F1 Merry-Go-Round starts early

[FourWheelDrift]

Rumour has it that the German GP will be Mark Webber's last GP with Jaguar as from the Hungarian GP he will be sitting in a Williams.

AFP said:

Mark Webber's '05 BMW-Williams deal is done. The Formula One paddock already knows that - but what it might not know is that the Australian is likely to drive his Jaguar for the final time at Hockenheim. Australian sources said Webber will start his new career in Budapest (Aug. 15). The sources said Frank Williams will owe the cash-limited Ford-owned Leaping Cat 'as much as $700,000 a race' for snatching Mark's '04 and '05 contract early. Meanwhile, BMW boss Mario Theissen, said he spoke to injured driver Ralf Schumacher on Saturday and "he thinks he can be back in the car at Hungary. "I don't know if the doctors support that," said the German. Ralf is due to have a medical check next week. Frank agrees the Grove team is 'slipping down' without the young Schu, admitting the difference in one place in the carmakers' title is several million dollars.

And who might be joining him at Williams for 2005, one new name that is being mentioned is that of Mika Hakkinen who has been talking about returning to F1. He's not the first to come back after "retiring" Niki Lauda did so and won his 3rd World Championship in the process.

AFP said:

Former world champion Mika Hakkinen is planning a return to Formula One, according to McLaren team boss Ron Dennis. "We had a long conversation," Dennis told the BBC. "Mika sought my opinion. I gave it as a friend and he went back to Finland to consider the position." Hakkinen, who won the championship in 1998 and 1999, retired from F1 at the end of the 2001 season. He has been linked with Williams, but team boss Frank Williams refused to say if he had held talks with the Finn, who will be 36 in September. "I think Mika may have talked to quite a few people, not necessarily us," said Williams. Williams have two places to fill next season, with Mark Webber and Giancarlo Fisichella widely considered to be the front-runners for the seats to replace Ralf Schumacher, who is off to Toyota, and Juan Pablo Montoya who is joining McLaren.

So take your bets as to the driver of the 2nd Williams-BMW alongside Mark Webber in 2005

David Coulthard - 4/7 F
Jacques Villeneuve - 2/1
Scott Dixon - 4/1
Jenson Button - 4/1
Giancarlo Fisichella - 4/1
Mika Hakkinen - 6/1
Jarno Trulli - 8/1
Marc Gene 10/1
Antonio Pizzonia - 15/1
Justin Wilson - 16/1
Nigel Mansell - 500/1

[atom290]

Me 1000000000000000000000000000000000000/1

[andy mac]

Thats a bit optimistic, don't ya think?

[atom290]

Yeah true, but I might go down to ladbrokes and take a chance!