59 replies to this topic

[magic]

eddie in interview;

....He ended by saying: "Contrary to popular belief, I didn't even get a pay rise switching from Ferrari. It's just that I feel Jaguar is partly my baby. It's something that I'm trying to help build. I have a great deal of input here, and that's how I like it. Why do you think Schumacher joined Ferrari, a team that hadn't won the championship in 20 years."

Why do you think Schumacher joined Ferrari?

[Nikolas Garth]

For the challenge and for the chance of "Racing Immortality". No doubt the increased pay packet was a fantastic bonus, but why would he want to repeat 95 again, in 96 with the same team. Too boring.

[355 boy]

Exactly - to win the WDC with Ferrari is automatic entry into the motorsports hall of fame. To win it after a 21 year drought...

Plus the GNP of a small country every year in your bank can't be a bad thing

[Megatron]

Driving for Ferrari at anytime has always been passionate and intriguing.

I remember the first F1 race I watched, I remember the Williams and the McLaren were way out in front of everyone, but those people I didn't really think about. I kept an eye on the (slow) Ferrari's. I remember thinking "Hey thats a Ferrari! But they suck! Oh, who cares, they beautiful!".

The aroa surrounding Ferrari has a lot to do with any driver. Good or bad, fast or slow, more people will reconize that car than any other. The only other team that evoked such strong emotion might be Lotus, even when they were bad, people still watched them.

Money no doubt had a lot to do with it, though.

[John B]

Agreed, and importantly he picked up two world titles quickly with Benetton, which gave him some latitude in giving up a season or two to develop the Ferrari.

[ASaSeN]

He joined for the challenge,he has stated that before.

He obviously got bored with whipping DC and damon in 95 and he wanted more.

[John]

Why would a world champion leave his world championship team and go to another team?

Recently, you can ask Jax, Damon, Senna (he stated why, so did Ron Dennis), Prost for some examples. The challenge, better potential, more influence, compensation, all of which are common influences in the sporting world.

Specifically, MS, like any other driver on the grid, would not hesitate to join Ferrari as their #1, and for such a deal. The challenge is something to look forward to, but I think is secondary in the MS/Ferrari case.

Is their anyone here who knows the kind of relationship between Briatore and MS at Benneton? Do you think MS felt Briatore had the real run of the team, so he went to Ferrari? Briatore was on his way out, no? Would it have mattered?

[goGoGene]

$

ggg

[Todd]

Steve Machette addressed this on Speedvision last night. He said he spoke with Michael the night in 1995 when the decision to leave Benetton was made. Michael knew that a third WDC was just sitting there waiting to be taken at Benetton. Michael wanted it, but Weber did the deal with Ferrari. It sounded as if Schumacher's contract with Weber gave Willi power of attorney. Schumacher wanted to breeze through a 3rd title against the same weak opposition, but Weber made the decision based on economics.

Whatever the reason, Michael approached his task at Ferrari with the same overwhelming work ethic that he has applied to the rest of his career. It is too bad that it has probably cost him being the first 6 time champion.

[Billy]

12th November 1995, Jackie Stewart interviews Michael Schumacher:

JS : "Now, you've had 2 championship years with Benetton, fantastic success, particularly this one. Now you're leaving the most successful team. You're going to a team that's got a very poor record, haven't won the World Championship for a driver for 16 years, 250 Grand Prixs. And the only people who have won there, Michael, is a very tough, white South African called Jody Scheckter who kicked ass all the time; Niki Lauda, 2 championships, who was a tough guy and really moved them around; way back Fangio, a man who loved them and left them, after only one Championshup. That's not a very good track record to be going to. Now, what takes you away from this fantastic success pattern that you've got and relationship, to a team,with, so far in modern times, not a very good history?"

MS : "Exactly what you've just explained. I think I don't need to explain anything more, because you've just said what kind of a challenge this is gonna be to me, and that's what I'm looking for."

JS : "But are you comfortable? You're a strong man, but you're very young. The history of young drivers going to Ferrari is not particularly good."

MS : "That's true. So let's change it."

JS : "You think they're willing to change, do you think they're there and receptive?"

MS : "I think that's the point. It's in my view, it's the right time to join Ferrari to have success with them. They are very close to make this last step, they are really willing to do this last step, and trying any effort they need to win the Championship, they're willing to. I am willing to, so what is wrong at this combination between me and them. And I'm pretty much look forward. I know it will not be troublefree; but even in Benetton it wasn't troublefree, the point is that the attention to the outside is a bit more in Ferrari, that's why it looks a bit more difficult in Ferrari than it is in Benetton. Whether it is or not I'm gonna find out, but I'm going to try my best. And, I'm pretty sure were going to have success, I'm pretty sure it takes a bit of time, but once we know each other and we work the way we should work we're going to have success."

