March
Minardi sign Leinders as third driver; Schumacher wins the Australian GP; Imola asks for government support to keep GP; FIA announce revised qualifying schedule; Banks sue Ecclestone over SLEC control; Schumacher wins Malaysian GP; Malcolm Oastler announces retirement; Scott Dixon debuts with Williams in testing.
"Our new car is showing great potential and even the tyres have improved. Ferrari will be competitive."
Jean Todt - Ferrari team chief.
"I hope to stay at Williams, but you never know exactly what will happen in Formula One."
Ralf Schumacher - Williams driver.
"I have to beat Kimi ... if I'm going to win the World Championship and obviously that's my goal."
David Coulthard - McLaren driver.
"In the last few weeks I've often been asked if we can win in Australia? Well, the answer is a definitive yes, we can win from the start."
Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams driver.
"I think that if they are quicker than us in the first race it doesn't mean they are going to win the Championship. I think if we win the first race it doesn't mean that's it."
Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams driver, on Ferrari.
"Bridgestone has dominated for a lot of years, but the Michelins are more competitive now, and F1 moves in cycles and Ferrari's dominance has lasted for several years. There are other teams who have worked harder and better than Ferrari."
Pedro de la Rosa - McLaren test driver.
"I'm obviously concerned on that and simply warn that things look very good here but they might not elsewhere. I don't want to get too ambitious because I know it's going to be a tough season and other races may not suit us so well."
Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver.
"This is not the sort of day we were expecting or wanted to see. "It's a disaster. Ferrari were not supposed to be going this fast. They were supposed to have all sorts of problems with tyres and their engines but it doesn't look like they have."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.
"We are certainly going to improve (this year) but I can't promise the McLaren fans that we will improve sufficiently to get to the front."
David Coulthard - McLaren driver.
"They were dominant and in my view much better than anybody else. I think Ferrari could probably have lapped everybody if they had wanted to. That is my assumption. I hope 2002 is not coming back."
Norbert Haug - Mercedes' motorsport boss.
"Aside that I foolishly broke my back, I've made many mistakes. Williams haven't won a World Championship in seven Formula One seasons. That's bad, something I have a hard time living with."
Frank Williams - Williams team chief.
"We think we understand [our weaknesses], they are not going to be fixed in five minutes, but they will be fixed. Nothing is more certain than that we will come back to dominance, that I am convinced of."
Ron Dennis - McLaren team chief.
"It is the worst thing I have ever seen. I do not understand how a sport like this with such an audience can make a mistake like this. Last year even with just one lap on a Saturday it was less boring ... they should at least bring it back to what it was last year and they must do this before the next race."
Niki Lauda - Former World Champion, on qualifying.
"I am passionate about the McLaren brand, I've spent a lot of time trying to put the company in a position to power through the inevitable ups and downs of Grand Prix racing. As it comes closer to fruition I have no intention of walking away from it."
Ron Dennis - McLaren team chief.
"My perception is that the Ferrari is so dominant that if we are close to Ferrari with anybody, it's a great achievement. I don't see how (to top them). We also have another handicap in that since our partners are close to each other, they will share the points. And all the red points will go to Michael."
Pierre Dupasquier - Michelin motorsport boss.
"It looks very good that we come together (to do a deal), it just takes a little bit of time because it's a situation where you cannot say yes or no immediately. We had a small meeting and I can say it was very good, so it looks always better. I want to stay with the team, Ralf also and I think that's the story."
Willi Weber - Ralf Schumacher's manager.
"We've reached an agreement with (Renault) team chief Flavio Briatore on all major issues. Finalising a contract is merely a formality."
Willi Weber - Ralf Schumacher's manager.
April
Italian court approves retrial over Senna's death; Schumacher leads Ferrari 1-2 at Bahrain GP; Interpublic ends British Grand Prix contract; Valentino Rossi tests for Ferrari; FIA proposes sweeping changes to F1 rules; Ilmor engine boss Hans-Ulrich Maik leaves; Carmakers abandon talks on F1 future; Button grabs maiden pole at the San Marino GP; Schumacher wins the San Marino GP.
"I'm not happy with qualifying at all. The problem is that we are operating under a democracy, so we have to get everybody to agree and it's not possible."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.
"The championship will be over if we continue like we are doing. It is nothing to do with me - I am not slower than last year."
Kimi Raikkonen - McLaren driver.
