33 replies to this topic

[Clatter]

Ricardo Zonta is being tipped for a return to Formula 1 at the San Marino Grand Prix as a replacement for Gaston Mazzacane at Prost.

According to a story in today’s Motoring News the Brazilian, who is currently employed as Jordan’s test driver, is eager to race again and Mazzacane’s tardy early season performances have opened the door at Prost.

From ITV-F1

Looks like Mazza's days could be numbered.

Thats 2 drivers (Burti being the other) who may not see the season out.

[Mr T]

Does this mean that the Prost will be without any sposors at all?

[JayWay]

Sweeeet.

Zontas gonna beat Alesi.

[FlatFoot]

This still seems highly unlikely to me...(especially the source: ITV.)

I'll believe it when I see it

[Paste]

That'd be cool. It was nice to see Gaston get a chance with Prost, but he really hasn't looked up to it at all this season. Time to let someone else try!

[Pacific]

Should Zonta go to Prost? He might be better off sticking around with Jordan testing and vying for a spot at Jordan next year. Doesn't Jarno's contract with Jordan expire after this season? I'm rather sure that Jarno has a contract with Flavio Briatore through 2003. I guess I'd expect Jarno to end up with Benetton Renault for two years, one with Button, and for Alonso to move up to Benetton with Jarno for 2003 with Button going to Jaguar. Then, after 2003, Benetton could either re-sign Jarno to team with Alonso, or have Mark Webber race. (I'd expect Minardi to become a Renault junior team of sorts for 2002 and 2003.) Remember, Stoddart's five year plan was to get things together in 2001, get a decent engine for 2002 and 2003, and then go for a really good engine and be on their way. To me that could mean Renault for 2002 and 2003 and then hooking up with VW/Audi in 2004. VW/Audi could pull a BMW and use a Minardi chassis to test their engine in 2003 and then enter F1 in 2004.

But if Zonta goes to Prost...what is he really going to accomplish? I mean, unless he beats Alesi...Olivier Panis turned down Arrows to test the McLaren, it was a good choice. I think Zonta might want to do the same.

[castle]

But why Zonta???

With the likes of Gene, Wurz, Sarrazin [WHO IS UNDERATED, see Brazil '99] and pedro de la rosa around there are some much better options avalible:up:

[DEVO]

Why?

Because he never did get a fair chance. Until I see him in another team (hopefully not Prost), I will not pass judgement. I mean look at JV (and yes I like JV), what has he done lately? nada. And the team is built around him to boot.

[Pink Panther]

"Sarrazin [WHO IS UNDERATED, see Brazil '99]"

The best multiple spin I have ever witnessed......

[Megatron]

My theory:

Prost has already signed Camel as title sponsor. It is known that PSN don't like tobacco advertising. Therefore they are withdrawing and Prost would not keep Mazzacane on talent alone.

Therefore he gets rid of Gaston and a real driver takes his place.

[fisichella_2001]

This makes sense, but I think Prost are more interested in sponsorship money, that was the main reason they signed Mazzacane in the first place, and I don't think Zonta has as much sponsorship. Besides, if I was Zonta, I would want to stay with a top team like Jordan and be in with a chance of a race seat in 2002, not floundering around in midfield for the remainder of 2001, therefore destroying his dream of driving for a top team. I doubt Jordan would want to let him go either - who would be their new test driver? I'll believe it when I see it on this one.

[Dimo]

As much as I'd like to see anybody replace Mazza, I would hardly call this complete.

Remember when PdlR was going to replace Mazza after Imola?

I can't see PSN agreeing to this. I can't see Prost being in a position to ignore PSN.

[Mr. Salty]

NOOOOO!!!! NOT GASTON!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

[Bjorn]

Originally posted by Pink Panther
"Sarrazin [WHO IS UNDERATED, see Brazil '99]"

The best multiple spin I have ever witnessed......

And he was so dizzy he had a hard time stopping the spinning after getting out of the car

[BARnone]

Zonta would be crazy to go with Prost. From what I understand they have a more political organization than BAR. He's got himself in a nice situation with Jordan - Honda feeling it owes him and all.

BARnone.

[MattFoster]

I agree with Castle, Sarrazin is underated. and he is french too

[Vetinary]

Somehow, I find this whole report quite dubious. I can't see Prost giving out on one of their remaining sponsors, and I cannot see Jordan allowing Zonta to race for Prost.
It could be an attempt to try and divert the discussion about the team's performance so far and replace it with another topic. After all, weren't Prost, in the off-season, breaking tracks' records as if there was no tomorrow?
Nothing more than fool's gold.

[100cc]

Originally posted by Dimo
I can't see PSN agreeing to this. I can't see Prost being in a position to ignore PSN.

They'd lose psn if mazza was to leave, no doubt.

[pa]

I say keep Zonta off the track where he can't do any serious harm. All we need is another Puntachello to screw up the races.

[Zawed]

Give the boy a chance, just because he did it once does'nt mean he's going to be a repeat offender. It would be good to see a decent racer on the grid instead of the slowcoach Maccazane!

[Laphroaig]

Hemm... Sarrazin, even if he's underrated, should be ashamed of his F3000 performance last year... being kicked out of the McLaren Junior team half way through the season.

