[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bob Moss
[B]

I have always been a Jacques fan but he is never gonna be a factor as long as he is with BAR.

 

Jacques going to Ferrari this late in his career would highly surprise me. Much more likely the Scuderia would have an interest in a young driver, as they had expressed interest in Raikkonen and Montoya before. Remains to be seen how many more years Schumacher goes on but I would say he is interested in going one up on Fangio's five World Championships and it looks like by all accounts this year will be #5. Even if he takes a sixth in 2003 Ferrari will be wanting to bring in a young protoge to partner him (I see Barichello leaving at the end of 2002 as his contract expires).

Sorry once again but Jacques wasted his best years waiting for something to happen at BAR. As for DOMINATING are you forgetting Montoya, Ralf, Kimi and the rest?

 

Jacques is not really that late in his career, I believe he is only 29 right now. Montoya is 27? In terms of domination... I don't see JPM, or Raikonnen really doing too much just yet (esp. if some of the veterans are given competitive cars to work with). I see them (the new guys) becoming champs maybe in another 2-3 years.

 

I was referring to the notion of Villeneuve dominating if he would go to Ferrari. No... I agree these new guys are a couple of years away from a World Championship as M. Schumacher will be around a couple more years to keep everyone else away.

In terms of F1 experience Jacques started in 1996, Montoya and Raikkonen in 2001 so they are 5 years "less ripe" than Jacques. Chronological age is only one factor (Scumacher is 34 or so) but for most they are pretty much at or past the peak by now, especially as they may be viewed (like Jacques is ) as a bit incorrect in sticking by a non-performing team like BAR when an opportunity like McLaren was let slip away. I am not arguing that might have looked like the right move (or non-move) at the time but it turns out not to have been.

I would love to be proved wrong, that Villeneuve can still consistently win but it can only be proven if he is sitting in a McLaren, Williams or Ferrari and none of those are a likely seat in the foreseeable future. By the time any of these prime drives would become available Jacques would be several more years down the road without the "certification" of wins or even consistent podiums to interest the top teams