"I'm surprised [by the other teams' woes], even if I obviously don't mind. But I don't think this situation will last long: there are still 15 races to go."
Ross Brawn - Ferrari technical director.
"We saw at the last race in Bahrain what facilities should be like. The standard has been raised by the new venues and Silverstone has to fall into line."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.
"I was amazed looking at the BAR celebrations because, who won the race? It is nice to get a podium but I was a bit shocked (at the way they celebrated). For me I'm not happy finishing second. I don't want to be second, I don't want to be celebrating second place. At the moment I want to win and I'm doing everything I can to win."
Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams driver.
"We should try and win all 18 races. That's our ambition and I think it should be our ambition."
Ross Brawn - Ferrari technical director.
"We need a big improvement, we need to stand back and look at what we are doing wrong. Maybe we can bring the changes forward if we can get unanimous agreement. We need a bit of a shake-up because we got lazy and we need to give good value to television and to the public."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.
"Michael had a poor start, he was slow, I went to pass him and he closed the door twice then came straight at me and hit me and put me on the grass. He said he didn't see me, he didn't know I was there. He probably forgot to look. I got in front of him before Tosa. He didn't see me? He must be blind or stupid."
Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams driver, after the San Marino GP.
"One day Michael's going to stop and you've got to look around and see who's the best at that stage. I think Jenson will be on that list for sure."
Ross Brawn - Ferrari technical director.
"We are not fixed on Formula One. We want to race in the top league, that's the only question. If it is attractive and interesting for us...we will stay in Formula One. But if it is not, then we won't do it."
Mario Theissen - BMW motorsport boss.
"It looks like there are going to be two seats available in the team, which is good for me. It would be great for me if we could race together again. That's what I'm hoping for at the moment - myself and Mark Webber on the team."
Antonio Pizzonia - Williams test driver.
"I certainly think that winning one or two races maybe is a strong possibility and it's practical for us to set a target of finishing second in the Championship."
Geoff Willis - BAR technical director.
"I would put a lot of money on Jacques being back in 2005."
Craig Pollock - Jacques Villeneuve's manager.
May
Teams agree to speed up pace of change; Spanish GP confirmed to 2011; Schumacher wins Spanish GP; Jonathan Palmer found guilty of negligent homicide; Trulli claims maiden F1 pole at Monaco; Trulli scores first win at Monaco; Ferrari sign 'long term' deal with Bridgestone; Sam Michael becomes Williams' technical director; Fiat Chairman Umberto Agnelli dies; Schumacher scores 60th pole position at European GP; Mercedes engine expert Werner Laurenz leaves; Schumacher wins the European GP; Di Montezemolo appointed new Fiat chairman.
"One thing is certain, I will be in Formula One (next season). I just don't know where I am going to be next year. That is nothing to do with Frank (Williams) or Patrick (Head) discussing whether I would be good enough or not. It is basically in my hands to decide what I want, but we still have to wait."
Ralf Schumacher - Williams driver.
"Juan just seems to complain a lot about other people instead of looking after his own driving style. I think to try and overtake someone on the outside - he should know that doesn't work, especially when you are half a car behind."
Ralf Schumacher - Williams driver.
"If Williams lose both its drivers, which now looks likely, Nick (Heidfeld) would be a perfect guy."
Eddie Jordan - Jordan team chief.
"Michael is pretty invincible, pretty awesome. The really interesting question now is who is going to be the first driver to break Michael's record. I think it'll be Jenson Button."
David Richards - BAR team chief.
"We have a contract with Mark, and if we fulfill the terms of the contract he'll have to fulfill his side. We think Mark's a super guy, and he's completely in line with how we want to run the team, so yes, I'd like to keep Webber."
Tony Purnell - Jaguar team chief.
"I am very positive, but I can't tell you. Announcements are announcements and until that time what am I going to say? Everyone has just got to wait for all the announcements."
David Coulthard - McLaren driver, on his future.
"I don't think Michael's domination has hurt the sport because this happens in many sports - you get a supremely gifted performer in the right team and they win everything."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"Ferrari have said that under certain circumstances they would stop and I'm sure they are telling the truth when they say that."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"Most of the accidents, Ralf is involved in. It was a very high-speed accident but Ralf likes that. I don't want to waste my time (talking to him), I've got more important things to do."
Fernando Alonso - Renault driver, after an incident with Ralf at Monaco.
"I can understand his being angry. He's rather inexperienced in Formula One and made a mistake. It's clear that he would try to place the blame on someone else. Just wait a week and he'll be calmed down."
