UTA_flyinghigh From Tunisia, joined Oct 2001, 6495 posts, RR: 52 Posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 807 times:
From the HP intranet :
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team today announced that Nick Heidfeld will drive alongside Australian Mark Webber for the 2005 season.
After weeks of uncertainty, the team announced its decision at the unveiling of its 2005 car, the FW27, in Valencia.
Heidfeld had been up against Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia for the best seat still available on the starting grid.
"We did a lot of testing to make the choice. It was a very difficult choice in the very last minute", commented BMW WilliamsF1 Team Principal, Frank Williams. "A very close call."
The decision gives Heidfeld, who raced for Jordan last season after spells at now-defunct Prost and Sauber, a real chance of winning races with a team that triumphed in the last grand prix of 2004.
"It's fantastic to finally have the chance of being part of a World Championship team. It's definitely the big step I hoped for in the last couple of years," said Heidfeld.
Antonio Pizzonia will continue to support the team's efforts as official test and reserve driver in 2005.
"Quite obviously I'm quite disappointed, but I'm still quite young. Yet I'll do my very best to help the team in the championship", he said.
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Yukimizake From Japan, joined Mar 2004, 529 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 772 times:
Finally we get to see a decent teammate for Mark Webber, who until now has proven nothing in F1. It's also good to see Heidfeld in a competitive car after he got shafted by Mclaren.
'Opfer müssen gebracht werden (Sacrifices must be made)' - Otto Lilienthal
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 746 times:
"Mark Webber, who until now has proven nothing in F1."
"and show the whole world what a loser Mark Webber really is."
While Webber still has a lot to prove there is no way you could say anyone who gets a Williams drive (even in the years when they didn't do that well) is a loser.
You guys should start www.markwebberloser.com if you are that vocal...
Bill142 From Australia, joined Aug 2004, 8320 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 740 times:
Webber is one of the most commited drivers on the grid. He has the ability to do what it takes and working with Heidfeld will be much better for Williams than if they had chosen Pizzonia as Webber hasn't been discreet about his opinions of Pizzonia.
"Mark Webber, who until now has proven nothing in F1."
Just because Mark Webber has no wins or podiums against his name he has taken to Ferrari, McLaren and even Williams in qualifying on a number of occasions in inferior cars. You cannot tell me getting to 5th position on debut in a Minardi isn't saying something about his talent?.
In an age where the car is everything Mark Webber has proven alot.
Springbok747 From Australia, joined Nov 2004, 4387 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 734 times:
You cannot tell me getting to 5th position on debut in a Minardi isn't saying something about his talent?
That was because 14 cars got knocked out and only 8 cars finished that race. The only real competiton Webber had there was the Toyota of Mika Salo, but he had his own problems, and was falling behind anyway.
Agreed, everyone has to have talent to compete in F1...it's the ultimate in motor sport. Webber, till now has not had good cars to show what he can really do. Hope he does something with the Williams...maybe even win a few races. But, McLaren look much better now...with Montoya and Raikonnen, maybe they'll challenge Ferrari this time, instead of BAR, Renault and Williams. It's been a very long time since we saw McLaren at the front, hope 2005 turns out better.
Bill142 From Australia, joined Aug 2004, 8320 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 726 times:
That was because 14 cars got knocked out and only 8 cars finished that race. The only real competiton Webber had there was the Toyota of Mika Salo, but he had his own problems, and was falling behind anyway.
Admittedly true. However there have been many other instances where Webber has been able to show what he can do. For instance Germany 2004, he was able to pull off some very nice passing moves on cars which were considerably faster and more reliable.
It's been a very long time since we saw McLaren at the front, hope 2005 turns out better.
After the fiasco which was the MP4-19 lets hope so. Raikkonen is less likley to say or do something which will aggrivate JPM and cause tension in the team like Ralf would.
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