9 replies to this topic

[schtix]

Shortly after Flavio took over at Benetton in 1991 Nelson Piquet (senior) "retired" from the sport. Does Flav have the distinction of firing both father and son from a Formula One team?

[kayemod]

There isn't much of a nostalgia component to this, it should be moved to Raving Comments, where it's probably already being discussed by the hyenas that inhabit that place.

[Twin Window]

Actually I disagree; IMHO it's an interesting question, and given that the former incident occurred the best part of twenty years ago it thus qualifies as 'nostalgic' (well, of sorts).

I certainly can't think of another example. Good spot!

[Richard Jenkins]

Kayemod, I have to agree with Twinny - sometimes, bizarre as it sounds, nostalgia is always happening & things like this interest me. It's nice to know if history is being made as it happens.

Nico Rosberg could leave Williams at some stage and would be the 2nd Rosberg to leave the team as a result... that's the one that immediately springs to mind.

Although both Sir Jack & David Brabham drove for, and then left/retired/was sacked by Brabham - that's the closest I can think of...

Edited by Richie Jenkins, 11 August 2009 - 13:17.

[Seebar]

Shortly after Flavio took over at Benetton in 1991 Nelson Piquet (senior) "retired" from the sport. Does Flav have the distinction of firing both father and son from a Formula One team?

I don't know whether Nelson senior was fired by Briatore. AFAIK, Benetton took on Piquet for 1990 with that bonus clause for points scored, fearing that he wasn't that motivated anymore, and an option on him for 1991. There were some rumours that Piquet could have gone back to Williams for 1991 but chose to remain loyal to Benetton, which had hired him at a time (1989) where everyone thought he was a spent force.

At that time of course, Briatore was only commercial manager and was, by 1991, team principal. I suppose he reckoned by the end of 1991 that Benetton had two of the all-time greats, one of which was 39, and one of which was 22. But I don't think Nelson was fired, rather than being told his services weren't needed in 1992. Does anyone know whether he had a valid contract for 1992? In which case yes, he probably did sack father and son.

[Fletcher]

At that time of course, Briatore was only commercial manager and was, by 1991, team principal. I suppose he reckoned by the end of 1991 that Benetton had two of the all-time greats, one of which was 39, and one of which was 22. But I don't think Nelson was fired, rather than being told his services weren't needed in 1992. Does anyone know whether he had a valid contract for 1992? In which case yes, he probably did sack father and son.

AFAIK Piquet didn't have a contract for 1992, but I remember there was some talk about him making a return to replace Brundle, who had had quite a rocky start as Wunderkind's teammate. The accident in Indy ended the speculation.

[RStock]

But I don't think Nelson was fired, rather than being told his services weren't needed in 1992. Does anyone know whether he had a valid contract for 1992?

AFAIK Piquet didn't have a contract for 1992, but I remember there was some talk about him making a return to replace Brundle, who had had quite a rocky start as Wunderkind's teammate. The accident in Indy ended the speculation.

I remember seeing the reason Nelson was at Indy was because he had "no offers" for his services in F-1 .

[kayemod]

I remember seeing the reason Nelson was at Indy was because he had "no offers" for his services in F-1 .

True in a way, but Nelson's services never came cheap, he probably meant 'No offers at the kind of price I'm asking', he knew he was the fastest driver ever and priced himself accordingly. Even though he wasn't quite the driver he'd once been, I don't doubt he could have found something reasonably quick and mid-grid if he'd been prepared to lower his monetary demands somewhat, and it was only the money offered that lured him to Indy in the first place. Nelson reckoned that Bernie underpaid him badly, and that was never going to happen again.

[man]

Actually, there was talk of Piquet replacing Prost at Ferrari for 1992. I think the arrival of TW at Benetton was a factor and his relationship with Martin Brundle.

[RStock]

True in a way, but Nelson's services never came cheap, he probably meant 'No offers at the kind of price I'm asking', he knew he was the fastest driver ever and priced himself accordingly.

Yes , that might have been " no suitable offers" instead of "no offers" .