58 replies to this topic

[SeanValen]

I remember in the FIA video review of 1992, Mansell been given a horse. And then he says "I think I might take to the track tomorrow, extra horsepower."

Another time in the season, at Monza, he was talking to his merchanics, and he noticed the tv camera on him, so he did this techincal nonsense with his hands, to make it a parody of sorts, because the viewers wouldn't know much about his car etc.

Although to him not funny, after Brazil 1992, a gearbox problem, or it might of been Imola 92, he has a go at one of his merchanics, about something techincal " I wouldn't recommend it, I'm ****ing pissed off." This was said in a FIA video review, did it not pass the BBFC for classifcation and sensoring of bad language.


Bernie said once, Mansell deserves a oscar for his entertaining, I agree, just don't get as better as him.

[ffiloseta]

I was not aware of the horse episode, but it sure is funny !

[Ruairidh]

In his last season for Lotus wasn't he leading in Monaco when he crashed the car and claimed that the rain had wet the road markings such that he lost adhesion?

[TODave2]

That is true. I remember him saying in the interview 'Yes, I did make a small mistake, but that mistake was about 2 inches of white line on the road and you're just in trouble, even a good driver is just in trouble'. He was pulling away from the field at 2 seconds a lap at the time (1984, Monaco) and crashed coming up the hill from Ste Devote.

Having said that, road markings being slippery is quite a well known danger area in wet races, so his excuse/reason wasn't totally unbelievable.

[King Nigel]

Once he played a photographer while Senna was interviewed

[Louis Mr. F1]

in the 91 Canadian GP, after claiming provisional pole on Friday in a wet track, he said he hopes it'd snow on the Saturday. Of course, it turned out that it's a sunny Sat and he lost pole to ......... his teammate, Patrese.

[holiday]

Originally posted by Ruairidh
In his last season for Lotus wasn't he leading in Monaco when he crashed the car and claimed that the rain had wet the road markings such that he lost adhesion?

this is not unusual at all. ms got on the white road markings 1996 as well, and crashed out immediately. in monaco all drivers are trying to avoid the street markings like hell, especially in qualifying and the wet.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by King Nigel
Once he played a photographer while Senna was interviewed

That photo must have been taken after Senna's death as Mansell has a Rothmans cap on...

[bill moffat]

as Bernie said a real "entertainer". We all remember the embarassing bits; the Monaco exit, the "collapses", the premature retirement, the regrettable "small McLaren" episode etc etc.

However in a racing car he was excellent value for money. He was super quick, gutsy and quite capable of pulling off the seemingly impossible...ask Piquet. His chasing-down of Senna at Monaco was pure theatre.

OK , amongst the real enthusiasts he never gained the level of affection afforded to such as Stirling or Jimmy...and perhaps that was a consequence of his character. However,behind the wheel of an F1 car he could always be relied upon to provide some form of drama....the type which I suspect will be sorely missed in the 2003 season. If the Minardi is big enough for Justin Wilson and with Nigel's Minardi 2 seater experience perhaps...sorry dreaming again !

[TODave2]

Oh gawd please no, let's not have him back again!

That picture just about sums up Nigel. You just look at it and think 'Christ... what a berk'.

Mansell's ontrack performance is summed up by one move for me: overtaking Berger's Ferrari around the outside of the Peralta at Mexico. That really does take some balls.


Driver yes, personality no.

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by bill moffat
OK , amongst the real enthusiasts he never gained the level of affection afforded to such as Stirling or Jimmy...and perhaps that was a consequence of his character.

Agreed, at least for me, Mansell's character was off-putting, and may have colored my judgment on his merits

But I also never thought of him as being in the same talent division as Stirling or Jimmy - did others?

[rdrcr]

Nige...

I had the opportunity to party with him several times at the GP in Detroit. One of my good pals who was a native of Grosse Pointe, who I went to many GPs with, befriended Nigel and took him around town - Golfing at the Country Club of Detroit and such.

He was a witty fellow and seemed to be a most fun sort of guy once he knew that you didn't want anything from him...

We had a pretty good time at the nightclubs - but it seemed he was more comfortable in a private setting...



