VARIOUS: GRAND PRIX DRIVER ALEX ZANARDI DENIES THAT THE WILLIAMS TEAM ARE ABOUT TO DITCH HIM

Record ID: 483440

  • Title: VARIOUS: GRAND PRIX DRIVER ALEX ZANARDI DENIES THAT THE WILLIAMS TEAM ARE ABOUT TO DITCH HIM
  • Date: 6th December 1999
  • Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (JANUARY 25, 1999) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 3, 1999) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 3, 1999) 1. PHOTOGRAPH OF ZANARDI WITH PATRICK HEAD, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF WILLIAMS 2. VARIOUS OF STORIES SAYING 'ZANARDI LOSES HIS SEAT' 3. VARIOUS OF ZANARDI HOLDING MAGAZINE/ READING ARTICLE ON HIS DEPARTURE 4. SOUNDBITE (English) ZANARDI SAYS "I CAN TELL YOU I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS YOU HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND SORT OUT THOSE PROBLEMS." 5. CUTAWAY OF ZANARDI 6. SOUNDBITE (English) ZANARDI SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION IN 7, FORMULA ONE AND JOURNALISTS TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES WITH SPECULATIVE STORIES BARCELONA, SPAIN (JANUARY 25, 1999) 7. ZANARDI AND TEAMMATE RALF SCHUMACHER AT LAUNCH OF TEAM EARLIER THIS YEAR 8. WILLIAMS CAR ON TRACK ON THE FIRST DAY OF TESTING 9. 6, SOUNDBITE (English) ZANARDI SAYS 'I am not the best driver in the world but given the right equipment I can win races." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st December 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain, England, United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA3FFLXQ7NLQFXMO4JGNNXCPBC9
  • Story Text: Grand Prix driver Alex Zanardi has denied mounting
    speculation he is about to be ditched by Williams.

    The Italian arrived in Grand Prix racing 12 months
    ago on a flood of publicity having won back to backIndycar
    championships and taken America by storm.

    In the 16 Formula One races since he failed to score a
    single point while his teammate Ralf Schumacher, younger
    brother of the double world champion, has been a regular
    visitor to the podium and scored 35.

    Since mid-season there has been mounting speculation
    that Williams, former champions and one of the most successful
    teams in the sport's history, would dump the Italian.

    Despite the lack of an outright denial or confirmation
    from his team newspapers in England and Italy say Zanardi will
    not make it into a second season.

    The sport's bible, English magazine Autosport, said
    Zanardi has stated categorically Zanardi has parted company
    with the team.

    But the driver himself, who was in London on Tuesday on
    promotional duties for sponsors insisted he has will be at the
    start grid for the first race in Australia next March.

    He said he is in the middle of a three year contract of
    which 2000 will be the second.

    The speculation he says is more to do with journalists
    trying to make a name for themselves than reality.

    But William's outspoken technical director Patrick Head
    has gone on record saying the team was disappointed with
    Zanardi's performances and his future would be resolved in the
    next week.

    Zanardi said he was not even aware there was anything to
    discuss
    The key problem for Williams in parting company with
    Zanardi is the lack of credible, available alternatives.

    They are said to be considering a short-list which
    includes Frenchman Olivier Panis, who has just signed a
    testing contract for rivals McLaren, unemployed Dutchman Jos
    Verstappen and Jacques Villeneuve, who became world champion
    as a Williams driver but is under contract to the BAR team
    next season.


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