106 replies to this topic

[Rene]

In talking with both journalists and members of a couple of F1 teams there seems to be universal agreement that Jacques Villeneuves association with the Pollock's has hampered his search for an F1 drive for 2005.

This belief seems to be universally held by everyone who cares to discuss it within the rarified air of the F1 paddock. I don't dispute this idea for a second, look back to what Mario Theissen said in regards to Villeneuve's possible ride with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't need a manager to negotiate his deal, which clearly was a swipe at Pollock.

The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

[gshevlin]

Simply put: the only thing that Craig Pollock has delivered is large sums of money to the bank account of JV, and his own bank account. He played a major role in the set-up and launch of BAR, using the Tyrrell team as a trojan horse. He mis-managed that transition, and then proceeded to preside over a budgetary black hole at BAR, as the team spent $160 m a season to produce mediocre results. He seems to be unable to understand the meaning of the word accountability.
Whenever I have seen him being interviewed, his answers are a close approximation to a content-free zone.

[Rene]

Originally posted by gshevlin
Simply put: the only thing that Craig Pollock has delivered is large sums of money to the bank account of JV, and his own bank account. He played a major role in the set-up and launch of BAR, using the Tyrrell team as a trojan horse. He mis-managed that transition, and then proceeded to preside over a budgetary black hole at BAR, as the team spent $160 m a season to produce mediocre results. He seems to be unable to understand the meaning of the word accountability.
Whenever I have seen him being interviewed, his answers are a close approximation to a content-free zone.

None of that answers the question. That explains why some former Tyrell employee's and the odd BAT member might hate Pollock, but not the rest of the paddock. Why would that make MT of BMW despise him?

[Zoe]

Maybe because no-one in those circles likes a "manager" of the CP kind?

I guess, that you'll have to ask Theissen if you want the answer why he doesn't like Pollok.

Zoe

[GreenLantern]

Three possible reasons why people dislike Pollock ( hate is probably too strong a word)

1. Like Zoe said, most managers (of drivers) like CP, Weber, etc are probably seen by team bosses as grasping and painful to deal with
2. On top of that, if the manager is also team head honcho (like CP used to be) , there is so much scope for favouritism, conflicts of interests etc, that most people would think this is not quite ethical. Remember the allegations of JV being favoured over Zonta etc. Another reason why people would not like Pollock
3. Further, CP is seen as a more crooked wheeler dealer than most - all the BAT/Tyrell dealings, where at the end of the day he seems to have made money for himself, not done the team any good and nor really helped Jacques' cause. Contrast with Flavio, who's done well for his team - Benetton in the mid nineties, and now Renault, and for his proteges - Alonso, Webber etc.

Hence many people are likely wary of CP, IMO.

[powertrain]

Originally posted by Rene
In talking with both journalists and members of a couple of F1 teams there seems to be universal agreement that Jacques Villeneuves association with the Pollock's has hampered his search for an F1 drive for 2005.

This belief seems to be universally held by everyone who cares to discuss it within the rarified air of the F1 paddock. I don't dispute this idea for a second, look back to what Mario Theissen said in regards to Villeneuve's possible ride with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't need a manager to negotiate his deal, which clearly was a swipe at Pollock.