EDIT: Even though Mansell has been characterized as the prima donna, drama queen or at the very least, temperamental, I think with each driver, comes the vulnerability of pressure and how that pressure gets handled. Perhaps for Mansell, he needed everything " just so" to be psychologically at his best. Perhaps it was just his nature. In any event, it is a bit different when a driver has those personality characteristics and flounders at the dull end of the field, another to be F1 WDC, Rookie of the year in CART and win the Championship simultaneously.

[Doug Nye]

Nigel Mansell, did he crack you up at times?






no








DCN

[masterhit]

Nigel was very brave in the cockpit but could be a drama queen outside the car, bless him. It did make for some entertaining moments though.

I remember one year he parked the car, and was walking away normally. Realsing that the world was watching, he started to limp - add "bruised leg" to the Mansell Book Of Excuses!!!

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by masterhit
Nigel was very brave in the cockpit but could be a drama queen outside the car, bless him. It did make for some entertaining moments though.

I remember one year he parked the car, and was walking away normally. Realsing that the world was watching, he started to limp - add "bruised leg" to the Mansell Book Of Excuses!!!

Injuries and Mansell - the guy was just a walking disaster area!

Nigel Roebuck recalled seeing Mansell limping in the paddock one day, and in his infinite wisdom queried the problem with Nigel. Mansell replied that he was getting some socks out of a drawer and the drawer fell on to his foot - apparently "you wouldn't believe the pain" And this from a guy who would happily go wheel-to-wheel with Senna at 190mph!

Another Roebuck story - Mansell also had a wisdom tooth out prior to the 1987 Austrian GP. He then carried it around that weekend, showing it to everyone as if "evidence of the first tooth extraction known to man"

And of course he sprained his ankle in a football match prior to Spain 1991.

Yet another Mansell/injury related quote - Boutsen being asked about his back problems as a result of squeezing into the Jordan 193 cockpit "If I was Nigel Mansell, I would be halfway to hospital in a helicopter by now"

The "best" injury though occured in Austria - after winning the event in 1987 (another typical drive - coming from a slow start he caught and passed his team mate Nelson Piquet for the win) he hit his head on a girder while heading for the podium on the back of a Jeep (caught on camera - to be fair to Mansell it did look painful). During a later interview with Murray Walker, Murray asked Nigel to remove his Goodyear cap to highlight the huge bump (which was plain for all to see). Murray then moved in for the kill - his finger zeroing in on the bump and finding its target - cue Mansell's face grimacing as Murray states "You've got an enormous bump - right there - ohh sorry!"

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by mikedeering
The "best" injury though occured in Austria - after winning the event in 1987 (another typical drive - coming from a slow start he caught and passed his team mate Nelson Piquet for the win) he hit his head on a girder while heading for the podium on the back of a Jeep (caught on camera - to be fair to Mansell it did look painful). During a later interview with Murray Walker, Murray asked Nigel to remove his Goodyear cap to highlight the huge bump (which was plain for all to see). Murray then moved in for the kill - his finger zeroing in on the bump and finding its target - cue Mansell's face grimacing as Murray states "You've got an enormous bump - right there - ohh sorry!"

That was a classic! Murray at his best! I remember that one when it happened and it still cracks me up!

Do you remember when Nigel had a broken toe from his team mates car running over his foot in the pits?

Do you remember the broken wrist when he banged wheels and his hand went through the spokes of his wheel?

How could such a goose be such a good driver?

[holiday]

Mikedeering,

Nige was also the man who would race for laps in a cockpit soaked of leaking fuel, taking away burns and scars in need of treatment, how does that fit to your characterization of him?

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by holiday
Mikedeering,

Nige was also the man who would race for laps in a cockpit soaked of leaking fuel, taking away burns and scars in need of treatment, how does that fit to your characterization of him?

Well as I stated in my post, that was part of the problem with Nige - in the car he would put up with anything - the guy obviously had huge cajones! Hence my comment about going wheel to wheel with Senna, and indeed your comments regarding his debut in 1980.

But out of the car he was the biggest whinger in the world, moaning about absolutely everything and everyone, including various injuries he had a habit of acquiring. I mean, having a tooth out is painful, but we've all had it done and its not so bad - why the need to show everyone and moan about it? Same with dropping a drawer on your foot...the guy was a major drama queen!

