25 replies to this topic

[RedFever]

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis heaped praise on driver David Coulthard for battling to second place in Spain, only five days after surviving a plane crash in which his two pilots died. "Second place was a great achievement considering the events of the week," he said. "When that kind of thing happens you are either going to become a stronger person or a weaker one. "He got stronger. And he has shown us this week and today the strength of his character and the depth of his determination." It was confirmed today that David Coulthard suffered bruised, not broken ribs in the accident, which caused the Scot considerable discomfort in Sunday’s race. "He has not made an issue out of the fact that he has been in quite a bit of pain because of his rib injury," added Dennis. "He has had to have a lot physio after the Grand Prix because he was in a lot of pain midway through the race."
David Coulthard had been scheduled to test later this week in Spain, but will now fly to London for extra tests on his midrift. The injuries Coulthard sustained in last Tuesday's plane crash are worse than first thought. The Scot, after emerging from his McLaren following his courageous second place, felt pain in his lower right side from the excessive vibrations in the cockpit. It has emerged that not only did he suffer bruised ribs, but also fractures to the lower right side of his torso.

[RedFever]

"He got stronger. And he has shown us this week and today the strength of his character and the depth of his determination."

Actually this sounds like a love song for the Scott. With all these JV's rumors around, could it be that David is not the one that will leave........?

[Frans MSH]

I think it's more simple than that...

Redfev:
"With all these JV's rumors around, could it be that David is not the one that will leave........? "

>> Well, NO.

I just wanna say that Ron Dennis also know's that a HAPPY person drives better than a DOWN person. Ron just makes David happy so now and then.....

Mika doesn't need no help of the team, HE NEVER HAD that at McLaren, HE NEVER got a victory for team orders....... or places..... unlike a Schumi-called guy.

Frans

[RedFever]

FRANS, of course you didn't watch Australia 98, when David Coulthard was asked to slow, wait for Mika and let him pass and win!!!

Another stupid post from FRANS ™

[Peeko]

Jerez '97, Hockenhiem '98...

[HP]

Frans,

MH really needs no team help? Well if I believe what you are saying, then why haven't I seen MH running on foot in circles on the track?

MH like any other driver needs a car that works fast and reliable enough (if you don't believe this look at JV, who would be more in front with a better car). And how is it that from the McLaren drivers DC is usally the one who does more testing with the McLaren's (and of course the test drivers)

Funny, I haven't heard Mika giving credits to DC and McLarens test driver for doing a good job.

Maybe that is why you think MH needs no help. To me this is just being unthankful of MH. Most other drivers (including MS) at least give credit to their teams.

[Mosquito]

RedFever,

With the recent obvious kuddos from both Haug and RD, DC looking very relaxed and satisfied lately, it wouldn't surprise me if David is the one who will stay at MercLaren.

MH is always a bit grumpy at times, but could it be that I perceive his latest moods as being a bit more annoyed in general and not all to happy with MercLaren?

[Zepeteus]

Diehard David might well have another run at McLaren, really. If the Mac boys score some further 1-2 wins and eat up Schumi's lead, MH may well win his 3rd WDC in a row. After that, he might leave McLaren.

But, for MH, are there still any challenges left in F1? Well, yes, and it's the biggest challenge of all: to win the WDC for Ferrari for the first time in 20+ years. With Schumi failing with his 5th attempt, it's better for Ferrari to kick him out and hire MH instead. In fact, he's the only one of the current drivers with any real chances to fulfill that task.

So, dear tifosi, you'd better begin to treat MH very well...

[RedFever]

Zepetus, you are making an assumption, a huge one, that the F1-2000 will not win the WC. I would wait and see.

PS> You know very little about Ferrari fans. They don't get attach to the driver, it's about the team (Gilles Villeneuve was the exception). Schumi leaves and Mika comes? who cares? as long as he wins, he will be welcome to stay.

[Zepeteus]

Even stranger things have taken place on this planet.

After Imola, Michael had 30 points and Mika six. Now, two races later, it's 36-22. So, who knows? I can just imagine this season is Michael's last chance to win the WDC. If he fails, Ferrari people will turn their hopes on some other driver. Regardless who he is, his only task is to fulfill that dream.

[silver fan]

Peeko,

Hokenheim 98... I don't think so, Hakkinen started on pole and led every lap. As far as this crap about Australia 98 is concerned "Cubehead" was not ordered to throw the race he was merely honering a pre-race agreement with his teamate that whoever got to the first corner first would not be challenged by his teamate.

[speedy]

hmmmm, not so long ago the BB was full of stories about the ties Ron and Mika have between them, some even said Mika is like a son to Ron. Now the tune has changed, but I'd liked to remind that F1 is all competition where results mean a lot - it's like business, management by results. No results and it's goodbye. It doesn't help if you can communicate and smile beautifully if you don't score. In F1 you should first beat your team mate. It's still early days, just wait and see, I doubt DC can ever beat MH in the long run under equal conditions. Odd GPs yes (as we have seen), but in the long run no.

[MichaelL]

Frans quote.
Mika doesn't need no help of the team, HE NEVER HAD that at McLaren, HE NEVER got a victory for team orders....... or places..... unlike a Schumi-called guy.