The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

For what it's worth, here are my two cents on the matter. First of all, not everyone despises Craig Pollock. For instance, in the first two or three years of BAR, the team would often share testing venues and transport with Williams. I'm not aware of any negative comments from Frank Williams or Ron Dennis about the man. At least one team owner, Eddie Jordan is a good friend as can be seen in these pictures taken last January in Villars, Switzerland. One of course who certainly does despise Pollock is David Richards, no surprise there. The notion that Jacques' association with Pollock has kept him from finding a drive for 2005 mostly comes from Flavio Briatore who revealed that Jacques' friendship with Pollock had prevented him from accepting to drive for Renault. Briatore would like nothing more than to take care of Villeneuve's business, and as you are well aware, any drive with Renault has to go through him. Briatore is well-known for prefering drivers that give him a percentage instead of giving it to someone else. So yes, in this case, you can say that Jacques' association with Pollock has kept him from getting a drive with Renault. So right there you have two teams that definitely wouldn't have Villeneuve because of Pollock: BAR and Renault. As for Mario Thiessen's problem, I suspect it has more to do with Villeneuve himself than with his manager. In other words, his was a message to JV that if he ever sits down to discuss contract with him, as I'm sure BMW must be part of any contract negociations with the drivers, he can forget about the kind of extravagant contract clauses he had with BAR. The only other thing I can see is that Pollock poached Geoff Willis from Williams, perhaps Thiessen is still resentful of that but Williams and Head don't seem to have a problem with it.

[skinnylizard]

simple. the guy isnt an ex-driver, mechanic or motorsport person. He is a complete outsider who came in as a manager. Then forgetting his place in the scheme of things he
- He brought in a big player like BAT
- purchased an old and respected team
- added a WDC to the mix at a major salary
- then brought in Honda as engine supplier
- Reynard as chassi people.
The whole package though unsuccessfull for a while was a major coup for anyone let alone an outsider.
Maybe it was mismanagement or conflict of interest or envy.

[dbltop]

Another reason is that when BAR took over the Tyrrell team, some people would say that Ken wasn't treated with the dignity and respect that he should have been.

[skinnylizard]

Originally posted by dbltop
Another reason is that when BAR took over the Tyrrell team, some people would say that Ken wasn't treated with the dignity and respect that he should have been.

????

[MuMu]

I remember Ron saying good things about Pollock

[Buford]

Originally posted by skinnylizard
simple. the guy isnt an ex-driver, mechanic or motorsport person. He is a complete outsider who came in as a manager. Then forgetting his place in the scheme of things he
- He brought in a big player like BAT
- purchased an old and respected team
- added a WDC to the mix at a major salary
- then brought in Honda as engine supplier
- Reynard as chassi people.
The whole package though unsuccessfull for a while was a major coup for anyone let alone an outsider.
Maybe it was mismanagement or conflict of interest or envy.

I think this is a big part of it.

[NELF]

that's simple: when people see Craig zooming between the pits, they would think: "oh no, Jacques is coming back next year"

No one inside F1 really like Jacques you know, he's a jerk, only Montoya has the potential to be worse than him.

[Buford]

Oh yeah. Just a warm fuzzy group of sweet and nice pussy cats shocked my the so out of character jerkiness of people like Villeneuve and Montoya. It is a wonder how they even manage to go on!

[WACKO]

Pollock was indeed not the easiest to deal with for the teams. Remember that B.A.R. did play far above it's weight in the time that Pollock was there. They felt they were a top team, but in fact had just arrived and achieved nothing. Some teams felt that a more unobstrusive approach would suit them better. Especially Patrick Head and Frank Williams have reason not to be enthusiastic about Pollock. They felt he had used Jacques' period at Williams to spy around in the team to later set up his own and attract their Chief Designer in the process.

[BRG]

Originally posted by skinnylizard
????

Uncle Ken was the doyen of the pit lane - almost universally respected. Then along comes Pollock, buys Team Tyrrell but then basically trashes it and destroys its heritage. Then he effectively squeezes Ken out by mid-season. Ken then dies shortly after. You can imagine that the old hands of F1 might not see Pollock in a very favourable light thereafter, particularly when, despite all the PR and lavish spending, the new team is singularly unsuccessful.

[ndsask]

Originally posted by WACKO
Pollock was indeed not the easiest to deal with for the teams. Remember that B.A.R. did play far above it's weight in the time that Pollock was there. They felt they were a top team, but in fact had just arrived and achieved nothing. Some teams felt that a more unobstrusive approach would suit them better. Especially Patrick Head and Frank Williams have reason not to be enthusiastic about Pollock. They felt he had used Jacques' period at Williams to spy around in the team to later set up his own and attract their Chief Designer in the process.

