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Do you keep Ralf?; (don't be bloody silly!!!)
Topic Started: Aug 22 2007, 03:00 PM (357 Views)
Norbert
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On the F1 website - http://www.formula1.com - the front page asks:

"You're in charge at Toyota - do you keep Ralf Schumacher for 2008?"

Current results:

Yes: 30.35%
No: 64.54%
<dunce> : 5.11%


Fair, or not fair?
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u4coffee
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Keep him!

























Keep him as far away from your car as possible <whistle>
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JOSEPH SARANDOS
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Is he contracted for 2008?

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Red Andy
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No, he isn't, which is why there is so much speculation over his seat.

If it was me running Toyota, I would drop him. From a great height....
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JOSEPH SARANDOS
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Red Andy,Aug 23 2007
01:31 AM
No, he isn't, which is why there is so much speculation over his seat.

If it was me running Toyota, I would drop him. From a great height....

It would be funny if he finishes the year ahead of Trulli for the 3rd consecutive season.

As for keeping him or not, I would say that a lot depends on how much they pay him.

However Toyota probably would be better off with a reknown development driver like Wurz.
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RJHSaints
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I would probably offer him a one year deal on reduced pay.

I can't see any better bets from a driving point of view and Ralf has been on pretty good form since around the middle of the season beating Trulli pretty comfortably in most races.

The money would be the main thing. If Ralf is still demanding $20m, he's being ridiculous. If that is the case, I'd give him the boot and offer someone like Liuzzi, Sutil, or Speed the role on a one-year rolling deal as all three would do a fairly competent job on low salaries.

Maybe a cheeky bid to sign Sato? <roflmao>
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Monty
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I would keep him, afterall who better is there on the market? (excluding contract breaking). Plus i think it is unfair how he gets all the blame, looked at the way he has destroyed Trulli in the last 3 races, if you put Alonso in the toyota do you think he would be doing a significantly better job? i dont think so....
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JOSEPH SARANDOS
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DavidColthard II,Aug 23 2007
01:45 AM
I would keep him,

And pay his asking price?
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Monty
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If they have the money and it isnt a problem i dont see why not.
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RJHSaints
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I doubt Ralf would realistically ask for $20m again. When he made that deal, Toyota were desperate for a top-line driver and Ralf held all the aces in that one.

This time, Ralf is the one desperate to stay in F1, so Toyota hold the aces. I'd say he'd probably settle for a quarter of his current salary and I think that would be a good deal for Toyota too.
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safc_fan89
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If Trulli stays, Ralf has to. Because Ralf actually gets the job done better than Trulli. Not that that says much, because Trulli is well and trulli (sorry) past it. Toyota need probably a young driver (someone like Sutil perhaps) next to a more experienced driver. Maybe that could be Ralf or Jarno, but someone who would bring something to the team would be preferable. Then they might just get better results.
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RJHSaints
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Trulli goes through a phase usually in the last 3rd of the season when he always seems to look uninterested.

I wouldn't say he's past it because he was pretty impressive earlier in the year, but you can certainly tell which Toyota driver is battling for their F1 career at present.

I agree that a young driver would be a good thing for Toyota. At times, Ralf and Trulli are both guilty of living in the comfort zone and both could do better if pushed, in my opinion.
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safc_fan89
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I'd disagree on Trulli, he was probably around where Ralf is now. But what use is a driver who only sometimes looks interested? That's why I think they should both go. I don't have anything against either driver, they are just not good enough. Renault don't miss Trulli and I doubt Williams miss Ralf. And Toyota would miss neither! If they used a younger driver who they paid less, they have $20 million to play with. They would probably waste it, but maybe it would go to more testing or something...
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RJHSaints
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I don't think there's any young gun worth taking a gamble on right now, which is why I'd go for Ralf for another year, and maybe try and poach Rosberg at the end of his current contract.

Look at the young options there are now:

Sutil-Flashes of pace, but inconsistent, and often crashes. I'd compare him to Bruni actually (at this point at least), and he never made it, for whatever reason.

Rosberg-Would he join Toyota at this moment? Probably not, although if they could get him, he'd be a good acquisition.

Vettel-Contracted to STR, BMW also keeping an eye on him and there would surely be too many complications for that one to get off the ground.

Piquet Jr-Probably doesn't consider Toyota a team worthy of his extroadinary talent. <doh>

Glock-Possibility with his German connections, but is he quick enough?

If they wait til the end of 2008 Rosberg will be available, and possibly Sutil may have shown that he is also capable of being a genuine star for the future.
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safc_fan89
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Someone like Piquet Jnr I think would be ideal. I doubt Rosberg would go to Toyota because it would be a sideways move, Glock I am unsure about (hasn't exactly set the world alight in GP2 this season), Sutil makes mistakes but he does look a decent prospect. Vettel will be at STR for several years probably.

Trulli is under contract for next season isn't he?
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