It just doesn't fit with Nige's in car image where he was hard as nails. Why was he such a contradiction? Who knows - but it explains why he was held with little regard by many.

[holiday]

Originally posted by mikedeering
It just doesn't fit with Nige's in car image where he was hard as nails. Why was he such a contradiction? Who knows - but it explains why he was held with little regard by many.

For me, it is rather a case of people looking at the wrong side of things. I mean, he could be a whinger out of the car as much as one would like him to be, if he gives everrything at 180mph, then it perfectly makes up for this...and much more.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by holiday


For me, it is rather a case of people looking at the wrong side of things. I mean, he could be a whinger out of the car as much as one would like him to be, if he gives everrything at 180mph, then it perfectly makes up for this...and much more.

Well Sir Frank & Patrick put up with alot, and in the end decided Mansell's moaning was not worth it, despite his on-track performances!

[holiday]

Well, FW and PH welcomed Mansell twice back to their team. Guess, they must have suffered from sort of Nige turkey.

Come on, every career has its natural end, it's absolutely unfair to judge drivers, or generally spoken, sportsmen, solely on the basis of their career's end. That's a common misconception, in other contexts not the least the reason why there are still stubborn pockets of resistance from the Groupie splitt fraction.

Judge by the whole of their career! Head and Williams would have kept Mansell with a bow, if his performance had been satisfying.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by holiday
Well, FW and PH welcomed Mansell twice back to their team. Guess, they must have suffered from sort of Nige turkey.

Come on, every career has its natural end, it's absolutely unfair to judge drivers, or generally spoken, sportsmen, solely on the basis of their career's end. That's a common misconception, in other contexts not the least the reason why there are still stubborn pockets of resistance from the Groupie splitt fraction.

Judge by the whole of their career! Head and Williams would have kept Mansell with a bow, if his performance had been satisfying.

I wasn't judging him on his career end! That played a role in 1994 for sure, but not in 1992. Why did they fail to resign Mansell for 1993? His 1992 performances were excellent - yet they still didn't retain him - his demands were too much. Fact is - they didn't need him. They had Prost who could do as good a job without all the extra baggage. Despite all the past success - at that stage Mansell had won 27 times for Williams, including 9 times during 1992 - FW and PH were not willing to meet his demands anymore. Mansell's most successful year with the team was 1992 - you can hardly argue he was in decline.

Taking a critical view on Williams & Mansell:

Well, Mansell held FW and PH over a barrel in 1990. He was the only top driver available and Williams despearetly needed him - their 1990 performances were below that of 1989 and they would never be able to compete for titles with Patrese and Boutsen as their drivers. Williams, despite Mansell's performances in 1991-92 were still unconcerned about losing him for 1993, because by then they could pick their drivers - Prost, Senna & Mansell were all after a seat.

The 1994 return was led by Ecclestone and Renault rather than Williams. Damon Hill was not the big star either F1 or Renault wanted - with Prost and Mansell retiring in 92 and 93, and Senna being killed in 94, F1 had suddenly lost all the major players of the last few years. It was renault who mainly wanted Mansell back and funded his services. Despite winning the last round of 1994, Frank and Patrick realised Mansell was past it and signed up DC for 1995.

[holiday]

Ok, I misunderstood you somewhat..to your own good. I thought you were criticising Mansell on basis of his postlude (opposite of 'prelude'?) at Williams as those clueless in Reader's comment do, who actually think it's fair to compare a forty something to anyone.

Mansell's most successful year with the team was 1992 - you can hardly argue he was in decline.

In my mind did Mansell 1992 a job better than anyone else could do racing that year. Curiously though, on the contrary, I cant think of a thirty-nine year-old driver not being somehow in decline. Age is simply against him. I always found this contradiction somehow disturbing. Presumbly, it hints to a flaw in my age-speed theory. :

[Mila]

Nigel was interviewed by JYS at the 90 Canadian GP. by this stage of the season, new teammate Prost (for whatever reasons) had drawn the attention of the Ferrari team to his side of the garage. Jackie points out that, before the season started, Nigel had stated that he would welcome the challenge of having Prost as a teammate. Nigel replies, muttering something to the effect that, "That was before he actually got here."