Willis was the Chief Aerodynamicist, not Designer, and I don't know that Williams were worried about losing him. Willis was the fall-guy for the disastrous FW24, which completely wasted a then large BMW power advantage -- somehow their Chief Designer since 1997, Gavin Fisher, survives one bad to mediocre chasis after another -- and probably on his way out in any case.

[JForce]

He acted like someone who had earned their place, when in fact he hadn't. And never did.

[skinnylizard]

Originally posted by BRG
Uncle Ken was the doyen of the pit lane - almost universally respected. Then along comes Pollock, buys Team Tyrrell but then basically trashes it and destroys its heritage. Then he effectively squeezes Ken out by mid-season. Ken then dies shortly after. You can imagine that the old hands of F1 might not see Pollock in a very favourable light thereafter, particularly when, despite all the PR and lavish spending, the new team is singularly unsuccessful.

i dont know how else it could have been handeled. Cleary Uncle Ken couldnt have taken BAR to a position where they aren now (Pollock didnt either but he created the situation that DR is expliting now). He (Ken) must have known he wasnt going to last long.
what do you mean trash its heritage?? how?

i dont think there are many old hands in F1 who care really..

[BRG]

Originally posted by skinnylizard
i dont know how else it could have been handeled. Cleary Uncle Ken couldnt have taken BAR to a position where they aren now (Pollock didnt either but he created the situation that DR is expliting now). He (Ken) must have known he wasnt going to last long.
what do you mean trash its heritage?? how?

i dont think there are many old hands in F1 who care really..

Ken Tyrrell won races and championships so he took his team a great deal further than Pollock's BAR ever managed. And Richards's BAR will have to go some before it even gets close to emulating that record.

As for trashing the heritage, all Pollock used was the Tyrrell F1 entry - all the rest - staff, data, equipment, premises - were effectively discarded because Pollock thought that he and Reynard knew better than a team that had been racing in F1 for 20 years. We all soon saw the truth of that! Pride cometh before a fall, as the Bible says.

There are a LOT of old hands in F1 - guys like Ron Dennis who started out as mechanics and rose to senior positions, and a lot of others who have made it their careers even if they haven't become household names. F1 is all about building up a bank of experience, so there are plenty of people who have been around much longer than Pollock. And I think that many of them would have been unimpressed by Pollock's behaviour.

Alternatively, maybe they just don't like his face. Who knows?

[Z71]

Originally posted by Rene
In talking with both journalists and members of a couple of F1 teams there seems to be universal agreement that Jacques Villeneuves association with the Pollock's has hampered his search for an F1 drive for 2005.

This belief seems to be universally held by everyone who cares to discuss it within the rarified air of the F1 paddock. I don't dispute this idea for a second, look back to what Mario Theissen said in regards to Villeneuve's possible ride with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't need a manager to negotiate his deal, which clearly was a swipe at Pollock.

The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

I nice to read that MT talk about negotiate a contract wit JV.
But were did you read that? could you post the link or something.
I read MT says they are gone to test JV at the end of the sumer but what you say is more like a real deal.
Thanks.

[skinnylizard]

Originally posted by BRG
Ken Tyrrell won races and championships so he took his team a great deal further than Pollock's BAR ever managed. And Richards's BAR will have to go some before it even gets close to emulating that record.

As for trashing the heritage, all Pollock used was the Tyrrell F1 entry - all the rest - staff, data, equipment, premises - were effectively discarded because Pollock thought that he and Reynard knew better than a team that had been racing in F1 for 20 years. We all soon saw the truth of that! Pride cometh before a fall, as the Bible says.

There are a LOT of old hands in F1 - guys like Ron Dennis who started out as mechanics and rose to senior positions, and a lot of others who have made it their careers even if they haven't become household names. F1 is all about building up a bank of experience, so there are plenty of people who have been around much longer than Pollock. And I think that many of them would have been unimpressed by Pollock's behaviour.