Ralf Schumacher - Williams driver, after an incident with Alonso at Monaco.
"No matter what Michael or Ross (Brawn) might think, Juan is not a dirty driver."
Patrick Head - Williams chief of engineering.
"I have a contract with Sauber for next year but if a top team wanted to talk, we could talk."
Giancarlo Fisichella - Sauber driver.
June
Revised McLaren breaks cover at Silverstone; Shanghai circuit officially opens; India halts plans for GP; Glock replaces Pantano in Canada; Schumacher wins the Canadian GP; Williams, Toyota disqualified from Canadian GP; Ralf injured after US GP crash; Montoya is disqualified from the US GP; Schumacher wins the US GP; FIA and teams agree to leave qualifying unchanged; Gene replaces Ralf in France.
"It wouldn't surprise me if Takuma would win a race before Jenson. I think he is a guy that tries really hard all the time and I think he's starting to find his limits."
Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams driver.
"As a driver I think I am the best on the grid. "If I have the equipment to win I will win, whoever my competition is. I've no worries."
Jenson Button - BAR driver.
"Right now, they have an option for me for next year. I hope they give me the opportunity to continue to give me a chance because I was in a situation that was very good."
Cristiano da Matta - Toyota driver.
"We are talking to Jarno every day and we will decide on his future in July. He is doing a very good job, he is a quality driver and he and Fernando make a good team."
Flavio Briatore - Renault team chief.
"The final version of qualifying procedures was agreed and signed off by the teams today. It will be introduced at Silverstone."
Ron Dennis - McLaren team chief, at the Canadian GP.
"If you see that I have 62 points in the Championship and last year, in the whole championship, I had 65 then I still have a chance this year."
Rubens Barrichello - Ferrari driver, after the US GP.
"We lobbied Red Bull very hard to make Christian the tester and put somebody more experienced in the race seat. I think they now admit that maybe that was the better move."
David Pitchforth - Jaguar's managing director.
"Bernie Ecclestone has, as it were, booked 19 weekends but it's by no means sure that there will be 19 races."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"There is no doubt that they (the cars) are now too fast. We must pull it back. It's a question of probability - the faster the cars go, the greater the probability that someone will be hurt or killed. We now feel that the probability is too high."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
July
Mosley announces he is to step down in October; Schumacher scores seventh French GP win; Toyota confirm Ralf Schumacher for 2005; Minardi sporting director John Walton dies; Schumacher takes 80th F1 win at British GP; FIA sets out proposed rule changes for 2005; Mosley stays on as FIA president; Williams confirm Pizzonia for German GP; Honda extends BAR deal through to 2007; Trulli announces he is leaving Renault; Schumacher takes record 11th win in Germany; Renault confirm Fisichella for 2005; Jaguar confirm Webber's move to Williams.
"I've got to the point now where I no longer find it interesting or satisfying to sit in long meeting, particularly with the Formula One teams and the World Rally Championship teams. People often agree things and then they go away after the meeting and change their minds completely and that means you've wasted a day. Sometimes one asks oneself 'isn't it more fun to sit on the beach with an interesting book?'."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"I am not an F1 team principal so I don't change my mind every few minutes."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"I simply can't understand something like that. It looked like he left the door completely open. Unbelievable! I shall be talking to him to see what the problem was."
Pat Symonds - Renault engineering chief, after Trulli lost third place at the French GP.
"I'm sick of people coming up to me and saying what a load of rubbish Formula One is now. I've tried to defend it because it meant such a lot to me for so many years but even I can no longer go on defending the indefensible."
Nigel Mansell - Former World Champion.
"If you could guarantee to have overtaking, maybe it's not so exciting anymore, because people think 'OK, sure, he's just going to overtake him - it's normal'. Here it's not normal and they just wait for it."
Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver.
"There's possibilities for me and it's just a question of getting those finalised and announced."
David Coulthard - McLaren driver, on his future.
"I think if you want to use the word farce then you can use it for one team that deliberately spun its cars and expected all the other teams to believe that it was an accident. That is farcical."
Ron Dennis - McLaren team chief, after qualifying for the British GP.
"I suppose it is my old Formula One instincts coming out."
Max Mosley - FIA president, after announcing his decision to stay.
"The way they (Jaguar) used to treat me there was like shit, to be honest. Here it is a different world. I feel not only respected as a racing driver but as a human being."
