McLaren Machinations Immobilize Montoya
Written by Allan Brewer · July 14, 2006
|
|
Photo: Allan Brewer
|
Not so fast, my NASCAR-bound friend! snarls McLaren’s Ron Dennis to the Colombian driver.
Life in the F1 fast lane comes at a price, as a Ganassi Racing driver-to-be experiences some turbulance crossing the Atlantic.
McLaren/Mercedes’ recently-relieved team driver Juan Pablo Montoya may have hit a speed bump in his hasty journey to Chip Ganassi’s Number 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge racecar.
At a news conference Friday in conjunction with the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours, Ron Dennis summed up the Woking, UK-based firm’s stand on JPM’s current contractual obligations with them: “”He’s a contracted McLaren driver and will stay that way until the end of his contract…unless there is some other commercial arrangement between ourselves and the NASCAR team or Juan himself.” In other remarks, Dennis indicated Montoya might yet actually return to the wheel for more F1 action this season. “It’s more than possible” Dennis said.
TV New Zealand: JPM Still Under Contract
Dennis’ confusing remarks appear to contradict statements made by McLaren and Mercedes only four days ago. Still posted from Monday, 11th July on the Team McLaren Mercedes website is this message: “Team McLaren Mercedes and Juan Pablo Montoya have mutually agreed for him to step down in the forthcoming races of this year’s Formula 1 World Championship. The team has decided that Pedro de la Rosa will join Kimi Raikkonen in the race driver line-up.”
The broad hint that money might find a cure for what ails McLaren about Montoya’s departure may have implications outside of F1. Daimler/Chrysler is parent company to the Dodge/Chrysler brand in America. The NASCAR team Montoya plans to join currently races a Dodge-badged car. Factoring further into the international intrigue is Mercedes’ forty percent ownership stake in McLaren.
Beyond the fairly straightforward negotiations of ending Montoya’s contract early, however, there now are emerging signs of a failed personal relationship between Dennis and Montoya.
“A few races ago we had a conversation which was based on his desire to continue with McLaren, and his desire to stay in Formula One. The common objective was ‘let’s get the best out of the balance of the season’, but that object was somewhat changed when he decided he would race in NASCAR.” Dennis groused.
SportingLife.com: Dennis Suggests Montoya Betrayed his Trust
Significantly for Montoya, Dennis was one of the Colombian’s most vocal supporters publicly, affirming loudly McLaren/Mercedes’ confidence in the driver following a first-lap incident at the United States Grand Prix that proved costly to teammate Kimi Raikkonen and the team. Dennis’ remarks also lend credence to gnawing suspicions that Montoya’s sudden announcement of his NASCAR intentions and press conference with Chip Ganassi in Chicago one week ago may have been poorly communicated beforehand to his F1 bosses. Many fans also recall a timely interview by SpeedTV with Montoya during the USGP’s Thursday Pit Walkabout in which he indicated no plans to leave Formula 1, and deferred questions in the specific by the media about his future plans.
Comments
16 Responses to “McLaren Machinations Immobilize Montoya”
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Transcript of the French GP Post-Practice News Conference Friday July 14th
Q: Ron (Dennis), how did the Montoya thing happen? How come he stood down? Can you just go through what happened?
RD: I’m not going to give you phenomenal detail but the first thing I should correct is that Juan Pablo is fully contracted through to the end of the year, and if we so choose, he will test and race again, so that is at our option, nobody else’s. There is plenty in the press that differs with that fact. The way that it unfolded: clearly Juan Pablo has struggled at times and I feel that the team has always been totally supportive of him and continues to be supportive of Juan Pablo. You might find that difficult to believe in the circumstances but we are. A few races ago, we had a conversation that was based on his desire to continue with McLaren, his desire to stay in Formula One and we came to the clear understanding that it was immaterial whether his objective was to stay in Formula One and whether the team would keep him, or whether he would go to another team. The objective, the best way to achieve that was to have the best results over the latter part of the season and that’s the way we move forward and I felt that if he was focused on having the best end of season, then a) to use my exact words, it would be easier for me to take a decision in the team, or b) that it would be easier and better for him
Ron+hurt feelings=being a d**k.
“”We believe that Juan Pablo’s decision to move to NASCAR is very important for him professionally and we will give him every support to ensure that it is a successful transition,” said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.”
The above was issued at the time of Montota’s “release.”
But now extortionist Dennis is in direct contradiction to his own boss and looks to extract a pound of flesh and a few pounds of the monetary type!