[masterhit]

Originally posted by holiday
Ok, I misunderstood you somewhat..to your own good. I thought you were criticising Mansell on basis of his postlude (opposite of 'prelude'?) at Williams as those clueless in Reader's comment do, who actually think it's fair to compare a forty something to anyone.


In my mind did Mansell 1992 a job better than anyone else could do racing that year. Curiously though, on the contrary, I cant think of a thirty-nine year-old driver not being somehow in decline. Age is simply against him. I always found this contradiction somehow disturbing. Presumbly, it hints to a flaw in my age-speed theory. :

Fangio started his racing career at 40. Admittedly it was different times, all I am saying is that a truly fit professional with exceptional levels of talent like a Fangio or a Schumacher can still be quick. I thinkthe average age is lower these days, so maybe a top driver can only continue 'till around 40.

Going slightly off the subject Mansell traditionally had always been a well built driver. Over the 91 winter period he worked out hard and started the 92 season very fit and lean. So Mansell was very highly motivated in 92, whereas one could argue that having achieved the pinnacle in both F1 and Indycars and burned his bridges and been disaffected by his treatment by Williams (I'm not taking sides obviously as there are many ways to view this), ultimately this affected his motivation and his fitness level when he subsequently returned to f1. He was still quick, but not as blindingly fast as before. Unfortuantely he let himself go and got so big that McLaren ahd to build a special car for him. Maybe he just listened to the demons too much, maybe if Williams had kept the faith it would have been different as he was certainly exceptional in 92. Anyway I'm just saying that it varies according to the circumstances and there are always exceptions, and exceptional people.

[fines]

Originally posted by masterhit
Fangio started his racing career at 40.

He was already World Champion then!


__________________
Stop the terror!

Help making the people of Israel aware that they don't have a future with Ariel Sharon!

Tell your government to support Amram Mitzna for Prime Minister on January 28!

It may well be the last chance for peace and freedom in the Middle East!

[masterhit]

Originally posted by fines
He was already World Champion then!


__________________
Stop the terror!

Help making the people of Israel aware that they don't have a future with Ariel Sharon!

Tell your government to support Amram Mitzna for Prime Minister on January 28!

It may well be the last chance for peace and freedom in the Middle East!

Whoops, 39. Champ at 40. The fundamental point about age is still relevant.

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by King Nigel
Once he played a photographer while Senna was interviewed

Nigel, looks like the lion he's called in that pic. Moustach of lions fur.

[Bladrian]

I have the misfortune to own the James Allen 'autobiography' of Mansell, 'The people's champion'. A vast exercise in self-aggrandisement, and not very funny at all.

Oh wait, I just remembered - there is a funny bit. Where Mansell recounts, for the umpteenth time, how many poles he's had, how many races he's won, how he was F1 champion, and then states blandly that Michael Schumacher, by merely winning one WDC, has not proved himself as a very good F1 driver ...... I hope he cringes every time he re-reads that bit.

[masterhit]

Originally posted by bill moffat
as Bernie said a real "entertainer". We all remember the embarassing bits; the Monaco exit, the "collapses", the premature retirement, the regrettable "small McLaren" episode etc etc.

However in a racing car he was excellent value for money. He was super quick, gutsy and quite capable of pulling off the seemingly impossible...ask Piquet. His chasing-down of Senna at Monaco was pure theatre.

OK , amongst the real enthusiasts he never gained the level of affection afforded to such as Stirling or Jimmy...and perhaps that was a consequence of his character. However,behind the wheel of an F1 car he could always be relied upon to provide some form of drama....the type which I suspect will be sorely missed in the 2003 season. If the Minardi is big enough for Justin Wilson and with Nigel's Minardi 2 seater experience perhaps...sorry dreaming again !

I agree. As Murray walker once said, wherever Mansell was involved in something, it was dramatic. Crashes, spectacular retirements, punchups, grabbing people by the throat, disqualifications, spins, punctures, blowups.. On the flipside, as you rightly say, when a move worked, when a race went his way, when the car was to his liking, the results were spectacular to behold. Hardly made for dull television.

[Gary Davies]

Originally posted by mikedeering
... And of course he sprained his ankle in a football match prior to Spain 1991 ...

Help my poor fading memory. Was that the injury from which Noige was suffering when Gerhard Berger kicked him in the ankle as the drivers were leaving the pre-race briefing?