Alternatively, maybe they just don't like his face. Who knows?

they won constructors once in the 70's i think. and i think the only high i heard bout em in the 80's was Jean Alesi. Didnt Ken Tyrrel get $30-$40 million for selling out ?
what else was Pollock obligated to offer??? I dont recall any layoffs so no one lost out there.


Regardless of how BAR did they definetely did better than Tyrrell were doing for a long time. Pollocks obligation was only to his current shareholders.

You can say what you want about BAR it was im sure a much better, bigger and modern outfit compared to the Tyrrell they bought out.

Nostalgia dosent pay the bills.

[WACKO]

Originally posted by ndsask


Willis was the Chief Aerodynamicist, not Designer, and I don't know that Williams were worried about losing him. Willis was the fall-guy for the disastrous FW24, which completely wasted a then large BMW power advantage -- somehow their Chief Designer since 1997, Gavin Fisher, survives one bad to mediocre chasis after another -- and probably on his way out in any case.

I think Willis is pretty much proving his point currently at B.A.R. that he is not a one-off. Fisher has not produced anything of significance but there is simply nobody available with the skills and the experience that is better than him.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by skinnylizard



they won constructors once in the 70's i think. and i think the only high i heard bout em in the 80's was Jean Alesi. Didnt Ken Tyrrel get $30-$40 million for selling out ?
what else was Pollock obligated to offer??? I dont recall any layoffs so no one lost out there.


Regardless of how BAR did they definetely did better than Tyrrell were doing for a long time. Pollocks obligation was only to his current shareholders.

You can say what you want about BAR it was im sure a much better, bigger and modern outfit compared to the Tyrrell they bought out.

Nostalgia dosent pay the bills.

The won it twice I think, 71 and 73 (plus 68 if you factor in the Tyrrell run Matra effort).

The Alesi years were a small resurgence, but Tyrrells won races in most of the years of the 70s (Scheckter, Deppailler) and in the 80s, most notably with Alboreto. They were certainly not a one hit wonder team.

[alesifan46]

Obviously..CP wasn't part of the "OLE BOYS CLUB"...Let's face it...The head honcho's of F1 ..I don't mean the "fringe" teams...are a NETWORK of highly successful Curmudgeons...hosting secret meetings in 200 yr old private clubs...sipping scotch and planning the next move against MADMAX!! ...anyways..CP has LOST his effectiveness with regards to JV..I believe he is a HINDERANCE now...

[Gemini]

Originally posted by Rene

The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

Well if I was a team manager I could dislike Polock for inflating the payroll cost of F1 teams. B.A.R. was offering very good terms to get people out of other teams... No doubt several teams had to dig depper into their piggy banks to keep some important individuals.

About Theissen and BMW.. Do we know what year BMW made decision to join Williams? And do we know if it was before Polock got WDC out of future BMW team?

[zak]

Wasn't Pollock a gym teacher or something similar at JV's school?

What's the old addage - Those who can't, teach. Those that can't teach, teach gym.

Apologies to any teachers or gym teachers here.

[Zmeej]

Skinny's post covers my guesstimation.

Good post (again) powertrain, very informative.

[skinnylizard]

i remember reading that JV ran into Pollock who was involved in motor sport on his own steam. so im not sure he was just a teacher and just latched on to Villeneuve.

secondly im sure to a certain degree the pitch to get people like BAT etc would have been JV. so he didnt exactly inflate the payroll but he completely ruined his credibility by being the payee and agent.

Border -

i never implied Tyrrell was a one hit wonder team ( i wouldnt term a WCC a one hit wonder in any case) but the truth is they were far off their glory days, got slightly lucky with a super talen like Jean Alesi and then faded away again. the only purpose they served was what they were used for i.e. as a springboard.

but i agree with alesifan. Pollock is deadweight..

[Goggles]

Pollock is seen as a sinecure and a sycophant. It's quite natural to feel a bit resentful towards a person with those qualities.