JS : "They're going to have to listen to you."

MS : "I have to listen to them, they have to listen to me."

[Billy]

Originally posted by goGoGene
$

ggg

10th March 1996, Interview with Geoff Hutchinson

GH : "Obviously, people are saying that there is the allure of the scarlet car, and also the allure of the money, which is being reported to be anywhere between 20 cents and 45 million dollars. How important is the money consideration to you?"

MS : "You have put some new numbers on I have to say, I have never heard these numbers before."

GH : "But they are extraordinary. Every newspaper report has a different figure, and if one newspaper says it's 30 million dollars then the next one says, well it's got to be 45 million."

MS : "Yes."

GH : "Is money very important to you?"

MS : "It's more newspaper competition than reality. Money is certainly important. I want to be paid for what I think the job I'm doing is in comparison to my mates is worth. And. I feel I am paid the right amount; I could've earnt more money, to be honest, in another team, I could've had the same money in a different team again, but I wanted to go for this kind of challenge, even with, as I said, having a bit less money, but I didn't care about this. I wanted to go to Ferrari, and join the team in the position where I believe they, together with myself, can do this last step and then in 97 go for the Championship."

GH : "Can you tell me what it was like to go the Ferrari factory, for the 1st time?"

MS : "I have spoken many, many times about this. I mean, it is certainly very emotional feeling once you come the first time there. You don't expect anything, and then you see this big kind-of factory, which is amazing. It was special, because it was in the night, with a little bit of fog, so it had a certain atmosphere together with it, and I got these little prickles, goosebumps, on my skin, and I felt yeah, it was the right decision."

GH : "Is there a different feel about Ferrari compared to Benetton. Is it almost a cultural thing, the Italian love of the car?"

MS : "Yeah, I mean, certainly this. Before you driven more or less for a team, now you have the feeling you drive for a country."

[dEMoN]

Just for the challenge of winning with them.. and I'd like to see some other "champions" doing this... but we know from the past what would be the result !!!

[magic]

demon

ms never expected it'd take 5 years.

and thank god his benneton friends were there to support him.

and luca.
and agnelli.
and marlboro.
and bernie.


in a way prost's failure was ferrari's wake up call.
the had the second best driver of the world working with the best engineer in the world and still fxcked up.

they realised;
or to sell the whole place.
or let's give it a final try and go balls out for it.
no compromises this time.

prost was on his own, ms had lauda, todt, weber, luca, brawn byrne etc on his side, agnelli giving it thumbs up.

remember after senna died there was no other all time great available so they were stuck with ms.

with senna around they might have kicked ms out in '97.

[AD]

MS did it for the challenge. He probably could have easily got into every Adrian Newey car since 1996 becuase RD and even more so FW love MS. So he could if this had happened be champion in '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '00.
But he went to Ferrari for the challenge, and for merchandising reasons. He is allowed to use the Ferrari name for his merchandising products which instantly gives him at least 20 or 30 odd million pounds.

But is was good to see him to go to Ferrari. It's a brilliant match-up. The best driver in an (slightly) inferior car which also happens to be the most prestigous car maker ever in F1. A dream for Bernie. Much better that happening rather than seeing MS cakewalk his was to 6 or so easy WDC.

[CONOSUR]

Originally posted by magic
...with senna around they might have kicked ms out in '97.

You seem to have conveniently forgotten that Senna could have gone to Ferrari had he wanted, but he wasn't looking for a challenge. He wanted only to take the best car available and drive it into the record books. Prost just won his 4th WDC with Williams, which really chapped Senna's ass. Why do you think he offered to drive for Williams for free? Everyone wanted to be Ferrari's next champion, but Senna would never have gone to Ferrari until they were contenders. He wanted only the glory; not the challenge.

[dEMoN]

Originally posted by CONOSUR
You seem to have conveniently forgotten that Senna could have gone to Ferrari had he wanted, but he wasn't looking for a challenge. He wanted only to take the best car available and drive it into the record books. Prost just won his 4th WDC with Williams, which really chapped Senna's ass. Why do you think he offered to drive for Williams for free? Everyone wanted to be Ferrari's next champion, but Senna would never have gone to Ferrari until they were contenders. He wanted only the glory; not the challenge.