[Veronika]

Originally posted by King Nigel
Once he played a photographer while Senna was interviewed

Funny!

[marglar]

While we're on the subject of humourous Nigel Mansell stories, can someone please confirm/deny a rumour for me?

Is it true that Nigel actually started a GP in reverse in the early 80's? It sounds far fetched to me and i'm tempted to think its a load of codswallop but i guess anything is possible with ol Nige. If it really did happen where and when was it?

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by holiday
Ok, I misunderstood you somewhat..to your own good. I thought you were criticising Mansell on basis of his postlude (opposite of 'prelude'?) at Williams as those clueless in Reader's comment do, who actually think it's fair to compare a forty something to anyone.

In my mind did Mansell 1992 a job better than anyone else could do racing that year. Curiously though, on the contrary, I cant think of a thirty-nine year-old driver not being somehow in decline. Age is simply against him. I always found this contradiction somehow disturbing. Presumbly, it hints to a flaw in my age-speed theory. :

As others have already stated - the 40-something Fangio stacked up pretty well against his peers! I particular think of Nurburgring 1957, when he toyed with Hawthorn and Collins, two drivers young enough to be his sons!

But that was of course a different era - I'd agree it would be somewhat harder today for an older driver to race the "youngsters". I think it has more to do with drivers starting younger now though more than anything - look at someone like Raikkonen or Button. They reached F1 in their very early 20s - are they still likely to be motivated into their 40s? Probably not. If they only reached F1 later in life - as Fangio did then it is perhaps worth assuming they would be more driven and therefore race on into their 40s?. What more has MS got to prove? Absolutely nothing. Which is why I suspect he will retire at the end of 2004. If he chose motor racing as a career later in life, and didn't reach F1 until say 2000, it is likely he would race way beyond 2004, despite his advancing years simply because he would have so much more to achieve.

[TODave2]

Originally posted by marglar
While we're on the subject of humourous Nigel Mansell stories, can someone please confirm/deny a rumour for me?

Is it true that Nigel actually started a GP in reverse in the early 80's? It sounds far fetched to me and i'm tempted to think its a load of codswallop but i guess anything is possible with ol Nige. If it really did happen where and when was it?

Dunno about that. I know he started Mexico '86 in neutral

[MichaelJP]

Talking about Mansell and his problems, I always remember after one of his races at Monaco (not sure which year) he got out of his car and near-collapsed on the way to the podium. As it was done in such a pantomime fashion, we were never sure if he really was having problems or just hamming it up in his usual drama-queen way!

He was good value in a car but an embarassment out of it.

- MichaelJP

[mikedeering]

That was Monaco 92, after his frenzied battle with Senna over the last few laps. You can never imagine Schumacher getting like that can you?

Thought of another Mansell injury - Rio 1989 - he dropped the winning trophy and it slashed his hands quite badly - blood everyone. Looked very painful.

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by SeanValen
I remember in the FIA video review of 1992, Mansell been given a horse. And then he says "I think I might take to the track tomorrow, extra horsepower."

The year was 1991. Mansell celebrated his birthday at the Hungaroring in August and the organisers presented him a horse. Journalist Andrew Frankl played the role of the interpreter and he said on behalf of the organizers: "We hope this extra horsepower would help you to win the race on Sunday." Eventually Mansell finished second behing Senna.

[Eric McLoughlin]

Or Mansell pushing his JPS to the line after running out of fuel, only to collapse within feet of the chequered flag.

[paulhooft]

I think that Nigel had something we are missing in the Modern Version of Grand Prix racing..
now better known as Formula One..
Paul

[Bladrian]

Originally posted by mikedeering


What more has MS got to prove? Absolutely nothing. Which is why I suspect he will retire at the end of 2004. If he chose motor racing as a career later in life, and didn't reach F1 until say 2000, it is likely he would race way beyond 2004, despite his advancing years simply because he would have so much more to achieve.

Michael doesn't have anything left to prove - but he's still racing for the same reason that he started racing in the first place: he enjoys it. Which, in my view, has always been the difference between the pure race drivers, like Clark and Schumacher, and the guys who were in it for the money, like Lauda and Jacques and Irvine .... well, most of the moderns, really.

