Anybody who doesn't realize that Schumacher is far and away the best driver in formula 1 is in a delusionary state. The Williams cars are so much better than anything else that it is hard to tell just how fast their drivers are. Hill might be categorized as a fair weather driver while not meaning weather to be atmospheric related. Villeneuve is obviously talented but the Williams cars are clearly the best, so who knows how talented he really is?

Bill McCulley
McCullWA@ggcsn02.gg.dupont.com
U.S.A

As an incredibly absorbed fan of F1, I can only comment that to my eyes, Michael Schumacher still is by far the best driver in F1 (and, for that matter, the world...).

I will give Damon Hill his due; he is incredibly consistent when he's on and very good technically, but I wonder about his ability with less than a perfect car under him, like in last week at Spa.

Jacques Villeneuve is incredibly talented, perhaps with as much raw talent as Schumacher. And there is no doubt, he's only getting better, and will be absolutely frightening with a year's worth of the championship under his cap. Like Hill, Villeneuve has the superior car, and it is this reason that I wonder if he can make a sub-par car competitive.

Schumacher has won with his sheer ability, with very little help from his car. The Ferrari team has been quite good in the pits (these guys ARE getting it together!) and Schumacher has shown that from corner to corner, he just does it quicker and cleaner than anyone. And, lest I forget, Schumacher can push a car harder, further and keep it all clean and controlled like no one else!

Well, thank you for allowing me to write to you guys with my opinion. And keep up the great work!! As a first time visitor, I am incredibly impressed. I'll be back....

Arvin Castro
bryan@telephonet.com
U.S.A

Here he comes again. Nobody noticed him winning the Indy Car Title last year. He just quietly goes about the business of blowing everybody's doors off. Villeneuve has that ability to just blister off a fast lap that counts in two places; qualifying, and starting. Even Jonathan Palmer has started to notice that Villeneuve is actually there on the track, as evidenced by his mentioning of Villeneuve's name more than once in his commentary of the Belgian race. Hill has already begun his relapse into psychological subservience at the hands of Villeneuve, who has borrowed a page from the cold book of Schumacher - demoralize the opposition just by looking smug. Villeneuve could go on to win the F1 title because he is really doing his homework. He is a hard, focused charger, and he is at his best in close quarters either chasing or being chased. Good luck, Jacques!! Good luck, Damon!! Good luck Everybody. This is the best F1 championship to date.

James C. Hawkins
jhawkins@direct.ca
Germany

I can't help but feel that Hakkinen didnīt look to bad in Qualifying, he just lost time on his first set and then the rain stopped any further improvement. Schumacher won the race just by luck and nothing else. He drove well in comparison to Irvine, but he did not deserve the victory. Villeneuve or Hakkinen should have won, one held up by bad box communication the other by the safety car. So the German was lucky and he knew exactly that it was luck why he won, you could hear it and see it in his face. Totally displaced was the behavior of Jean Todt. What did that chicken had to do with it?

Bjoern Till
btill@tillnet.de
Germany

I wonder if Jacques is feeling that there is a conspiracy against him at Williams. First Patrick Head would not let him set up the car the way he felt would be best until Hungary, he won that race hands down. Even Head was impressed with Villeneuve's ability to set up the car.

Now we go to Belgium, with Jacques getting his great start as usual, leaving Hill in the dust. Once the safety car was on the track, Villeneuve wanted to come in to pit, the Williams team seemed to have a lapse of logic and said go around again, leaving Schumacher to come in first. This put Villeneuve at a distinct disadvantage and the outcome cost him the race and 4 valuable points for the drivers title.

With politics running wild in F1, I can somehow believe that not everyone at Williams is helping Jacques. After all, Hill is a great test driver, but don't put him a few cars back or he will lose it and with 30 points up for grabs for the rest of the season he may just lose the whole ball of wax. I am sure Frank Williams is doubting Hill's reported 12 million pound salary request for next year. He must see by now that Villeneuve is by far a better driver with more potential than Hill. James Brown
juice@islandnet.com
Canada

Having been stuck in Singapore for the entire season, and watching (compressed) races on TV one or sometimes two weeks after they happen, I just want to say thanks to all of you for providing this site. When I watched Jaques race at Mosport in Canada in 1993, standing on Moss Corner in the rain, I never imagined that three years later he would be pressing for the championship in his rookie year with F1. All I can say is WOW!

Mike Seager
mseager@pinc.com
Canada

Was that race fun or what? It had everything for everybody including a lot of air time for the sponsors on the cars usually mired back in the pack. Can't say enough about the great battles between Villeneuve and Schumacher or the Hill and Brundle dust up. Even the McLarens got some face time at the front of the pack. What a weirdly fun day. F1 might want to give some thought to a little impromptu caution time, shades of NASCAR, in future races to liven up the procession.

EJDitzel Jr.
Shrew14@aol.com
USA

After watching the Belgium Race today (surely one of the best of this season) I have no doubt that today's race was a preview of the 1997 championship.

Let's just wait to see a more reliable Ferrari and a new and competitive McLaren, not forgetting the Benetton. And I'm sure Jacques will take care of the rest of the show. I can't wait for next season!

Harerton Dourado
harerton@tropical.com.br
Brazil

Few commentators (including those at Eurosport and Atlas) seem to have noticed that McLarens were not at the front of the pack by "luck". In fact, without the safety car incident, Hakkinen might have won the race! He surely would have gained the 15 secs. he lost to the winner if Schumacher had pitted normally. Seppo Koponen
skk@lola.vaisala.com

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