Couldn't have said it better...

[Piquet_1]

Sure, he went to Ferrari for the challenge just like Alex Rodriguez went to Texas for the same reason. Right.

I'd say taking Benetton to two championships was a far greater challenge than taking the most expensive team of underachievers to the title. Look at the resources.

[PeaQ]

he's in it for the chicks...

[Todd]

CONOSUR,

You're spot on with Senna's mentality. I lost quite a bit of respect for him when he balked at McLaren and offered to drive the Williams for free, just because he couldn't compete with a car that other drivers had helped develop. Could you imagine Michael Schumacher doing something that shameless? The idea that Senna'd still be driving in 1997 just shows how full ole' magic's deck is. Senna would have been 37 years old, and Schumacher wouldn't have left Benetton in '96. He'd have stayed there after driving Senna out of the sport with back to back humiliations in '94 and '95. Michael would have had to wait for '96 for his first easy title, instead of getting it in '95. Michael may have gone to Ferrari in '97, and the fact is they weren't really ready for a driver of his caliber in '96.

[Harald]

As a pro-Schumi 'twenty percenter' - which I will explain if anyone is interested - I tend to take Eddie at his word about this.

I think there is a significant similarity between the team-building challenge Eddie saw himself accepting when he went to what is now Jaguar for 2000, on the one hand, and the mountain Michael set himself to climb when he switched from Benetton to Red Reign five years ago.

Mind you, that is not necessarily the same as saying (1) that Eddie and Michael were both equally well eqipped to accept such challenges (the most charitable come-around here is that Eddie is usually an above-average driver while - love him or revile him - Michael is, well, Michael); or
(2) that, over time, Eddie will end up having the same consequential impact on Jaguar as an F1 institution as Michael probably will have in Maranello.
(More than likely, Steve Nichols, and possibly even Bobby Rahal, will probably end up with that section of the Jaguar F1 history books.)

Assuming Michael finishes his driving career at Ferrari, I suspect he will nevertheless great fairly universal credit for re-institutionalizing Ferrari at or near the top of F1. And that verdict is likely to come from even partially objective F1 historians, including some who will otherwise concentrate on - and probably hide him for - his most egregious lapses of judgement (I agree with Nigel Roebuck that - like Ayrton Senna before him - Michael can sometimes be a 'bad winner'.)

Now that we have a better idea of just how Michael measured himself off against Ayrton, I suggest that he decided some time in 1995 that, to really make a reasonably lasting mark in F1 (within the ten years he now says he originally gave himself to 'accomplish something' in F1) he would have to be acknowledged for having done more than 'just' win a(nother) championship.

Prost, after all, not only won one more title than Ayrton (and might have won two more besides but for a quirk in the F1 points system in 1988 and Ferrari's fratricial bloody-mindedness in 1990). He also won ten more race victories than Ayrton, and I have yet to hear almost anyone elevate him into the same category with Ayrton. (I did say 'almost' anyone.)

Since Alain himself now says that, as far back as 1994 and 1995, he and Michael talked about this kind of thing, I assume Michael tended to guess that he would have to find an unequivocal challenge in F1 which, if he really mastered or overcame it, would mark him out even with those who otherwise didn't recognize or even like him.

And - shivering as he obviously was in Michael's shadow at Maranello - Eddie clearly looked around for some similar sort of challenge that would also mark him out from the pack.

BTW - especially to you Max Torque - this is the principal reason why I (continue to) think that, long term, it would be much better for David Coulthard to move to a team where he can have the same first crack at the wet cement that Michael got at Ferrari in 1995 and that Eddie is getting at The Cat now.

As long as he can drive 'Mika's car' faster than Mika does, as he did several times in 2000, DC will continue to win races - though probably not titles - for Slipping Silver. But, to actually define or even 'bend' that team to truly exploit his own strengths and weaknesses (which is what Soon(?)-to-be-Sir Jackie Stewart says most attracted Eddie to The Cat), he will almost certainly have to wait for Mika to go back to Monaco -permanently - to spend his emeritus years playing with 'Miskito'.

By which time, Commander Ron will probably be measuring both Nick Heidfel and Ralf - or maybe even Andre Lotterer for German racing silver suits. . .

Michael probably would have at least one, perhaps as many as three, more titles than he has now had he remained at Benetton, or any other reasonably competitive team other than Ferrari.

