Reversal of fortune
	by James Alexander, Australia

Two teams have shifted this year from their former policies of driver hiring during the Silly Season of 1998/1999. Williams, who has the penchant for having proven drivers, have gone on a tangent and hired Alex Zanardi back from the US and the younger Schumacher brother. In direct contrast, Jordan have taken a U-turn in their policy by having one of the most experienced line-ups on the grid in Damon Hill and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. It's an interesting comparison between two teams, one on the up and up and another currently looking down, with its first winless season since 1988. It's also the first in a long time since Williams have hired such an untried combination, although Zanardi is no newcomer to winning and race-car driving. In CART, Zanardi has shown his ability to be stellar, so much so that it has completely hidden the horrendous Formula One experience he had from 1991 to 1994. At Lotus he struggled to come to terms with an ageing chassis and a woefully underpowered engine, and the horrendous accident at Eau Rouge at Spa would have taken all confidence from him. This is probably what endears him to Frank Williams, that through adversity he has come back, and shown himself to be a true racer of extraordinary calibre. The other driver, Ralf Schumacher, is an unproven quantity to a degree. Three podium finishes are in contrast to the times he has left the track at his own accord which has left him wanting. There is no doubt he has the pedigree and ability - as his victories in F3 have proven - and it has been said he has the raw speed to beat his older brother as well. Next year Jordan will have one of the most experienced lineups on the grid, which indicates that Jordan most likely has turned the corner when it comes to hiring drivers, being able to afford the services of Hill and Frentzen. Both Hill and Frentzen's combined track record in Formula One is only bettered by Ferrari in regards to wins and podiums, but both of them have niggling doubts over their out and out racing skills. Hill is at his best when leading, but he is learning quickly on how to deal with traffic. Frentzen is capable of both, but his inability to settle in at Williams in 1997 - despite his strong finish to the end of the year - and his performances this year, has cast doubt over his ability to really make it into the big time. Both are now refugees from one of the big four teams, and both drivers have improved their driving abilities, Hill having a rough year and a half in the Arrows and then the Jordan. The same goes for Frentzen during 1997 and 1998, where he has raced consistently at the sharp end of the sport. Both have become more mature and focussed on their racing, and this will definitely be an asset to the Jordan team. Williams, on the other hand, will only have one driver who has current Formula One experience. Zanardi will probably have culture shock moving from the smallish Chip Ganassi to the large Williams team, but both are there to carry a tradition of winning, so Frank Williams and Patrick Head would be doing everything to ensure their drivers come out at Melbourne '99 fighting. The respective cars they will be driving, the Williams FW21 and the Jordan J199, are another thing altogether. For the last 3 years, Williams have set the benchmark on car handling characteristics, but have struggled with a car that has not responded to the new rules effectively in 1998. Jordan have also struggled, but improvements in recent months have brought the Jordan to the sharp end of the grid. While Williams possess the know-how and experience of years of building the best, Jordan have caught up in equipment and ability. The engine supply is a crucial factor, with Jordan having the works Mugen-Honda deal for 1999 and possibly 2000. Since Zanardi's era, the Mugen has come along considerably, and is rated alongside the Ferraris and Mercedes as one of the more powerful engines. If anything, this would be the achilles heel of the Williams chassis, as this year's Mecachrome has not maintained the developmental pace of the Mercedes, Ferrari and the Mugen. While a new engine is destined for next year, all eyes will be on Williams in 2000 when the new BMW V10 is due to appear for the first time powering the Williams cars. On the track, the Jordan and Williams will most certainly be closely matched next year, driver - chassis and engine-wise. If anything, it bears hope of a much closer start to the 1999 season than what we got this year. If fact, I am already looking forward to 1999, and 1998 isn't even over yet!

James Alexander	© 1998 Atlas Formula One Journal.
Send comments to: alaw3@student.monash.edu.au	Terms & Conditions