If I were Zonta (or whoever) I don't know if I'd like a ride in that Prost. I think Alesi has got quite a lot to say there!

Just look at Heidfeld last year, being beaten by Alesi most of the time. And I don't think that was completely Heidfeld problems! Esp. when you hear him talk now, about having fun in racing again, and those points making up for the whole Prost season (sounds like he was a 'bit' frustrated there ;) )

[8nebula]

Perhaps Diniz could take over if Prost really think Gaston is crap. He has already put a heap of money into the company and despite the poor run he had in F1 he was fairly quick.

[Pacific]

Pedro Diniz shouldn't have retired in the first place. He displayed speed last season at Sauber, all he needed to do was learn how to harness it.

Ricardo Zonta, as I stated above, should avoid Prost. He has a chance at a Jordan drive next year. If he joins Prost, he can join Button as drivers who will disappear off the face of the Earth if they aren't careful. Driving for such a bad team.

Prost is the WORST team in F1. Minardi has the 1998 Cosworth. Prost has more support from Ferrari than Sauber, yet Sauber kicks their a$$ to hell and back.

So, hopefully Diniz decides to come back and Zonta STAYS AT JORDAN. Resist the urge Ricardo.

[senninha]

In brazilian media there are news about Zonta's situation. In fact Mazzacane was already fired and Diniz looked for Zonta.

But Zonta, gentlily refused Prost's ride. Maybe Servia will have his chance.

I think Zonta did the right thing.

[damonhillchamp96]

I agree. There is much better talent than Zonta available. De La Rosa is an excellent driver, and he deserves much better than Jaguar. But I think he probably roasted his ducks at Prost with the whole testing thing. I think Servia doesn't deserve a ride on the kiddie go kart track. Did you see the move he put on Paul Tracy in Australia? The one were his team boss told him to find another ride for next year over the radio? He is a bum. I cannot believe Gaston Mazzacanne found a F-1 ride, when guys like De La Rosa ride the testing bench

[Rene]

I don't think Jordan Honda would want Zonta to go to Prost, especially since Prost are using Ferrari engines. If Honda wants to step up to the next level of performance, they will need to beat Ferrari, and they don't want their plans or information to be seen by Prost/Ferrari...so I don't think Eddie Jordan would allow Zonta out of his contract...it just doesn't make sense...

[Clatter]

Depends on what is in Zontas contract. He may have a clause about being released should a seat become avialable elsewhere.

[cupra]

I read this morning in a local Colombian newspaper that Oriol Serviá could have a shot at Prost (report from EFE).

Didn't he test with them a few weeks ago?

It could be good for Serviá to go to F1, though maybe it should be better to wait for a better ride

[Dimo]

Originally posted by cupra
Didn't he test with them a few weeks ago?

Yup. The following is from Barcelona on March 21st.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time
1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:21.051
2. Frentzen Jordan-Honda (B) 1:21.293
3. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:21.370
4. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:21.900
5. Herbert Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:21.981
6. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:21.999
7. Bernoldi Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:22.008
8. Webber Benetton-Renault (M) 1:22.419
9. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:22.453
10. de la Rosa Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:22.568
11. Button Benetton-Renault (M) 1:24.253
12. Servia Prost-Acer (M) 1:25.490
13. Lemarie BAR-Honda (B) no time

All Timing Unofficial

[damonhillchamp96]

Originally posted by cupra
It could be good for Serviá to go to F1, though maybe it should be better to wait for a better ride

Buddy, there is no better ride for Servia. After what I saw him do in the CART race in Australia last year, I am convinced the man should not be in a race car. He is a danger to people around him. He straight lined through the chicane and speared Paul Tracy. Absolutely no need for that kind of driving. I mean, moves like that are not racing accidents, they are just plain stupidity and dangerous. Servia should drive a taxi in New York!

[HighTower]

Why has the news of Mazzacanes demise not appeared in the AtlasF1 News not even in the daily grapevine?

HT

[Turbo]

Servia had serious brain fade at Australia, but one crappy race isn't the measure of his driving skill. One of the best drivers in CART - Paul Tracy - had a much more checkered past of crashes and so on, but has matured to the point of sometimes being brilliant and very disciplined (like when he went last to first at Road America or 18th to first at Long Beach last year). Give the guy a chance.

I concur with those who think Zonta at Prost is unlikely. Didn't he even say something to this effect recently, that he wanted to see what happened at Jordan?

[cupra]

damon, that move was certainly one of the worst I've ever seen, but I think it was mostly an over-anxious-rookie kind of move. I suppose now that he's already done something that stupid he might think better next time.

I think he's not a bad driver, thogh probably brazilians DaMatta and Castro-Neves are much better.

Anyway I think it would be good to keep opening the door for new people in F1. Specially if they're replacing mobile chicanes like Mazza.

Dimo, it looks like the times he set during his test weren't too good...

[damonhillchamp96]

I think Da Matta would make a good F-1 driver. As would Castro-Nueves. Their are a few others in CART that would be good in a F-1. I think Tracy would be great on those grooved tyres, as would Franchitti.