Antonio Pizzonia - Williams test driver.
"There's a nice atmosphere here at Renault: the team is more and more competitive, so this could be my first choice but I would have to accept other things that I'm not happy about."
Jarno Trulli - Renault driver.
"There are no plans in that direction at all."
Peter Sauber - Sauber team chief, on plans to switch to Michelin.
"I don't like to speak about other drivers or really say the good things about me but I think in the end everyone should get what he deserves and I think I am good enough to deserve a top seat."
Nick Heidfeld - Jordan driver.
"His is a car that goes like a Ferrari and is built like a tractor. It just never breaks down."
David Coulthard - McLaren driver, on Michael Schumacher.
August
Ralf Schumacher's comeback delayed; Toyota replace da Matta with Zonta as of Hungary; Williams drop "walrus" front wing; Williams announce Button for next year; BAR threaten legal battle over Button; Schumacher wins Hungarian GP; Ferrari clinch title; Raikkonen wins the Belgium GP; Schumacher takes seventh title; FIA investigate Belgian police actions at Spa; Cosworth confirm Minardi deal for 2005; Ferrari test 2005 solutions for the FIA.
"There has been a long-term relationship between the team and Jenson. "We have maintained that relationship until the present day, and I am delighted that one of the most talented drivers in Formula One has accepted the opportunity to return to the team."
Frank Williams - Williams team chief.
"[Button] has been under option to his present team BAR for some time. The option expired recently and Button's management called us to say that the option was no longer valid and would we be interested in his services - and of course I reacted as you might expect me to."
Frank Williams - Williams team chief.
"To be treated like this is dumbfounding and I cannot believe that Jenson wants to leave. I have got 400 people in this factory who have worked their socks off night and day and then the guy who gets all the credit and drinks the champagne turns around and ditches them."
David Richards - BAR team chief.
"I am going to be driving for Williams next season. I'm not a legal expert but from the information I have I am able to race for Williams next year."
Jenson Button - BAR driver.
"Morally, Jenson has an obligation to stay [in BAR], but when agents, promises and big money come into it, morals go out the window. We are not like football - I like to think our players stick to their agreements and promises. This has all been quite stupidly handled and if a technicality allows him (Button) out of his contract, I don't think he would be much of a gentleman to take it."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.
"It is just preposterous to think that a set of rules and regulations for next year's championship are not clear and defined at this moment in time."
Eddie Jordan - Jordan team chief.
"We signed an agreement with Cosworth at Hungary for an engine supply for next year."
Paul Stoddart - Minardi team chief.
September
Insurance issues delay Ralf comeback; Panis retires from racing, stays at Toyota as tester; Barrichello wins the Italian GP; Trulli quits Renault, Villeneuve replaces him; Sauber announce two-year deal with Villeneuve; Trulli confirmed at Toyota; Ford puts Jaguar, Cosworth up for sale; Williams confirm Ralf's return in China; Glock replace Pantano at Jordan; Barrichello wins Chinese GP.
"Racing is important for our image of sports cars makers, but if the regulations of the Grands Prix change in a penalising way, we may even decide to put our efforts on other categories."
Burkhard Goeschel - BMW board member.
"In seven years I have never had a teammate outqualify me here [Monza]. Fernando? I know that he is supposed to be in front of me at the moment and here we had yet another demonstration. He is the Renault driver now."
Jarno Trulli - Renault driver.
"The reports currently flying around the internet are pure speculation, and we strongly deny that any replacement will take place. As an aside, the fact that such reports mention Villeneuve possibly testing at Jerez, when the team is in fact running at Silverstone, is a good indication of the level of factual content they contain."
Renault, on rumours about replacing Trulli.
"We have reached an agreement for Jacques to test for the team at Silverstone on Wednesday and Thursday. This test might lead to Jacques joining the team for the final three races of the season beginning next week at the Chinese Grand Prix."
Flavio Briatore - Renault team chief.
"Now some people say my mind's not there any more but I am stubborn, even if some people might want me to leave sooner. I will continue to push. (Briatore) tells me I have changed, that I don't believe in the car any more. When things go right, it's down to the car. When they go wrong, it's the driver's fault."
Jarno Trulli - Renault driver.
"We already get a lot of money from Ford Motor Company. We got more money this year than we did last year. I have put in my budget for next season and we have a budget that will make us a competitive team."
David Pitchforth - Jaguar Racing managing director.
