JPM To Mclaren?!?

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SOURCE:Crash.Net

BMW WilliamsF1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya looks set to leave the Oxfordshire based concern at the end of 2004, after signing a 'secret contract' to drive for McLaren-Mercedes.

According to reports by Colombian magazine, Revista Cambio.com the contract was finalised at the British Grand Prix in July, and as such, it means David Coulthard will only remain at the Woking based team for one more season.

It is believed that the Colombian will get a significant pay increase should he go as Williams currently pay him around $3-4 million a year, while team-mate Ralf Schumacher takes in around $10-15m - a matter JPM is understandably less than pleased about.

When asked at the German Grand Prix about such rumours linking him to McLaren, JPM, speaking in Thursday's FIA press conference, told reporters: "Well, there are always rumours about it, rumours one way or the other...

"However at the moment I have a contract with Williams until the end of 2004 and then after that we will have to wait and see what happens. There's still 2003."

Such comments significantly do not rule out such a deal, and therefore there could indeed be merit to such speculation, for although rumours can be notoriously unreliable, there is, as the saying goes, 'no smoke without fire'.

A spokesperson for McLaren told Revista Cambio.com "Ron Dennis [McLaren team boss] will speak of news of the 2005 season when he considers it advisable."

Watch this space for further updates...

ENDS:/

I hope this does happen, but if it does where does it leave David Coulthard? Also who will take up the vacant Willams seat? Id like to think that Wurz or Webber may take the seat.
 
Nothing to be suprised about. I think we all saw this coming from a mile away.
 
Did we? :blink: Willams BMW are the best team in F1 as it stands at the moment in case u havent noticed. Okay sure JPM is on less money than Ralf at the moment, but if he wins the title this year I think u can expect his pay packet to rocket ahead of Ralf's. Remember this is ONLY speculation. Ron Dennis isnt exactly keen to edge out DC after all, and Kimi is unlikely to be leaving any time soon. Of course it could happen, but will it? Personally I think JPM would be stupid to leave Willams at the moment as Willams are the top team.
 
From JPM' side, it would be smart. First McLaren is always known to give equal equipment. They have developed a R&D as well as advanced manufacturing equipment to ensure this. Secondly with the new McLaren Technology Center coming on full swing, they now have many more important tools to help make a run at furutre titles. Third, McLaren has a wind tunnel working...Williams doesnt. Forth how many times do you hear Mercedes threatening to leave McLaren? None...how many stories have you read about BMW having other ideas? McLaren, unlike Williams has two development teams. This seems to be the new idea needed to win. Ferrari has proved it and Renualt is proving it. McLaren also has much more money than Williams. A Williams rep said their budget, despite magazine claims is probably less than 70% of McLarens and Ferrari's. Illmor has also greatly strengthend its design team recently. And lastly, I think Juan wants a team mate who keeps his mouth shut and is fast and consistant enough (unlike Ralf) to push Juan harder.

So there are about 5 or 6 legit reasons why JPM should go to McLaren.
 
Even with a lower budget, Williams has always seemed to keep a foothold on the top spots of the grid. As you can see, windtunnels are not all they are cracked up to be.
 
To say wind tunnels are not all they are cracked up to be is ludicrous. Minardi is know where near Jaguars times from last year, and they use relativly the same engine and even had one of the same drivers. Jag's aero package in '02 was the ****s, but not nearly as bad as Minardi's. You do however need to know how yours works in order to get 100% out of it. They dont all work the same, thats what happens when each is custom built.

As for Williams, whenever they have won the title they always had the best engine behind them. In '94 had Senna not died, Im sure he would have won the title, but the chassis was considered crap. I think 'crap' was actually a quote from one of the four drivers that year (Mansell I think) Their most recent success (92-97) was down to a brilliant active suspension design from Patrick, having on of the best drivers for 2 years in a row, Honda pulling out, Renualt getting their stride with engine development and suberb aero design from Adrian Newey. Name one innovative thing Williams has come out with lately? Another example is 1988...they won the titles in 86 and 87 with Honda by a good margin...Honda left and Williams fell hard the next year.
 
Ok so let me get this straight. Engines are everything and Aero isnt as important. Kinda what I was saying. You went on about how important engines are and not windtunnels. Helping my points.
 
Engine technology is not the same anymore. Things dont advance as fast and the gaps are not as big. Back in the mid 90's we are takling 100hp differences between say Renualt/Ferrari and the rest. Thes huge, especially when they made only about 750hp to begin with. These days besides Minardi there isnt a 100hp between any engine. Hence why lap times in recent years are so close. Gaps bteween top and bottom have really closed up mainly because the engines have become so developed (after all these guys have had now 10 years of tinkering. Plus computer simulation technology has greatly helped out, hence why Toyota can built a competative engine right from the get go. Plus money is another huge factor. Renualt in 95 spent $100-million, that was a top engine supplied to 2 teams for free (and its rumoured the $100-mil included their track adverttising). These days Mercedes and the like are spending close to $150 and supply just 1 team.

Aero have ever is not as advanced. Serious wind tunnel time has not come into play until recently. Ferarri just finsihed its first F-1 based tunnel not more than 5 years ago, Ferrari!, all the money in the world. Same with most other teams. Simply aero isnt nearly as developed as engines.
 
Ever heard of a Logistics function? Thats what I beleive engine development is.
Aero is such a powerful force, still being explored how to get through it. HP is close but I believe that downforce is spread out by over 200 pounds difference.
 
If JPM get the WDC title this year he will stay at Williams next four year
 
Originally posted by Thor@Aug 24 2003, 06:12 PM
If JPM get the WDC title this year he will stay at Williams next four year
Click to expand...
Past history seems to state if JPM does win the title with Williams he will be looking for a new team next year :D
 
Williams already has him for next year. Rumor is that Juan has already signed for McLaren for 2005. I will not say I am positive all this has happend but I am pretty sure.
 
I'am inclinded to agree with you. Wouldnt surpise me to see Justin at Jaguar a year longer, just in time for David?? Unless he goes to Toyota...
 
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