Jef Beyens
"It's disheartening to see drivers attacking each other in a war of words in the nations press. It's all well and good running your mouth off, but perhaps these guys should let their driving do the talk, because driving is supposedly what they are best at which is why they are here."
Care to explain what you were doing out on the track then? If you want a job as a bulldoser driver then you're in the wrong business.
"If they want to argue, fine! It's not gonna distract me from doing my job on the track, and if they want to have an inprompt destruction derby on the track that'll just make my job easier."
But it's ok for you to do it?!
👎
Tune down the aggression Beyens, and stop talking with your mouth-full.
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BACK ON TRACK: Part 2
Sitting in the McLaren garage you can feel that the prevailing mood is tranquil. Blake sits in the car without helmet or balaclava, his eyes absorbing every detail, looking for ways to improve or adjust.
Ron Dennis leans over, hands him the much criticised steering wheel. Blake seizes it with both hands, assessing every millimetre. A couple of tiny bits of padding where his thumbs rest have to come off before he slots onto the track. Turn the wheel left, right. Does it feel ok? Does it look ok?
Gloves on. Quick, precise. He grabs the wheel again. It's plain that there's more than systematic checking. His eyes are glistening. He's having fun - in a McLaren garage. Now there's something.
THERE'S NO doubt, Blake looks genuinely chuffed about being at McLaren. And why shouldn't he? They're a fantastically well-run team, from the top down. Blake isn't stupid. He beleives in his new team, and he'll no doubt have some quantifiable measure to back it up.
McLaren are good - very good. Fact. But that alone doesn't explain why Blake is there. In fact, it's far easier to come up with reasons for Blake
not to be at McLaren. A clash of personalities and goals, for a start. Think about it...
Personality: Both are reportedly notoriously stubborn and prone to erratic mood swings. Salt of the earth on the right day. Tabasco on the wrong one.
Goals: The former world champion with a point to prove - to himself, the paddock, and the world (not necessarily in that order) joins the slowly progressing bottom-of-the-top team whose unofficial mission statement is that in F1 it isn't necessary to win. Not a partnership you'd naturaly stick in your fanatasy F1 line-up is it?
So why is Blake at McLaren?
Well, on one level he's there because he was dumped by Honda and because no one else wanted him. He's had talks with other teams in Season 5. Some didn't call him back, so he says, and others just fizzled out. But this is a chain of events, not a
reason.
To find a reason you need two things: motive and intent. Both are simple so far as Blake is concerned. Two-year project? Motive: "I liked what I saw." Intent: "If we go forward together, I want to stay here. I think we can achieve something."
As he speaks, his intonation changes, moving from high to low in that rising-inflection only-Australian kind of way, as if he's embarrassed to say it. Here's a man, a former champion, who hasn't been taken seriously for a bad few seasons now. And at some level, and in an oddly insecure way for a man so ostensibly brash, he beleives he
should be.
And maybe he's right. Hands up who thinks he should be. See, you're not so sure now are you?
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In a recent conversation with Willaims (mysteriously disapeared) number 2 Tristan Lovett... he explains how he wont be holding on to his seat in BATracer next season:
Jamez says:
Are you looking to keep your Williams seat in BATracer next season? I know that Dubois wasn't too happy with you
Tristan says:
hey, he had ample opportunity to contact me
Jamez says:
very true. i gave him details as well
Tristan says:
but I am going to say no, count me out for the next season, as I am still not 100% sure whats going on
Jamez says:
ok, that makes things easier for me... because my brother wants in, and feels uncomfortable in a team that he doesn't know - so im going to swap seats with him and take your williams seat next season... if Lee lets me?
Tristan says:
no worries mate
Tristan says:
I do apologise once again
Jamez says:
thanks for clearing it up, i'll let them all know your intentions, just to save face with Dubois
Tristan says:
bah, my face is already soiled
So on this note, is it possible for me to take the Williams seat next season, and replace my seat at Red Bull with Tag Schwarz? Lee?
)