[Especially now that we have Flavio (get your salt shaker out ) claiming that Renault 'probably' would have remained in F1 at least another two years or so had Michael opted to remain in front of their engines (which probably would have meant going to Williams when Sir Frank first dialed him up, in early-1995.)]

When some of the ill-feelings and general dislike of Michael has finally dissipated (I would guess about ten years on from whenever he retires), I actually think the defining achievement of his (driving) career will be these past five seasons re-establishing Ferrari as the F1 institution it had been from the beginning of modern F1 through about the mid-1970s.

The Faithless Elector
The Shrub Nursery[p][Edited by Harald on 12-19-2000]

[Simioni]

Originally posted by Todd
Whatever the reason, Michael approached his task at Ferrari with the same overwhelming work ethic that he has applied to the rest of his career. It is too bad that it has probably cost him being the first 6 time champion.

...or he could stick with benetton, maybe win another championship, and then sunk with them. Byrne wasn't going to stay around for 1997, it was ferrari's millions along with Michael and Brawn being there that saved him from retirement. He could then go to Williams to replace Hill... and would sunk again after losing Newey and Renault.

In the end it was an excellent move. It made wonders for his reputation, because people think he dragged ferrari out of the hole all by himself.

[Billy]

Originally posted by Todd
I lost quite a bit of respect for him when he balked at McLaren and offered to drive the Williams for free

I think by that stage Prost had already signed for Williams in 1993, and that Prost had a clause in his contract excluding Senna from being his team mate. Mansell was in negotiations for the other seat, and Senna's offer to drive for free meant that Frank Williams offered Mansell much less than he was willing to accept. So by this offer of driving for free, Senna got rid of Mansell from Williams.

[Todd]

Billy,

Mansell left because of his experience as Prost's teammate at Ferrari. When push came to shove, Williams offered Nigel as much money as he wanted. Senna offered to drive for free because he spent his career chasing the best rides, not building or even maintaining them.

[Simioni]

Originally posted by CONOSUR
[BWhy do you think he offered to drive for Williams for free? Everyone wanted to be Ferrari's next champion, but Senna would never have gone to Ferrari until they were contenders. He wanted only the glory; not the challenge.
[/B]

...Or you could say that, not having had the privilege of starting with a competitive team nor the chance to score championship early on against mediocre competitors, Senna wasn't willing to lose more time with a handicap to his powerful competitors. All he wanted was an equal chance. He offered to drive for free for williams because that was his only chance against pussy Prost who had all the cards in his hand. He couldn't give a rat's ass about who else was sitting on the best car with him. Could the same be said about Mr. Schumacher?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Some drivers just want to drive the best cars, not build them. Absolutely nothing wrong with that

What of Michael's promise to Benetton that he would return within a few years?

[RedFever]

Eddie is full of it. Ferrari wasn't paying more than half he now makes at Jaguar. Come Eddie, yes your input... and Jaguar's input in your bank account!!!!

[magic]

CONOSUR quote:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You seem to have conveniently forgotten that Senna could have gone to Ferrari had he wanted, but he wasn't looking for a challenge. He wanted only to take the best car available and drive it into the record books. Prost just won his 4th WDC with Williams, which really chapped Senna's ass. Why do you think he offered to drive for Williams for free? Everyone wanted to be Ferrari's next champion, but Senna would never have gone to Ferrari until they were contenders. He wanted only the glory; not the challenge.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

senna looked up the challenge prost at his team mac, in '88.

prost had killed vice-wdc watson, arnoux, 3xwdc lauda & wdc rosberg.
prost was "the best driver of all time" (j.stewart in '87).
senna knew he had to beat prost and went for it and did at first try!

after beating prost in macs and ferraris he was appalled that patrese in a williams outqualified him cause him driving a williams.
10x, the king of poles (65x), saw patrese in front of him.
the mac letting him down 9x, 9 dnf.
senna seeing nige, who was destroyed by prost at ferrari, walking away with 9 vics.
then to make things worse his old foe prost was also in front of him the next season.
he was the best driver driving behind slower men.
he had 6 seasons with mac, honda left and a peugeot engine sounded not very promissing.
should senna have stayed at mac, after the financial '93 insults by dennis?
no!

[magic]

Billy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think by that stage Prost had already signed for Williams in 1993, and that Prost had a clause in his contract excluding Senna from being his team mate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

it's a fact.

[magic]

something else.

ok ms accepted the ferrari challenge, but only on his terms.

