Wurz On The Verge Of F1 Return
Discussion
Alex Wurz says he is in pole position to return to F1 with Jaguar next season.
Wurz has been without a race drive since leaving Benetton in 2001. Yet the Austrian says he is on the brink of a return, and claims he is ‘at the top’ of Jaguar’s list of drivers to be Mark Webber’s team-mate in 2004.
"I am in a luxury position because teams are approaching me, making offers. This is what a driver hopes for," Wurz was quoted by the BBC. "Jaguar has me at the top of their list and McLaren wants to do everything to keep me as their test driver".
The team itself is staying tight-lipped, with a spokesperson saying nothing more than that the team was "in the process of making a decision on the drivers for next year.
"Nothing will be confirmed until the end of November," the spokesperson added.
However, Wurz’s claims seem to signal the end, at least for the time being, of Justin Wilson’s F1 career.
On the other hand, those rumours about Jacques Villeneuve heading to McLaren could be given quite a lot more credence if McLaren were to lose their current test driver...
www.planet-f1.com/Home/story_13501.shtml
I would of hoped that wilson got the drive maybe he still will.
Wurz has been without a race drive since leaving Benetton in 2001. Yet the Austrian says he is on the brink of a return, and claims he is ‘at the top’ of Jaguar’s list of drivers to be Mark Webber’s team-mate in 2004.
"I am in a luxury position because teams are approaching me, making offers. This is what a driver hopes for," Wurz was quoted by the BBC. "Jaguar has me at the top of their list and McLaren wants to do everything to keep me as their test driver".
The team itself is staying tight-lipped, with a spokesperson saying nothing more than that the team was "in the process of making a decision on the drivers for next year.
"Nothing will be confirmed until the end of November," the spokesperson added.
However, Wurz’s claims seem to signal the end, at least for the time being, of Justin Wilson’s F1 career.
On the other hand, those rumours about Jacques Villeneuve heading to McLaren could be given quite a lot more credence if McLaren were to lose their current test driver...
www.planet-f1.com/Home/story_13501.shtml
I would of hoped that wilson got the drive maybe he still will.
Jaguar are in no hurry to name their second driver for 2004..."We are under no immediate pressure or rush to make a decision," said a team spokesman on Thursday. "We still have about four weeks left before our winter test programme kicks off.
"We would prefer to have our 2004 drivers in the cars over the winter period and there is an understandable desire on the part of various parties to have this decision taken sooner rather than later," he added.
"But it's purely a buyer's market right now. We have time which we are going to make maximum use of."
Mark Webber is confirmed but there is a long list of experienced candidates to partner him
Austria's Red Bull energy drink company is also talking to several teams, including Jaguar, about a sponsorship deal linked to young Austrian Formula Three driver Christian Klien. Autosport magazine reported on Thursday that Red Bull were pushing Klien for the Jaguar race drive but the team wanted him as a test and reserve driver.
According to the report, when asked whether the company would commit to Jaguar, Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said: "It all depends. It will not be as a title sponsor. It is down to the driver - Klien."
Wurz came close to securing the Jaguar drive last season as a replacement for Pizzonia, only to lose out due to complications with his McLaren contract.
If a driver other than Wilson were to secure the Jaguar drive, an announcement would be likely in the second or third week of November to allow time for seat fittings and changes to the car before the start of testing.
"We would prefer to have our 2004 drivers in the cars over the winter period and there is an understandable desire on the part of various parties to have this decision taken sooner rather than later," he added.
"But it's purely a buyer's market right now. We have time which we are going to make maximum use of."
Mark Webber is confirmed but there is a long list of experienced candidates to partner him
Austria's Red Bull energy drink company is also talking to several teams, including Jaguar, about a sponsorship deal linked to young Austrian Formula Three driver Christian Klien. Autosport magazine reported on Thursday that Red Bull were pushing Klien for the Jaguar race drive but the team wanted him as a test and reserve driver.
According to the report, when asked whether the company would commit to Jaguar, Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said: "It all depends. It will not be as a title sponsor. It is down to the driver - Klien."
Wurz came close to securing the Jaguar drive last season as a replacement for Pizzonia, only to lose out due to complications with his McLaren contract.
If a driver other than Wilson were to secure the Jaguar drive, an announcement would be likely in the second or third week of November to allow time for seat fittings and changes to the car before the start of testing.
pablo said:
i cant believe this!. its what irritates me so much about F1, why do they bother with old failed drivers such as Wurz who at his best is only ever going to be average..... stick Piquet Jr in the damn car i reckon.....
They could stick Barry Lee in it for all its worth - the results will be the same. What they need is consitency. They all slag off Ferrari but why not do what they do? In 6 years, they've had just one significant personell change in the team (droping Irvine). And who's the best team?.......
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