"That would be rushing things even more. I prefer to wait until 2005 to go back to Grand Prix racing. In the meantime I've started the preparation for next season in advance. I got a head start."
Jarno Trulli - Toyota driver.
"I think in the end they are going to find it not easy to survive. It doesn't look too healthy at the moment."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo, on Minardi and Jordan.
"I had to fire Trulli out of respect for the people who work at our team. At Renault everyone gives 100%, and if a driver shows up lazy, he won't have anything to do with us anymore. I don't know what was on Jarno's mind but I only looked at his performances, and they were not satisfactory anymore, hence off he went."
Flavio Briatore - Renault team chief.
"At the moment it seems that the calendar is not going to include the British Grand Prix for 2005."
Jackie Stewart - BRDC president.
October
Toyota announce Trulli to race in Japan, Brazil; Sato stays at BAR for 2005; Midland F1 team announce plans for F1 debut in 2006; Typhoon threat forces Japanese GP qualifying cancellation; Schumacher takes dominant Japanese GP win; FIA reveal 19-race provisional calendar; New Dubai F1 team announce 2006 debut; CRB rules in favour of BAR in Button case; Ecclestone sues Stewart over British GP row; FIA reveals 2005 regulations; New qualifying format gets green light for 2005; All but Ferrari sign agreement for change in F1; Montoya wins the Brazilian GP; Mexico announces GP in Cancun as of 2006.
"I've got a feeling deep in my stomach that in the end it will come together."
Jackie Stewart - BRDC president, on the British GP.
"You see a lot of drivers with fantastic talent - Jean Alesi was like that - but they never develop it. Well, I think Fisichella still has the chance to do that and I think he understands he must, because it's the last ditch for him, isn't it? If he misses this train, in three years nobody will remember him - because he's done nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Flavio Briatore - Renault team chief.
"To say I am disappointed with Ford is an understatement. I have been trying to keep my total dismay under control. I am angered that after a long relationship I should get seven minutes notice that they were pulling out. It's now almost too late to build a sophisticated car around a new engine."
Eddie Jordan - Jordan team chief.
"We're nowhere near 99 percent sold."
David Pitchforth - Jaguar Racing managing director.
"You can't sell something to people who don't want to buy. I don't think the BRDC wanted to take the risk of having a Grand Prix. As much as I would like to have a British Grand Prix, I have done more than I have for any other race in the world to try to keep it on. But I cannot make a deal without the other side and I have to move on. This is not the British Formula One Championship, it is a World Championship."
Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.
"As we speak I don't have a contract to drive in Formula One next season, but there is a drive available at Williams and I think if there is a candidate available, my credentials are stronger than anyone's out there."
David Coulthard - McLaren driver.
"It's frustrating that Jenson couldn't come to the team...but it was just a mess from start to finish, wasn't it? The girlfriend that never happened."
Mark Webber - Jaguar driver.
"Obviously right now we don't have an engine to go racing next year but it is our intention to be on the grid in Melbourne. There's lots of things going on behind the scenes, things have got to come together pretty quickly but we think there's a way, and we're going to explore every avenue. We're not just going to walk away from this at all. Racing is what we do, we don't do anything else."
Eddie Jordan - Jordan team chief.
"I think there is a lot of frustration at the transcendence of some people to embrace the necessity for radical change. The majority of the teams are deeply frustrated."
Ron Dennis - McLaren team chief, on Ferrari's decision not to sign an agreement for change.
"I think that when Ferrari wasn't winning, nobody was making coalitions."
Jean Todt - Ferrari team chief.
"I have been trying to get the team principals to talk seriously about reducing costs for the past three years. That they are thinking along those lines is a step forward. It is a bit too late to implement these measures for next year, but we could [do it] for 2006."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"This year is a great achievement for Ferrari but we scored 82 percent out of the possible points to score, out of 324, so it's 18 per cent (missed) and if I am a bit cynical that can be improved on."
Jean Todt - Ferrari team chief.
"It is a completely rational plan, but the truth of it is that the teams' proposal is a minor matter and an irrelevance. What would be interesting was if we had a package for 2005 that got us our 20 cars. And we haven't got that."
Max Mosley - FIA president.
"I think we made a mistake, we must own up to it. I think we, both Flavio Briatore and myself, probably under-estimated the effects of a ten-month lay-off - even for a World Champion with the experience and talent of Jacques."
Patrick Faure - Renault F1 president.
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