ABSOLUTE NO.1.

senna had a 4xwdc for teammate in a team prost 'owned after 4 years driving for them by '88.

ms never had a RACEwinning teammate after old man slowmo piquet outqualified and outraced him.
heck even old man brundle gave him headaches in races.

[Ursus]

...and we're back in the same old tracks...

[magic]

Todd Billy,
Mansell left because of his experience as Prost's teammate at Ferrari. When push came to shove, Williams offered Nigel as much money as he wanted. Senna offered to drive for free because he spent his career chasing the best rides, not building or even maintaining them.


yes, mansell wanted love and absolute dedication from sir frank, not to be kicked around by prost.

and frank was glad to get rid of the moaning whiner mansell was.

favorite quote by boutsen after hurting his finger or something;
" if i had been mansell i'd be on the way to the hospital in a helicopter by now"
head on mansell ( free interpretation):
'he's a great inside the car, but an asshole out of it.'

[magic]

and by the way after mansell had a recordbreaking wdc-season and his salary was lowered he understood it was time to move on.
even sir frank knew that with prost on board pof his dreammachine the title was safe, without the mansell dramas.

[Bruce]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

...and of course to try to expand on his fan base which in 1995 consisted of Todd and big German women with hairy legs...

;);););););););););););););););););););)

(now have a sense of humour... )

[schumilover]

Originally posted by Bruce
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

...and of course to try to expand on his fan base which in 1995 consisted of Todd and big German women with hairy legs...

;);););););););););););););););););););)

(now have a sense of humour... )

sweetie sweetie ,so innocent......how will you ever learn

[MuMu]

After the DQ's and black flags at Benetton, he knew that if he moved to Max & Bernie's team, he could break the rules without any repurcussions. In a Ferrari he could drive people of the road at will, run illegal cars without being penalised and basically write his own rulebook.
He was virtually assured of vitory at some point...
He also liked the money.

[MuMu]

After the DQ's and black flags at Benetton, he knew that if he moved to Max & Bernie's team, he could break the rules without any repurcussions. In a Ferrari he could drive people of the road at will, run illegal cars without being penalised and basically write his own rulebook.
He was virtually assured of vitory at some point...
He also liked the money.

[colejk]

Originally posted by Simioni

...Or you could say that, not having had the privilege of starting with a competitive team nor the chance to score championship early on against mediocre competitors, Senna wasn't willing to lose more time with a handicap to his powerful competitors. All he wanted was an equal chance. He offered to drive for free for williams because that was his only chance against pussy Prost who had all the cards in his hand. He couldn't give a rat's ass about who else was sitting on the best car with him. Could the same be said about Mr. Schumacher? [/B]

Pussy Prost? Were you watching F1 back then? Equal chance? he had his equal chance. 2 times senna won titles when he shouldn't have. He did race with Prost in the same car and I don't particulary remember any whipping going on.

Senna was known to fear no driver except for Alain Prost. Senna was a weasel, a crybaby and a suck.

[Nikolas Garth]

colejk,
Did you like Senna?

[ASaSeN]

Todd I think your being a bit hard on Senna.

He had battled VASTLY superior cars in 92,93,cars which were seconds a lap faster most of the time.
Plus these cars were piloted by drivers of a greater quality that the current mac drivers.

If senna only had mika and DC to compete against he would of probably won the title in 92 and surely won it in 93.

Also time was not on his side.He was 34 years old unlike michael who was 25 when he joined ferrari

When he was young in the mid 80s at lotus,he battled some of the hardest racers in modern times.
If Mansell dropped out,then Piquet was there.
If they dropped out Prost was there.
Michael only needs Mika to drop out the majority of the time and the win is his.

Michael is good but hes had probably the easiest Era to compete in,in terms of driver quality and in terms of only 2 teams being able to win.

It is quite sad that michael did join ferrari so early in his career because he would of had another 2 or 3 Wcs to his name by now.

[Billy]

Originally posted by colejk
He did race with Prost in the same car and I don't particulary remember any whipping going on.

1988 Wins
8 Senna, 7 Prost

1989 Wins
6 Senna, 4 Prost

1988 2nd Places
7 Prost, 3 Senna

1989 2nd Places
6 Prost, 1 Senna

Prost came 2nd more often than Senna. This is an effective way to become champion but not very memorable.

1988 Kilometres Led
2671 Senna, 1951 Prost

1989 Kilometres Led
2297 Senna, 1218 Prost

1988 Poles
13 Senna, 2 Prost

1989 Poles
13 Senna, 2 Prost

[ASaSeN]

In truth Senna dominated 89.