[KinetiK]

Whatever Pollock's failings, personal, professional or otherwise, he secured an exclusive Honda relationship for BAR and signed Geoff Willis as technical director. I remember spilling a great deal of venom over JV's repeated signings at BAR and blamed Pollock for ruining his career with the great dollops of money for "services" rendered.

[Vilenova]

Well hated or not, he was successful.
MAnaged JV to lucrative and successful partnerships in Champ Car and F1.
Started an F1 team.
Negotiated for Honda, BAT to come aboard. Then later Michelin and Willis. Now they are a top 3 team.

Pretty good track record.

[dbltop]

Ken Tyrrell's teams through the 80s had respectable outings with low budgets. He had proven that he knew how to win. With his brains and BARs money, the team might have become successful sooner. Pollock must of thought he could do it himself. He was wrong.

[michelb99]

Originally posted by Rene
In talking with both journalists and members of a couple of F1 teams there seems to be universal agreement that Jacques Villeneuves association with the Pollock's has hampered his search for an F1 drive for 2005.

This belief seems to be universally held by everyone who cares to discuss it within the rarified air of the F1 paddock. I don't dispute this idea for a second, look back to what Mario Theissen said in regards to Villeneuve's possible ride with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't need a manager to negotiate his deal, which clearly was a swipe at Pollock.

The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

My feeling is that Pollock is seen as an arrogant prick who used JV's Championship to fill his bank account (OK, he did a good job with JV'S bank account as well ...)

He tried to make a 'Flavio' out of himself but was probably not smart enough to handle the game ...

Finally, his attitude at the beginning of the BAR adventure was everything except modest ...
Remember that he and Adrain Reynard claimed that they were to win their first race ... If I was a team manager at that time, I would do anything to make this guy look like a fool ... and they succeeded !! Too bad JV have to pay for it though ...

[powertrain]

Originally posted by Vilenova
Negotiated for Honda, BAT to come aboard. Then later Michelin and Willis. Now they are a top 3 team.

Erm... BAT, Honda and Willis yes, but Michelin was David Richards' doing...

[Jack Rabbit]

First, Pollock did not bring BAT into formula1, BAT was looking to get involved in formula1 and was looking for someone to head it up. Pollock had no real experience in motor racing, but struck a friendship up with JV at a ski resort where he was teaching skiing. Suddenly he becomes his manager and mentor. So when BAT was starting to make noises about getting into formula1, CP sought to parlay his friendship with JV into a new team by offering him as a carrot to BAT. One proviso was that if JV was going to race in a lucky strike suit, CP would HAVE to be team principal.

Well, number 2 in the BAT selection process was Dave Richards. A man who had paid his dues, proved his worth, and deserved a shot at running a team. But BAT wanted the instant marketability of a former WDC, and Pollock would not let JV race in a Richards' run BAR. So Pollock's B.S. and Svengali sway over JV won out, and he became the head of BAR. Then came the work of actually getting a team running, luckily CP had truckloads of cash at his disposal. This was no Jordon he was starting up.

Before long, because Pollock did not have the managerial skills to run a modern Formula1 team, BAR ended up with a bloated payroll, no major sponsors aside from BAT, and poor relationships with BAT home office. Moreover, part of Pollock’s luring of JV included a zero promotional clause in his contract. So JV's marketing ability was amputated by Pollock's contract that he negotiated with JV. By the time of Pollock's departure, his talents (or lack thereof) were self-evident. He is a good looking, smooth talker that used his friendship to maximize his financial gain. In my world, we call those people users, frauds, and parasites. I am sure he is not the only one in formula1, but I doubt they are liked any better.

And he did not secure an exclusive contract with Honda. Honda was supplying two teams, and only settled on BAR when it was clear Pollock was being given his walking papers.

And, while idle speculation on my part, JV's lack of a seat could be down to CP trying to get something for himself. If JV wants to race, it is possible CP's contract demands could be getting in the way. Because if JV isn’t getting paid a lot of cash, CP wont be getting a cut.