Frans,
BOLLOCKS!Have you forgotten how he got his first 2 wins after 90 over races without a win,gift wins from Villeneuve and Coulthard in Jerez 97 and Oz 98.Without Newey,RD and Mclaren he would end up like Jean Alesi......
without a WC and perhaps with only 1 or 2 wins.


[This message has been edited by MichaelL (edited 05-10-2000).]

[Honolulu]

Did anyone watch the Silverstone morning warm-up, which was delayed? I remember Mika chatting with Ron Dennis quite amicably for a surprisingly long time.
One victory for DC and the British press goes completely ga-ga. DC drives very well, but I don't think he can set up a 16-17-race long championship challenge the way MH or MS can. I hope Ron goes for talent and signs MH & JV.

[Spring-Heeled Jim]

HP,

To me this is just being unthankful of MH. Most other drivers (including MS) at least give credit to their teams.

what the f*** are you talking about? In almost every post-race interview MH has given credit to his team for doing a wonderful job! Excuse me for being so rude, but let's just stay with the facts and keep that kind of stupid nonsense out of this, alright?

[DangerMouse]

Speedy, In 1997 DC slaughtered Mika, DC has got it in him - just needs to remember how to do it again!

All DC would need is a decent run of 2 or 3 races and things would swing his way - F1's as much a mental game as a physical one if not more.

[jimmy mike]

HP,

Read, what is above! Even if MH doesn't say much on the post race interviews (sometimes he answers to the questions simply by saying either Yes or No he always remembers some point of the interview to thank his mechanics and engineers for their efforts in the race weekend.

[Oho]

Ave !!!

Mouse would you please enlighten us how David slaughtered Mika in 97. True he held upper hand till Silverstone but was very much left in Mikas shadow after that, in fact enough to have his seat offered to Damon at Spa. It takes David a bit more than a couple of races to really have the better of Mika, if that was the case Mika should never have bounced back from his dreadfull start to 1997. After Silverstone David held a race position ahead of Mika on merit only at Monza. Jerez was hardly on merit as their order was largely arbitrated by the Ferrari Williams fight and more specifically Frenzen slowing several seconds a lap to contain Schumacher as Villeneuve was playing catch up. Just for the record.

- Oho -

[RedFever]

Zapetus, when someone in two disatrous races (blocked at the start UK, 2nd pit stop and tire in SPain) collects 6 points, you have to wonder. Mika during his 2 disastrous races collected zero. That is in the long term what will make the difference. They will both win more races, but Ferrari seems more reliable and more able to get at least some scrap on a bad day. And I think that while the two cars will always be close for most of the season, in Monaco and Montreal chances are Ferrari will fly!!!

[Zepeteus]

Yes, with less serious technical problems it is still possible to make a points finish (Mika at Imola, for example), but if the engine dies, the task becomes a lot harder.

Personally, I think this will become a very exciting season, with neck-to-neck racing both on tarmac and in the WDC table. The team with the best package will have the last laugh.

Btw, it's striking that since the early stages of the '98 season, when it became apparent that MH will be MS's main title contender, Michael has never had similar controversies with Mika as with Hill and Villeneuve. That's proof that they respect a lot each other and want to decide the title purely by racing.


[This message has been edited by Zepeteus (edited 05-10-2000).]

[SalutGilles]

Zepetus, I can just see Ferrari making room for Mika now...

(I really have got to stop it with the acid!)

[Zepeteus]

And if not now, maybe a little later...

[Mila]

thank you, Oho, for taking the words from my mouth. indeed in 97, from Silverstone on, MH was driving as brilliantly as any driver that year.

since then, DC has been comprehensively beaten by MH. so, DangerMouse, please check out their qualifying comparisons (never mind the race results), before making such sweeping and fallacious statements.

to add, if people want to go on about Jerez 97, Australia 98, and Hockenheim 98--fine. but keep in mind that those were 3 of the 47 races MH and DC have had as teammates since Silverstone 97. so, I ask, what are our excuses for the Scot for the other 44 events?

SalutGilles, as for MH at Ferrari, let's not forget that MH was brought up through the ranks with Marlboro money--this could be a factor. also Giovanni Agnelli has like MH for some time now. so anything is possible!

[Chris G.]

Franz = Troll

Troll = Franz

[Arnaldo]

I don't believe this. This post starts off praising David, then Frans bowls in and it turns into a slanging match, then an anti Mika rave, what next? Red, you probably noticed that I tried to inject a little humour into your other post, but even that met with a caustic response. You guys really need to lighten up. For the record, even though David had to overcome certain difficulties, I think Niki's effort somewhat overshadows anything else of this nature in GP racing. Of course, Mika coming back to GP racing after his terrible crash in Adelaide must also rank very high in my estimation.

[speedy]

DangerMouse,

I don't know how you managed to come to a conclusion that DC "slaughtered" MH in 1997 ?
I remember MH retiring with blown engine while leading the race a few times that season. When I look at the qualifying differentials that year, MH was beating DC with average 0,164 seconds despite the poor first half of the season. When I look at the Atlas F1 ratings after the 1997 season, I can see that the order was 1. JV , 2. MS, 3. GF, 4. MH, 5. OP, 6. DH and 7. DC. Despite the "slaughtering" he did not manage to impress many people that year, can you explain why ?