Almost tragic that he lost the WC.

[baddog]

mumu thats the silliest most unjustified negative post Ive seen for ages. Noone even CLAIMED max and Bernie had 'special links' with ferrari in 95.. the lies only started in 97-8 when the anti-schumachers had to dream up stuff. prior to that idiots were claiming benetton were getting special privileges. odd that whatever team michael is at is claimed by the psychos to be getting special treatment. makes me laugh.

describing ferrari as max and bernies team is stupid and untrue.

Shaun

[Simioni]

Originally posted by colejk
Pussy Prost? Were you watching F1 back then? Equal chance? he had his equal chance. 2 times senna won titles when he shouldn't have. He did race with Prost in the same car and I don't particulary remember any whipping going on.

Prost didn't want Senna in a williams so he vetoed him, a power that he had since renault and elf were on his side. Pussy himself admitted it, obviously only when the matter became old news. The only chance Senna would have to kick's Pussy's arse again would be offering for drive for free, and that alongside Prost in a heavily french environment. Of course Alain never accepted the challenge, but still F1 never saw a world champion be outshined by the runner-up like it did in 1993.

As for you not remembering any whipping going on, might I recommend you the 88 and 89 F1 review tapes?

It's worrying for you that you're letting your fanaticism blind you from the facts.

[Spot]

Simoni, The 88 and 89 FIA review tapes were castigated in the press for being so heavily biased in the brazilians favour that Prost might as well not have been there. This was before Autosport dragged itself down into the gutter. Of course, I haven't seen the tapes myself - what do others think?

[Simioni]

Spot,

The truth is that the duel indeed went mostly "the brazilian's" way. Prost didn't outrace Senna one single time in 1989, he won the championship inheriting wins from Senna's mechanical failures. Still, the majority of the paddock knew who the best driver was, and that wasn't an influence from the FIA review tapes.

[Smooth]

Originally posted by Piquet_1
Sure, he went to Ferrari for the challenge just like Alex Rodriguez went to Texas for the same reason. Right.

I'd say taking Benetton to two championships was a far greater challenge than taking the most expensive team of underachievers to the title. Look at the resources.

A little different: A Rod went to the highest bidder. MS was offered more money from at least one other team. Bennetton offered to match the Ferrari offer. Maybe Bernie got involved when McLaren and Williams stepped up: He didn't want the best driver in one of the best teams at the time. Ferrari has certainly turned it around, thanks to Tost, Luca, Ross, MS, etc..... but I for one believe that Ferrari wouldn't be as dominant as they are now, though they would have improved. I seriously doubt Ross Brwan would be there, and I doubt Todt would have lasted long either. They have both stated that.... it is a team effort, relying on MS as the driver.

McLaren, btw, has an overall larger budget. Ferrari's bydget gets hyped, but people forget it includes Chassis, Engine, and two tracks. McLaren gets the engine for naught, and half of their track time is funded by Bridgestone.

[magic]

marlboro and stateowned fiat support ferrari.

[Piquet_1]

MS was offered more money from at least one other team. Bennetton offered to match the Ferrari offer.

Was the team in fact Benetton or were there two - and how do you know what each offered; were you there and privy to negotiations? No way could Benetton afford to pay what Ferrari does - even they don't foot the bill, and their sponsors have never been as generous as Ferrari's even with MS on board. Marlboro and Shell are generous through increased spponsorship which came through as a direct result of his signing - and this is publicly stated by the parties involved. Also, whether MS won a championship or not with Ferrari, he and his manager have probably made more in one year through promotional value alone associated with the team than he ever would have being linked with Benetton.

[Piquet_1]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Piquet_1
[QUOTE]MS was offered more money from at least one other team. Bennetton offered to match the Ferrari offer. [/QUOTE]


Was the team in fact Benetton or were there two - and how do you know what each offered; were you there and privy to negotiations? No way could Benetton afford to pay what Ferrari does - even they don't foot the bill, and their sponsors have never been as generous as Ferrari's even with MS on board. Marlboro and Shell are generous through increased spponsorship which came through as a direct result of his signing - and this is publicly stated by the parties involved. Also, whether MS won a championship or not with Ferrari, he and his manager have probably made more in one year through promotional value alone associated with the team than he ever would have being linked with Benetton (or McLaren, or Williams etc). Therefore salary is only a protion of his total income and his incentive to sign with Ferrari.