McLaren F1 boss Ron Dennis must have a lot on his mind … Will Mika Hakkinen break his silence on his future in the sport? Will the Woking team switch to Michelin rubber next year?
Speculation in the media since the French Grand Prix has linked BAR driver and 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve to Mika Hakkinen’s seat at McLaren. Hakkinen has been driving for McLaren since 1993, but talk in the paddock suggest the reason for the team not announcing next year’s driver lineup is doubt over the Finn’s future.
Hakkinen has yet to say anything concrete on his future in the sport, while sources have revealed that Coulthard will remain at the Woking team for at least another season. While Hakkinen’s season has been far from ideal, Villeneuve’s time with the BAR squad has been just as difficult.
Villeneuve has not denied that he might switch to McLaren. However, he has hinted that he can’t see any reason to make changes to the way things stand at the present time.
Either way, the former world champion is keeping his options open. According to Autosport, Jaguar Racing boss Bobby Rahal has been holding discussions with Villeneuve to sign the Canadian for 2003.
“Apart from Ferrari, there is nothing clear on who is going to be competitive in the future,” Villeneuve said.
“We have as good a chance as anyone else apart from Ferrari next year, so after all the hard work that has been put at BAR, it will not probably be the right thing to do to change. It is not easy. It’s been difficult because there haven’t been the results for a long time, but we all work hard and that is what matters.”
Similarly, Michelin’s successful return to the pinnacle of motorsport has left some of the Bridgestone-shod teams, especially McLaren, scratching their heads and contemplating a switch.
Although the Woking team hasn’t confirmed a switch to Michelin next season, team boss Ron Dennis hasn’t ruled it out either.
McLaren are under contract with Bridgestone until the end of the current 2001 championship. Dennis won’t sway in his current commitment to Bridgestone, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be Michelins on a McLaren next year.
“We are not making a decision at the moment. As we move towards the end of the season we are committed to Bridgestone and know the good and bad characteristics,” Dennis said. “It is not about one being better than the other because of the different compounds for qualifying and racing, they also differ from circuit to circuit and from country to country.
“I think during the first half of the season the tyre war has been healthy for F1,” he added.
