva

wow now thats news...good on renault though....now why cant jag improve like that!!

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Projekt`[J]

I was under the impression that Button would get the drive over Webber, at Williams-BMW next season, but if Ralf goes hopefully it would be Button and Webber.
I think that would be a good combination and maybe one who can finally take it to Ferrari as far as drivers go, it just all depends on the equipment that there given.

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ford.boy

I reckon that Webber is definitly in now.
With montoya and now Ralf out, now Bee em have to find two new drivers.

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"When I joined the marines all they gave us was two sticks and a rock! And we had to share the rock between the whole platoon!"
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XR6turbo

Its all good news, and i can only hope that webber is in a williams next year!

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Devil_Racer

if not there is a spare seat at Mclaren... and dare I say maybe Ferrari, but not for a little while yet.