[Jack Rabbit]

Oh, and if he hadn't met jv, he would be nowhere. He did jack for Jacques except capitalize on JV's natural talent. How many other drivers does he manage? What else has he done except be JV's full time friend?

[alesifan46]

craig pollock JV mentor

This is a little background on CP and JV

[Andy]

Rene, the answer to your question is summed up in one word...

Arrogant

That is why Craig Pollock is un-liked in F1 circles.

By the way, Jacques is no longer using Craig as his manager for F1 related activities. Any and all talks regarding Jacques returning to F1, Jacques is handling on his own now. This was Jacques decision. They are still friends, etc. but Pollock is out of F1 as far as Jacques is concerned.

[The Fazz]

Originally posted by Rene
The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

Pollock is a wheeler dealer. Often he gets the best deal for his clients. Theissen probably does not want Pollock in the picture if he thinks he can get Jacques for cheap.

As for others in the paddock? Can you show me some quotes that demonstrates this?

If I am not mistaken, Pollock and Co at BAR rubbed a lot of people the wrong way when they took Tyrell and change the whole organisation. Then they insulted the others with their infamous claim of winning the first race (well Reynard did). However, I believe that Pollock gradually built up respect up to the time of his ouster.

[JForce]

Originally posted by Andy
By the way, Jacques is no longer using Craig as his manager for F1 related activities. Any and all talks regarding Jacques returning to F1, Jacques is handling on his own now. This was Jacques decision. They are still friends, etc. but Pollock is out of F1 as far as Jacques is concerned.

This would be great, but source?

[Vilenova]

Originally posted by Jack Rabbit
First, Pollock did not bring BAT into formula1, BAT was looking to get involved in formula1 and was looking for someone to head it up. Pollock had no real experience in motor racing, but struck a friendship up with JV at a ski resort where he was teaching skiing. Suddenly he becomes his manager and mentor. So when BAT was starting to make noises about getting into formula1, CP sought to parlay his friendship with JV into a new team by offering him as a carrot to BAT. One proviso was that if JV was going to race in a lucky strike suit, CP would HAVE to be team principal.

Well, number 2 in the BAT selection process was Dave Richards. A man who had paid his dues, proved his worth, and deserved a shot at running a team. But BAT wanted the instant marketability of a former WDC, and Pollock would not let JV race in a Richards' run BAR. So Pollock's B.S. and Svengali sway over JV won out, and he became the head of BAR. Then came the work of actually getting a team running, luckily CP had truckloads of cash at his disposal. This was no Jordon he was starting up.

Before long, because Pollock did not have the managerial skills to run a modern Formula1 team, BAR ended up with a bloated payroll, no major sponsors aside from BAT, and poor relationships with BAT home office. Moreover, part of Pollock’s luring of JV included a zero promotional clause in his contract. So JV's marketing ability was amputated by Pollock's contract that he negotiated with JV. By the time of Pollock's departure, his talents (or lack thereof) were self-evident. He is a good looking, smooth talker that used his friendship to maximize his financial gain. In my world, we call those people users, frauds, and parasites. I am sure he is not the only one in formula1, but I doubt they are liked any better.

And he did not secure an exclusive contract with Honda. Honda was supplying two teams, and only settled on BAR when it was clear Pollock was being given his walking papers.

And, while idle speculation on my part, JV's lack of a seat could be down to CP trying to get something for himself. If JV wants to race, it is possible CP's contract demands could be getting in the way. Because if JV isn’t getting paid a lot of cash, CP wont be getting a cut.

How do you know what was in the contract?
You should read the article that alesifan46 posted. polluck was a successful businessman and did wonders in bringing JV to the wdc in such a short time.

[Andy]

Originally posted by JForce
This would be great, but source?

I could tell ya, but I'd have to shoot ya!! ;)

[Jack Rabbit]

Originally posted by Vilenova

How do you know what was in the contract?
You should read the article that alesifan46 posted. polluck was a successful businessman and did wonders in bringing JV to the wdc in such a short time.