And that's why I wouldn't put any bets on Michael retiring anytime soon - he'll stop when he stops enjoying the racing, I reckon.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by Bladrian


Michael doesn't have anything left to prove - but he's still racing for the same reason that he started racing in the first place: he enjoys it. Which, in my view, has always been the difference between the pure race drivers, like Clark and Schumacher, and the guys who were in it for the money, like Lauda and Jacques and Irvine .... well, most of the moderns, really.

And that's why I wouldn't put any bets on Michael retiring anytime soon - he'll stop when he stops enjoying the racing, I reckon.

It's easy to enjoy it with a current Ferrari! If the F2003 turns out to be a complete dog, and MS has to drive his nuts off again just to finish 3rd like with the F310 in 1996, I suspect he would retire sooner rather than later - he's been around too long to bother with that hassle again. I think that was mainly why Lauda at least retired when he did (both in 1979 and 1985 - is it coincidence he retired after poor seasons?)

[Bladrian]

I figure the reasons for Lauda's retirements were, in both instances, money. He certainly re-entered F1 when his airline ran out of the stuff .......

[rdrcr]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Nigel Mansell, did he crack you up at times?






no








DCN

....like i said....



:

[masterhit]

Originally posted by Bladrian
I figure the reasons for Lauda's retirements were, in both instances, money. He certainly re-entered F1 when his airline ran out of the stuff .......

Well, this is true to some extent, but Lauda has said on several occasions that in Schumacher's position, he would not have been able to keep his motivation to continue racing for so long. In other words, even given Schumacher's HUGE salary, to drive for as long as Michael has, with the same motivation that Michael has would not be possible. He would get bored, look for other challenges. So it's not just the money side. An example - on the plane back from Adelaide, 1985, his final race in Formula 1, Lauda found himself sitting next to Bernie Eccelstone, who at that time was Manager of the Brabham team as well as FOCA chairman. Bernie offered Lauda the largest paycheque ever up to that point in the history of F1 - $5 million dollars - to race again for Brabham. Lauda turned it down.

[magic]

holiday
this is not unusual at all. ms got on the white road markings 1996 as well, and crashed out immediately. in monaco all drivers are trying to avoid the street markings like hell, especially in qualifying and the wet.
-------------------


not.
ms had used the portier inside curb the entire weekend to gain time there.
in his hurry to catch hill who had left him standing after the start he forgot t to realise even curbs get slippery when wet.

the look on his face afterward, realising he fxxxxxd up, cracked me up.


http://ihateschumi.f...996-mon-01.mpeg

[deangelis86]

Originally posted by mikedeering


That photo must have been taken after Senna's death as Mansell has a Rothmans cap on...

Blimey Mike, you must have eyes of a hawk to see that!!

Hmm, maybe I need to get my eyes tested sooner rather than later methinks. Maybe my Mum was right when she once said 'you'll go blind....' ;)

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by paulhooft
I think that Nigel had something we are missing in the Modern Version of Grand Prix racing..
now better known as Formula One..
Paul

I was thinking about how long it's been since Nigel left, we need a joker who wins races now and again, Kimi is too ice like, Alonso is either quiet or ready to blame something or someone, Lewis is well just like any other footballer who has money, Mansell was good to laugh at or he'll make you laugh.

[ex Rhodie racer]

Saw this tread and it just reminded me of one of the greatest moves ever. South African Grand prix, Kyalami. Forget the year.
Anyone who has raced there will know how fast the descent from Crowthorn (turn one) down through Barbeque and Jukskei was. I can´t quite remember the circumstances, but our Nige was really tramping, and on one lap he had his car in the dirt on the exit of Barbeque, somehow managed to get back on the road, and then got through the frighteningly fast Jukskei sweep, and all this without lifting. I´ve never seen anyone go through there that fast. Took my breath away.

[Hank the Deuce]

Originally posted by masterhit


...on the plane back from Adelaide, 1985, his final race in Formula 1, Lauda found himself sitting next to Bernie Eccelstone, who at that time was Manager of the Brabham team as well as FOCA chairman. Bernie offered Lauda the largest paycheque ever up to that point in the history of F1 - $5 million dollars - to race again for Brabham. Lauda turned it down.

Bernie must've really wanted to give Lauda some money... didn't Niki tear up a realtively massive Brabham contract to retire the first time?