Luciano Burti Article

[TomPryce]

A lovely piece as Burti is reunited with his career-ending helmet...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28334565

[Barbazza]

Yes, in amongst all the dross (including ANOTHER bloody piece on Susie Wolff) on the BBC F1 website, this was a nice surprise.

I always recall the other accident better, but I did see the Spa one again fairly recently and it is shockingly brutal. I'm convinced that Irvine was to blame (brake testing even?) but then I have a very low opinion of the man anyway.

[AndreaModa]

Agree, it was rare piece of decent journalism on the part of BBC F1. Normally I don't bother with their regular dross but this was a welcome change. The picture of Burti's helmet as well! That thing was finished!

http://instagram.com/p/qhtHfdwlPN/

[watka]

Really happy to see a quality article up on BBC, the first one since speaking to David Brabham about Roland Ratzenberger.

I remember watching the Burti incident and I was the most worried I've ever been watching an F1 race, I thought he might have died. Fortunately, he was OK but we never got to see how quick he could be.

[good_Ralf]

The terrifying accident in question. The reaction from the epic commentator Jacques Schulz says it all.

[Wallio]

Yes, in amongst all the dross (including ANOTHER bloody piece on Susie Wolff) on the BBC F1 website, this was a nice surprise.

I always recall the other accident better, but I did see the Spa one again fairly recently and it is shockingly brutal. I'm convinced that Irvine was to blame (brake testing even?) but then I have a very low opinion of the man anyway.

Me too. After watching a bunch of late-90s/early-2000s seasons reviews as bedtime background noise, I cannot for the life of me figure out why he stayed in F1 so long. He's a bathplugging idiot.

[WeirdKerr]

Yes, in amongst all the dross (including ANOTHER bloody piece on Susie Wolff) on the BBC F1 website, this was a nice surprise.

I always recall the other accident better, but I did see the Spa one again fairly recently and it is shockingly brutal. I'm convinced that Irvine was to blame (brake testing even?) but then I have a very low opinion of the man anyway.

Me too. After watching a bunch of late-90s/early-2000s seasons reviews as bedtime background noise, I cannot for the life of me figure out why he stayed in F1 so long. He's a bathplugging idiot.

Ummmm yeah... hard to explain that one but..... apparently stuff happened he did a thing and some folk were over a barrel.... according to someone I know but I don't believe this person.... it's an enigma

[Salamander]

Me too. After watching a bunch of late-90s/early-2000s seasons reviews as bedtime background noise, I cannot for the life of me figure out why he stayed in F1 so long. He's a bathplugging idiot.

By sheer coincidence, us in the chat came across a part of the answer to that question today. It turns out that Irvine wasn't supposed to drive for Ferrari at all in 1996 - in late September 1995, Jordan confirmed that Irvine would, along with Barrichello, drive for the team for 1996 and 1997. Ferrari, meanwhile, were looking to get David Coulthard to partner Michael Schumacher, though he had already signed for McLaren at that stage and wasn't interested in driving for McLaren, at which stage it looked like they'd have to settle for Nicola Larini. Enter stage left Bernie Ecclestone, who was temporarily managing Irvine at the time after Irvine's original manager suffered a stroke. Originally, Bernie looked to satisfy Ferrari's first choice by getting Prost back in McLaren, forcing Coulthard out and into Ferrari, but Prost then announced he didn't want to make another return to F1. With Coulthard now clearly not an option for Ferrari, Bernie, ever the opportunist, talked them into paying Irvine's $5 million contract cancellation fee, and thus we get a stooge in a Ferrari, with options lasting up to 1998. Why they bothered to keep him for 3 more years is another question entirely.

After that, well, he was a title contender in 1999, so he had some actual credibility, leading him to con Jaguar into making him the 3rd highest paid person in the entirety of Ford. Which isn't surprising given that Jaguar had a level of mismanagement only outdone by Andrea Moda.

TL;DR: Blame Bernie.

[good_Ralf]

Wow. And previously on here it was said that Ferrari hired Irvine because he couldn't speak Italian in the press. I guess the same applied for Coulthard.

[roblo97]

Wow. And previously on here it was said that Ferrari hired Irvine because he couldn't speak Italian in the press. I guess the same applied for Coulthard.

I think it did apply for D.C as well.

[Wallio]

Me too. After watching a bunch of late-90s/early-2000s seasons reviews as bedtime background noise, I cannot for the life of me figure out why he stayed in F1 so long. He's a bathplugging idiot.

By sheer coincidence, us in the chat came across a part of the answer to that question today. It turns out that Irvine wasn't supposed to drive for Ferrari at all in 1996 - in late September 1995, Jordan confirmed that Irvine would, along with Barrichello, drive for the team for 1996 and 1997. Ferrari, meanwhile, were looking to get David Coulthard to partner Michael Schumacher, though he had already signed for McLaren at that stage and wasn't interested in driving for McLaren, at which stage it looked like they'd have to settle for Nicola Larini. Enter stage left Bernie Ecclestone, who was temporarily managing Irvine at the time after Irvine's original manager suffered a stroke. Originally, Bernie looked to satisfy Ferrari's first choice by getting Prost back in McLaren, forcing Coulthard out and into Ferrari, but Prost then announced he didn't want to make another return to F1. With Coulthard now clearly not an option for Ferrari, Bernie, ever the opportunist, talked them into paying Irvine's $5 million contract cancellation fee, and thus we get a stooge in a Ferrari, with options lasting up to 1998. Why they bothered to keep him for 3 more years is another question entirely.