Forumal1 Magazine (or possiblely F1 Racing) did a postmortem on CP's team principal career when he was fired. I was writing from memory, as I shift my junk (like old magazines) once a year, and so do not have it anymore; so take it for what is worth, my memory could be faulty.

The article that alesifan46 posted was hardly hard hitting investigative journalism, imho. But if you like CP, cool. I don't.

[Zawed]

Don't think talking about how BAR was going to win its first race on debut helped Pollocks credibility with the general public...or was it Adrian Reynard who said and left Pollock to carry the can??

[skinnylizard]

i dont see what the truth has to do with like or dislike.
Pollock was a good manager for Villenueve. he got him access to cars to get him to a cart title, a 500 win and a WDC.
it got grand after that they took a risk and it didnt pay off. simple. i think Pollock is to blame. he should never have been incharge of Villenueve and BAR. Conflict of interest always leads to one of the parties losing out. in this case both of them lost out for a long time.
i think its wrong to say pollock latched on to JV. if he really wanted to exploit Jacques he would have done so back in the day and not much later.

as for Ken Tyyrell doin a better job. hardly think so. he was surely finished in F-1. he hadnt been a winner for the best part of a decade and a half.
didnt seem that big a stretch for Pollock to think he would have been able to do a better job.

[dbltop]

How could CP possibly think he could realistically do a better job of managing a team than Tyrrell? What experience did he have? Zilch. He did an excellent job of getting JV a good contract, but running a team was out of his league. I think he was a victim of his own hype. I think he thought the team couldn't possibly be NOT successful and he was going to look like a genius.

[skinnylizard]

Originally posted by dbltop
How could CP possibly think he could realistically do a better job of managing a team than Tyrrell? What experience did he have? Zilch. He did an excellent job of getting JV a good contract, but running a team was out of his league. I think he was a victim of his own hype. I think he thought the team couldn't possibly be NOT successful and he was going to look like a genius.

its not rational. he had done well with everything up until then. neogtiations, contracts, sponsorship and all that. probably couldnt segregate that side of himself from the runnings of the sport.
Tyrrell apparently werent doing any better. so mabe he didnt have the experience Ken did but jeez how long was Ken in F-1 and what did he have to show for the 80's up until he sold the team??? one Alesi driven super performances is hardly a credible job.

[Vrba]

It was obvious from day one that he is nothing but a fraud.
Because only the people whose job is to sell themselves on the basis of good looks and sweet talk look like him. The same as models.
It's a bit like wearing suits. The people with real, worthy knowledge and skills don't need suits. Suits are worn by people that have to make an impression of what they are not.

Hrvoje

[dbltop]

I disagree. Tyrrell was getting Sauber-like results with Minardi-like budgets.

[flyer72]

Originally posted by Rene
In talking with both journalists and members of a couple of F1 teams there seems to be universal agreement that Jacques Villeneuves association with the Pollock's has hampered his search for an F1 drive for 2005.

This belief seems to be universally held by everyone who cares to discuss it within the rarified air of the F1 paddock. I don't dispute this idea for a second, look back to what Mario Theissen said in regards to Villeneuve's possible ride with Williams that Villeneuve wouldn't need a manager to negotiate his deal, which clearly was a swipe at Pollock.

The question is, why is Craig Pollock so despised in the Paddock? Why would the head of BMW's motorsports program have an issue with Pollock? What could he have done to earn the complete hatred of so many people?

Pollock is just the fall guy for: BAR not being competitive, JV's ruined career, the bad treatment of Tyrrell, ruining Zonta blah blah, etc. etc. Of course this is just BS!

Noone wants to negotiate with Pollock, because he is a very good and skilled negotiator. Mario probably doesn't want him doing the talking for JV, because they know he will demand more money. Saying this means nothing though, but it is an indication that JV will be looking at a small salary... remember, it is contract time?