Ron Dennis is pouting and wants to “punish” Montoya for publicly leaving. Sour grapes, big time it sounds to me.
Daimler Chrysler may have other ides.
“Not so fast” refers to the McLaren Mercedes.
wasnt it mickeyM that announced that juan’s services will not be needed next year first? and wasnt it mickeyM that put him on the bench when he announced he had a new job next season? still, a contract is a contract, he should honour that. these guys get paid millions for a job most people pay do. when you’re at the pinnacle of the sport you should behave that way. juan’s actions of late have been questionable during the races, ron’s actions have always been at the sharp end. this looks from the outside to be just another day in the life of both men. why is everyone so surprised? didnt anybody think about the balance of the season? sure dcx is a major owner in both series, but the sponsors are what pays for all this nonsense in the first place. ron is just protecting his sponsors, damn everyone else, dcx included. after this season’s dismal performance it looks like sponsors are all mickeyM is made of anymore. so he better do everthing in his power to keep them around. so what if they lose an engine supplier, cause they’re a dime a dozen nowadays.
maybe ol ronnie can bag a cossie next year, or better yet, maybe if he’s lucky, I hear ferrari is looking for a new team to supply lumps for next year.
Ron’s a well known poor loser, but to be fair JPM could have handed his resignation in better fashion. Juan is “contracted” to McLaren for 06, so Ron has every right to object & ask financial settlement for an early release. Frank Williams asked for a payout when serial contract breaker Jenson ‘my manager does/doesn’t do my deals” Button decided to do a bunk on his contract.
Just because JPM has been removed from the driving line up does not mean he is free for an 06 start to his NASCAR/Busch programme.
Further this Mercedes/Dodge stuff is rubbish, JPM is dealing with Ron & Chip as employers, not with Mercedes HQ.
as i said “sponsors sponsors sponsors”
ron is dealing with sponsors that would like to get a return on their investment (have you noticed how many juan has on his overalls?)
chip is dealing with getting a sponsor to commmit to juans car for next year and the future
juan is dealing with his huge ego and huger temper
isnt the silly season the best part of the year?
it’s taken all the poof out of the kimi to ferrari/alonso to mickeyD/michael to benneton….ooops slip of the keyboard…renalt (as we pronounce it here)saga.
The current position of Ron “It’s all about me, all the time” Dennis is indefensible. When McLaren all but told Juan he would not be back in a McLaren in ‘07 it was just fine. Now that Juan has found an alternative, it’s not good any more? If Juan hasdsigned with another F1 team I could rationalize his not releasing JPM until his contract term was completed. But nooooo, Ron is living down to the worst of his none too sterling reputation, that of a miserable piece of shit.
Earlier he had issued a grandiose statement that McLaren had all their driver scenarios figured out and it would unfold before season’s end. Obviously he hadn’t counted on Juan going to NASCAR (who could have?) and the self centered piece of excrement that he is can only react in the way his nature will allow. As a life long McLaren fan I can now disavow myself of the brand and am currently setting up a bonfire on my patio of any and all McLaren memorabilia as I may find.
As for Dufuss’s comment concerning “sponsors, sponsors, sponsors” I sincerely hope they all go with Juan to NASCAR and give Ron the kick in the groin he so richly has earned.
ragos sixyteli gukma
lygy http://ji118517.dicxekz.info/sitemap15.html [url=http://ji118517.dicxekz.info/sitemap15.html ]lusi[/url] gynyl
jytos ponetyco gukma
jyjy http://ga570798.rfwoedc.info/sitemap17.html [url=http://ga570798.rfwoedc.info/sitemap17.html ]fidi[/url] silog
pyhos jufazyxy gekma
zizu http://ku690484.yc4akly.info/sitemap23.html [url=http://ku690484.yc4akly.info/sitemap23.html ]keno[/url] zacin
myfos wisykohe gikma
syfy http://ru122168.lpyg2u9.info/sitemap4.html [url=http://ru122168.lpyg2u9.info/sitemap4.html ]hisi[/url] xonec
zyvos fetogufu gakma
sazo http://ku630159.sgov5jk.info/sitemap10.html [url=http://ku630159.sgov5jk.info/sitemap10.html ]zegi[/url] pacuw
webos loxukeja gokma
sata http://mi81438.jcxtdp6.info/sitemap4.html [url=http://mi81438.jcxtdp6.info/sitemap4.html ]tyba[/url] zaryb