After that, well, he was a title contender in 1999, so he had some actual credibility, leading him to con Jaguar into making him the 3rd highest paid person in the entirety of Ford. Which isn't surprising given that Jaguar had a level of mismanagement only outdone by Andrea Moda.

TL;DR: Blame Bernie.

That is so epically rejectful. If it was in a novel I wouldn't believe it. But it explains SO much.

[ibsey]

Me too. After watching a bunch of late-90s/early-2000s seasons reviews as bedtime background noise, I cannot for the life of me figure out why he stayed in F1 so long. He's a bathplugging idiot.

By sheer coincidence, us in the chat came across a part of the answer to that question today. It turns out that Irvine wasn't supposed to drive for Ferrari at all in 1996 - in late September 1995, Jordan confirmed that Irvine would, along with Barrichello, drive for the team for 1996 and 1997. Ferrari, meanwhile, were looking to get David Coulthard to partner Michael Schumacher, though he had already signed for McLaren at that stage and wasn't interested in driving for McLaren, at which stage it looked like they'd have to settle for Nicola Larini. Enter stage left Bernie Ecclestone, who was temporarily managing Irvine at the time after Irvine's original manager suffered a stroke. Originally, Bernie looked to satisfy Ferrari's first choice by getting Prost back in McLaren, forcing Coulthard out and into Ferrari, but Prost then announced he didn't want to make another return to F1. With Coulthard now clearly not an option for Ferrari, Bernie, ever the opportunist, talked them into paying Irvine's $5 million contract cancellation fee, and thus we get a stooge in a Ferrari, with options lasting up to 1998. Why they bothered to keep him for 3 more years is another question entirely.

After that, well, he was a title contender in 1999, so he had some actual credibility, leading him to con Jaguar into making him the 3rd highest paid person in the entirety of Ford. Which isn't surprising given that Jaguar had a level of mismanagement only outdone by Andrea Moda.

TL;DR: Blame Bernie.

I can well believe Bernie pulling the strings behind the scenes, as I recall reading in a UK magazine at the time that Bernie was trying to get JV to move to Ferrari with the no. 27 (made famous by Gilles of course) to increase viewing figures. I also remember how much a shock it was at Nurburgring 1995 when Irvine was announced at Ferrari.

Glad other people feel Irvine wasn't all that in an F1 car. To try and answer the question of why Ferrari bothered to keep him for 3 more years. I'm guessing because Irvine wasn't fast enough to worry Schumi regularly. And when he occasionally did so in early 1999 they looked to replace him. But also Irvine could unsettle Ferrari opponents with his comments & actions. Like at FP3 in Jerez 1997 when Irvine purposely blocked JV to rattle him.

Finally Irvine came across to me at least as not really caring if he was successfully in F1 or not. So Ferrari could use and abuse him in this respect. Instead it was more important to him to earn loads of money. I mean he gave up his first win at Suzuka 1997 happily. Look how angry Barrichello & Massa were when they were in similar positions. And Ferrari never let him do any testing in the first 6 months of 1996. Yet Irvine stayed with the team for 3 years!

[watka]

One thing I do remember Irvine doing well is being a rear gunner or bait for Schumacher. Ferrari would regularly tailor Irvine's strategy to fool Williams/McLaren (I remember a Japanese Grand Prix where he was released to build up a big lead in the GP to tempt McLaren to chase after him and ruin the tyres) and he was a very aggressive blocker!

[andrew2209]

Originally, Bernie looked to satisfy Ferrari's first choice by getting Prost back in McLaren, forcing Coulthard out and into Ferrari, but Prost then announced he didn't want to make another return to F1.

So Bernie Ecclestone tried to get McLaren to take Alain Prost, who would've been 41 at the start of the season? After the Mansell disaster, that seems like a catastrophic idea.

Back to Burti, and it's really surprising that the helmet was found recently, I'd thought teams or drivers get them back quickly. Also that was one of the worst accidents in recent times, seeing how far the car was buried in the barrier.

[Wallio]

Originally, Bernie looked to satisfy Ferrari's first choice by getting Prost back in McLaren, forcing Coulthard out and into Ferrari, but Prost then announced he didn't want to make another return to F1.

So Bernie Ecclestone tried to get McLaren to take Alain Prost, who would've been 41 at the start of the season? After the Mansell disaster, that seems like a catastrophic idea.

Fair, but didn't Prost test that winter, and do rather well (compared to DC/Mika)?

[WeirdKerr]

Originally, Bernie looked to satisfy Ferrari's first choice by getting Prost back in McLaren, forcing Coulthard out and into Ferrari, but Prost then announced he didn't want to make another return to F1.

So Bernie Ecclestone tried to get McLaren to take Alain Prost, who would've been 41 at the start of the season? After the Mansell disaster, that seems like a catastrophic idea.

Fair, but didn't Prost test that winter, and do rather well (compared to DC/Mika)?

Prost was testing during the winter(95/96) as Mika was still recovering from the Adelaide accident